Trade Distribution Acceptance Program

IBPA has developed the Trade Distribution Acceptance Program to help publishers who have not yet achieved distribution in the book trade.

The Small Press Selection was founded with Independent Publishers Group (IPG), a book distribution company, on the idea that booksellers would welcome the titles of very small and even start-up publishers if (and only if) these books met high standards for appearance and content, and if they could be handled efficiently and profitably.

Here's how it works: Twice a year, IBPA convenes a committee to look at titles from IBPA publisher members only that have not yet been stocked by the major chains and/or wholesalers for possible acceptance into both the chain and independent bookstore distribution method.

The committee is comprised of representatives from major book wholesalers and retailers, independent bookstores, and representatives from IPG, as well as independent book rep firms.

Each book or manuscript is evaluated and discussed by the group, as the possibility for success within the bookstore trade is considered. Publishers whose books are selected by the committee are offered a distribution agreement through IPG.

Books selected by the committee fall into two groups: those that are fine as is and those that the committee feels need modification in order to be competitive in the marketplace. Books requiring revisions are accepted on a contingency basis. For instance, the committee might accept a book with the provision that the publisher work with IPG to submit an acceptable book cover or to lower the price. Publishers must satisfy these contingency requirements in order for the book to be eligible for distribution through IPG. Those whose books are not accepted will receive a brief comment explaining the committee’s reasons.

The committee will accept review manuscripts, galleys, and printed books with current copyrights that have NEVER been stocked by Border's and/or Barnes & Noble and are not represented by a distributor. You may have a wholesale relationship (Ingram, Baker & Taylor) and be eligible for this program provided that the sales are not substantial or broad-based. Books found to be widely available in databases nationwide are also ineligible for distribution through IPG. If a publisher has an existing backlist, a complete title listing or catalog must accompany the paperwork for any new titles. IPG can only accept a publisher’s entire list rather than select specific titles.

Since the committee frequently sets contingency requirements for acceptance, it is often more advantageous to submit manuscripts or galleys, along with cover art, as this gives publishers more flexibility to accommodate the requests.

While the committee does accept fiction and poetry books, they are held to a higher standard. The competition in these categories is fierce, and only those titles with the greatest name recognition, smartest design, and most aggressive promotion and publicity campaigns gain our buyers’ attention and achieve a significant sales pattern.

The committee also needs a marketing plan for each title submitted. Several examples of marketing plans are located at the IBPA website in the Independent articles area. Any additional marketing materials (sell sheets, fact sheets, etc.) may also be submitted with the title.

You must be the publisher of the book and own the ISBN-13 to enter this program. If your book was published by AuthorHouse or similar service that helps authors self-publish books, it could share an ISBN prefix with titles from other companies, which would disqualify it from being accepted.

Please be advised, too, that as book retailers and wholesalers are asking for longer lead times with title data, the industry works a minimum of six to nine months in advance of a title’s publication date (pub date). The pub date is the date of release at the consumer level, which is often different from the book’s copyright date. For example, books selected in January for the Fall 2009 program will have pub dates ranging from September 2009 through March 2010. Since there’s a critical synergy between the book launch and publicity/promotional efforts, books should not receive any exposure until the pub date.

WHAT TO EXPECT
Best case:
Acceptance into the program and increased potential sales at the bookstore

Average case:
Acceptance into the program and modest sales, or rejection from the program with a brief explanation as to the reasons for rejection

Worst case:
Acceptance into the program with little or no sales at bookstore level, or rejection from the program

While distribution is critical to any book’s success, it is only one component. Publishers need to be prepared to mount publicity and promotional efforts after acceptance to draw attention to the book and positively impact demand and sell-through.

If you are submitting a title for this program, please use the checklist that follows to ensure that your title meets the requirements of this program.

The next Trade Distribution Acceptance Program will be in January 2009.

Publisher Check List

• You must be the publisher of the book and own the ISBN-13
  
  Front Cover:
  
  
• Title legible from 6 feet away
  
  
• Author Name
  
  
• Illustrator, Photographer name if applicable
  
  
• Appealing, high-quality design
  
  Inside:
  
  
• Appealing typesetting/book design
  
  
• A minimum of white space
  
  
• CURRENT COPYRIGHT DATE—ideally the copyright year should be the same as that of the pub date
  
  
• Appropriate margin size
  
  
• A minimum of blank pages
  
  
• A limited number of fonts
  
  
• Professionally edited
  
  
• Absolutely must have a spine—no spiral or saddle-stitched books; concealed wire-o is accepted
  
  
• Clearly legible title on the spine
  
  Back Cover to include:
  
  
• ISBN-13
  
  
• Standard Bar Code
  
  
• Retail Price
  
  
• Book description
  
  
• Reviews/endorsements, if available
  
  
• What type of book (novel, journal, medical guide, travel guide, etc.)

Sign up for this program

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