It seems a year of complete and utter frustration regarding printers. Our usual printer went under leaving all their staff without wages for 2 months and leaving us printer-less for 7 books. We have managed to source the titles with extended print runs but have been left frustrated with the print on demand. Now print on demand is supposed to be answer to the publisher’s prayers. Or so we have been led believe. It mean’t no huge stock piles of books and no heavy outlay on stock. The down side is that the unit cost is higher and only really suitable for black and white titles. OK. Can accept all that. It allows you to put a book into the schedule quickly and we can be flexible. However we have discovered that it’s not so much print on demand as print when we can get around to it. Seems unfair but to be told that we have to wait 4 weeks for a book is not ‘on demand’ as we know it Jim. So I’ve had a bit of a paddy and thrown my rattle out the pram, told the printer to forget it in an attack of printer rage.
And whilst I am having my hissy fit I also want to know how come that master blogger Dave Dealy has a shed full of comments and nobody comments me. Don’t you know that publishers have feelings too? All I get is the Russian spammers and quite frankly I’m getting that sad I’m very nearly allowing them to respond. So come on people. I need input. Feed me. comment me post me back.
Dave Dealy
October 5th, 2010
Ruth, Sorry to hear about your ups and downs with the printers. I always thought publishing was glamorous. What is that motivated you to become a book publisher?. Also what do you think about ebooks and kindle? Are they the future – like Peter Kay’s Garlic bread?. Will we still have independent book shops? Or will the high street chains take over?
homefarmer
October 6th, 2010
Yeah… I have feed back…..Thanks Dave! Glamorous no, swiming in treacle yes.
homefarmer
October 6th, 2010
Ebooks are just one part of a future but I don’t think they are THE future. We are trying not to put our head in the sand about electronic publishing. We recognise that it is being pushed hard and that a demand is being created. We are going to be experimenting with a couple of our titles in 2011. HOWEVER I do not think that a hand held electronic devise will readily replace the look, feel and emotional attachment we have to books. At least not for a long time…
Now on to my favourite topic – independent book shops. Specialist outlets are important and will still offer a service that chains and internet shops don’t. BUT Amazon is killing the market and will destroy the small, specialist publisher. Why? Well they demand 60% terms, yes 60% and they pay on 60 days. That means that the publisher, to get on to Amazon HAS to inflate their price or live with much, much smaller margins. However, if the publisher has done their research the volumes that Amazon turns over CANNOT be ignored. It is a selling machine. They also garantee payment 60 days on the nail so we don’t need to chase, prod or send the lads round for payment.
Meanwhile the small independant bookshop has to buy in the title at 35% and sell it AT FULL PRICE. At least try and sell it at full price. You will find more and more books inflated in price because of this Amazon effect. In 5 years time the whole market will have changed. Amazon will dominate, the small publisher will have to find ways to either working with Amazon, that means cutting costs elsewhere so the figures work out. For instance we have printed in the UK. Very few publishers now print their colour books in theUK because you can get it printed overseas for much less. But from 2011 we will have to consider this as an option if we want to survive. We have, this year, stopped selling books from other publishers – why – because folks where going from our catalogue to Amazon. We were doing Amazon’s marketing for them. Well, you asked. Now you know why I don’t get on the subject. Have to go, I have Rachel nagging me to do the final signing off of John Butterworth’s very fine book on Woodburning….
dave dealy
October 7th, 2010
Thanks for your message. I personally look forward to the day when I can subscribe to a publisher (say a title a month) and I receive an electronic book instantaneously – instead of ordering a book from my local bookshop and waiting 10 – 14 days. Also Amazon don’t accept Irish bank cards like Lazer. So I find my myself looking on Amazon, finding out who the publisher is and ordering a book through Gardeners in Dublin – to my local bookshop. Also. Is there any chance of a Home Farmer magazine ebook? Paper is not very ethical. Although you could source a printer that uses recycled paper!
Oscar
October 7th, 2010
Ruth and I have talked about this is the past. Have you seen out Look in the Book feature, Dave? Well, there are certain issues of the magazine, particularly the earlier editions, where we just don’t have any stock. We mentioned perhaps putting these up on the net and letting people ‘buy’ the magazine, but it would be at a reduced rate, due to it not being a hard copy.
Don’t know how much weight there is in such a project, but it’s going to be 2011 at the very earliest before we have time to contemplate such a project.
Oscar
PS Got your email regarding RED BOOKS. Apologies for not replying. I will do so in the near future.
dave dealy
October 9th, 2010
Have you never thought of having an authors -publishers interview section on your website? I am sure Oscar and your good selves could come up with some great questions like; what’s your favourite colour, Good life press book?, Who in history would you like to have Dinner (tea if you come from up north) with? I know Archie Sparrow and his dog Lassie would give you an exclusive interview
Ben Hardy
November 26th, 2010
Oooh – really looking forward to Mel’s blog. She takes the same attitude to jam that I do to wine.