| Author |
Message |
    
Jennifer Caress
Awareness Member
Post Number:
3
Registered: 02-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 09, 2006 - 04:30 pm: |   |
I got my book in ONE bookstore, but that was only because I am a "local author". Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for that lone bookstore, but even my publisher is saying his phone calls aren't being returned.
So I thought I would start this thread so we can all share what has and hasn't worked for us. Perhaps if we put our collective minds together we can get some where. 
My method: I walked into the bookstore, went up to the help desk, and politely but bluntly stated that I wrote a book now how do *we* get it on the shelf...the lady gave me the name of the employee I was to speak to and gave me the store card. I called a few days later and it was done....for now.
Here is what I know: according to the bookstore I called, bookstores will only order books with a return policy. There has to be an ISBN number (but you knew that).
Ok, now it is your turn. Spill it. ;) |
Mike Manno
Wandering Member
Post Number:
104
Registered: 11-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 09, 2006 - 07:37 pm: | |
Hi Jennifer, nice to see you here.
Getting into bookstores depends a lot on your publisher. My publisher markets primarily to libraries, however, it does distribute through Ingram and Baker & Taylor, so bookstores can get to them.
My plan for bookstores right now is to market to the independents. One of the things I did is to keep all links to Amazon and other big-box bookstores off my web page. I have a list of all Iowa independents and was going to make a pitch to them.
My book comes out in June, so I have a bit of time to work with my ideas.
Mike Manno
"Murder Most Holy"
Five Star -- June 2006
http://mikemanno.com |
Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
3176
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 05:17 am: | |
My book (from a publisher who shall remain nameless) was (as opposed to is) on the shelves of at least seven stores that I know of. Of those seven, six were due to my own efforts.
Of those six, two had the advantage of a very author-friendly manager in place. (Of course, sad side note: one of those managers was sacked later, and the other had the store closed down)
The four that remained were orders for signings which didn't sell during the event, and were not returnable.
As Mike mentioned, it really depends a lot on your publisher and the timing. I imagine if I tried to go out now with the same publisher, now that the stores are more aware of this publisher, I wouldn't have had the success (relative as it was) I did.
Mindsight Moderator
Check out the musings over at Aston's new blog
|
Laurel Johnson
Unity Member
Post Number:
4234
Registered: 01-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 05:42 am: | |
I don't think the distributor is the sole reason stores do or don't order in books.
All three of my publishers use Ingrams, Baker and Taylor, et al as distributors. All three accept returns. When My Name is Esther Clara came out, a certain BN store found it in its database and happily placed an order for copies for someone. (not me.) Ditto BN online. Over time, BN started making excuses, saying the distributor changed the release date. I knew that was not the case because the same person ordered copies from amazon and received them.
Finally the store manager said they could not get the book due to distribution problems. Last time I looked, My Name is Esther Clara is not available for order on BN online but is shipping right and left from amazon. The person with the failed orders asked me for a reason. I can't explain it.
The only thing I can think of is that maybe the publisher does not give BN a large enough discount?? Otherwise I'm clueless.
Any book store my books have ever been in has been due to placing on consignment except for one borders store.
My Name is Esther Clara
======================================
http://laureljohnsonblogs.blogspot.com
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Jennifer Caress
Awareness Member
Post Number:
4
Registered: 02-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 08:00 am: | |
Thank you for all the replies. Mike, it is nice to see you, as well. 
Here is another question open for discussion: Between letters, phone calls, or walk-ins, or a combination of all three, which are more effective in getting books on shelves? |
Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
3179
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 03:11 pm: | |
Letters will be ignored.
Phone calls will be ignored and forgotten.
Walk-ins were the most effective of those three.
Granted, the most effective is to have your publisher take care of all three.
;-)
Mindsight Moderator
Check out the musings over at Aston's new blog
|
LA
Unity Member
Post Number:
2178
Registered: 12-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 04:42 pm: | |
That doesn't necessarily make much difference, though. When preparing the promo stuff for Gloria's Shades of Silence, I spent hours calling bookstores all over Jacksonville. I offered a 50% discount to purchase direct, AND AIB paid the advertising.
1 store owner agreed to 3 copies of Shades of Silence and 3 copies of {The Butterfly Game}. Now, the store sold out before Gloria's signing even happened. (Her signing was elsewhere.) But, the point is that I spoke personally to something like 20 store owners/managers and got absolutely nowhere until I spoke to this gentleman. I faxed, I emailed. I even had one...lady who got lucky I was in professional mode when she got all snarky with "who? Well, Jacksonville is a large city. I've never heard of that paper." (The paper the ads went in has a 20,000 circulation.) (I would have given my right arm to walk in that store after the signing and rub in her face the sell out and the number sold at the signing.)
So, yes, the ideal is that the publisher's marketing department would handle those kinds of calls. However, it isn't any easier for them.
Anyhow, that's just my view.
LA
www.authorsinkbooks.com
Available now: Gloria Davidson Marlow: THE BUTTERFLY GAME, SHADES OF SILENCE, FLOWERS FOR MEGAN. Joyce Sterling Scarbrough: TRUE BLUE FOREVER |
LA
Unity Member
Post Number:
2179
Registered: 12-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 10:37 pm: | |
To add an addendum, obviously, I recognize that until AIB strikes shivers down your spine, the road won't be easy. Note, though, until...not unless.
LA
Available now: Gloria Davidson Marlow: THE BUTTERFLY GAME, SHADES OF SILENCE, FLOWERS FOR MEGAN. Joyce Sterling Scarbrough: TRUE BLUE FOREVER |
Fred Dungan
Unity Member
Post Number:
1493
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, March 10, 2006 - 11:35 pm: | |
What I want to know is how to get my books on the shelf at the supermarkets and Wal-Mart. We only have a handful of bookstores in a city of over a quarter million people (Riverside, CA) and none of them seem to being doing very much business. Most of them have resorted to knick-knacks and food bars. It's really pathetic. They say that California sets the trend. In this case, I certainly hope they are mistaken.
http://www.fdungan.com/vigilantes.htm |
Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number:
3181
Registered: 02-2003
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 05:54 am: | |
Their profit margin on knick-knacks and food/coffee far exceeds the same on books, is my guess.
Mindsight Moderator
Check out the musings over at Aston's new blog
|
Bill Nelson
Unity Member
Post Number:
1778
Registered: 10-2002
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 08:12 am: | |
Jen,
Two things. Effectiveness-walk-in, by far the best.
However, that has limited range. You only have enough time and money to solicit a small diameter from your base of operation.
Mail, phone and e-mail gives you far broader coverage.
I think, like a good stew, a pinch of this, a tad of that, some more of this... |
Jennifer Caress
Awareness Member
Post Number:
6
Registered: 02-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 09:40 am: | |
Again, thank you all for the replies.
Fred- I hear ya, brother! In the tri-city area where I live, there are only two bookstores, one a major chain (complete with Starbucks) and one a mom/ pop operation. I, too, live in Southern CA.
Slight change of topic: I sent off about 12 emails yesterday to bookstores, asking if they would carry my book. They were all out of state so email was the best I could do. Three of the stores were actually comic book stores, but my book is a fantasy/horror novel so I thought I would take a chance. We shall see...
Naturally, I mean to send off many more requests in the near future, but I want to see the reactions (if any) I get from the original 12 first.
Please keep the ideas and discussions coming. |
LA
Unity Member
Post Number:
2180
Registered: 12-2001
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 11:06 am: | |
Supermarkets and Walmart? Supermarkets almost deal exclusively with mass market paperback. So, if you aren't in that format, you won't get in without a big marketing program around you. And I mean BIG. Just as an example of what I mean by big, I wanted to do a spread in the American Profile Magazine. The cost is $11/m (per thousand). Doesn't sound too bad, right? The smallest press run available would have rung in at over $3000. That's just one magazine that runs about 20 pages, and inserts into papers all over the country. That was just for the Florida region, by the way. Nation-wide chimed into the millions of dollars.
Publicists, distributors (preferably a distributor with in-house publicists), marketing...There are thousands of publishers, and think of how many books each of those publishers print. That's a lot of competition out there.
Besides. Walmart is evil. I don't want any AIB titles on their shelves. I'm not going to get into that whole arena of politics, but they are evil. Evil, evil, evil.
Anyhow,
LA
Available now: Gloria Davidson Marlow: THE BUTTERFLY GAME, SHADES OF SILENCE, FLOWERS FOR MEGAN. Joyce Sterling Scarbrough: TRUE BLUE FOREVER |
Jackie Grant Miller
Awareness Member
Post Number:
32
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - 08:36 am: | |
Jennifer,
Is your book a POD like mine? I asked that since POD authors have to do much of their own marketing. In my efforts, I have to get a "BINC" number with BN in order to get my book shelved.
Meanwhile...my initial marketing strategy is to send postcards (printed by Trafford Publishing) out to independent bookstores, martial art suppliers and schools. yes, my book is a martial arts action/adventure and can go as historical fiction.
MY MARKETING PLAN --- A 4-STEP CONTACT PROTOCOL:
1 Step- A phone call to ABTAIN the store mgr's name and the name of a Gate Keeper ONLY! The Gate Keeper (marketing term) can win the mgr over for you by presenting the info you left and can aide in helping you get a return phone call (sometimes). It also helps when you call/enter the store with a pre-developed relationship with the store personnel.
2nd Step - A second phone call an hour later asking for the mgr (by name) and inquiring about your postcard/book.
3rd Step - If the conversation goes in your favor, then good. If not, then I attempt to set up an informal meeting so I can meet the mgr and present my book and pitch. When I am there, I make sure that I also say hi to that Gate Keeper. I have numerous book markers with my book’s cover and publisher info to hand out and leave as well as posters.
4th Step - From the best established relationships - A book signing of course and referrals to other stores that the mgr has a relationship/friendship with.
Peace & Good Selling
Jackie Grant Miller
ISBN 141207782-2
Trafford Publishing |
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