Support for Indie Authors discussion

Waterstones currently lists my book (as a paperback) to purchase on their website, but not in their stores.

I had a really disappointing email from their sales team today, explaining they cannot stock my book in their stores because my publisher is CreateSpace which is based in the US and has not yet set up a UK based distributor. This means they are not able to consider any title published by CreateSpace.

Does anyone have any ideas how to mitigate this, or should I simply shift my paperback to a different publisher?

Many thanks in advance for any feedback.

Paul

Have you considered Ingram Sparks? They are the world’s largest distributor. Createspace uses them. If the EDC (extended distribution channel) is selected when a book is loaded to Createspace the book is sent to Ingram for distribution. That is why the royalty for the book takes a dive. Ingram is getting their cut. Bypassing the EDC option, loading the book to Ingram and selecting the 55% discount option gets the book out to the rest of the world, brings the royalty back up and gives bookstores their wholesale discount.

I should add that is the upside to Ingram. The downside is a fee of $49 dollars per title, you must own the ISBN number. Cannot use the free ISBN from Createspace. And, their system is more difficult to navigate.

I'd start petitioning Amazon. OK so they want people to buy books through them but they'll lose authors if they try to stop us distributing through one of the largest bookstores.

Ingram has a printing facility in the UK and Waterstones is one of their distribution partners.

It is incredibly hard to get books physically into Waterstones stores - unless you are a big name with a big publishing company behind you - don't take it personally/ most people get rejected from there and at leading they can order your book for people.

Paul wrote: "Waterstones currently lists my book (as a paperback) to purchase on their website, but not in their stores.

I had a really disappointing email from their sales team today, explaining they cannot ..."

You might check out Gatekeeper Press, owned and run by Rob Price, Treasurer of IBPA. They publish/distribute worldwide, even through Ingram. After a you pay a small set-up fee, they pay 100% royalties (minus retailer's discount). I switched from working directly with Ingram to Gatekeeper several months ago because their distribution is better. Also, author support is the best. Published a paperback and now a gorgeous clothbound novel through them ... POD! https://gatekeeperpress.com/
Warm blessings.