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Welcome to Partners Publishers Group (PPG).
PPG- a distributor - was established in 1997 as a sister company to Partners Book Distributing (PBD) - a wholesaler - to accommodate PBD’s client publishers who publish national titles that would benefit from the wider marketplace that a distributor can provide. This immediately brings us to the question: what is the difference between wholesalers and distributors?
Here is a brief synopsis of the main differences:
Wholesale? Distribution? What’s the Difference?
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Our Philosophy
Our philosophy at PPG is to only accept publishers/titles that we feel will benefit from national distribution and who convince us that they either have a national marketing concept or are willing to accept guidance towards this goal. Unlike many larger distributors (and the number of distributors is shrinking rapidly), PPG will accept single title publishers as long as the title has quality production, national potential and a national marketing plan. A single title that has the potential to sell thousands of copies is more viable than 10 titles that only sell a handful of copies each. PPG will not accept vanity, subsidy or Print On Demand publishers.
Over the past 10 years, PPG has consistently tried to provide publishers with relatively low cost flat rate access to the bookselling marketplace. PPG does not charge in-and-out fees, storage fees, or any extra fees aside from publisher-agreed co-op promotion. You, the publisher, know your distribution costs up front and can therefore more effectively calculate your overall costs and bottom line.
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Choose Partners
In choosing a distributor, you, the publisher, must ask yourself, "What are the main marketplaces for my title and how can I reach these marketplaces most effectively?" PPG directs its efforts toward the bookstore marketplace at both the retail and wholesale levels. While our contract, like most distributors', is exclusive, PPG does not exclude publishers from markets that PPG does not service as long as the publisher and PPG reach a mutual agreement in that regard.
If you are looking for a distributor that will communicate with you, is accessible and will pay attention to the needs of your particular publication(s), then PPG is the place for you.
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Wholesale? Distribution? What's the Difference?
Wholesaler? Distributor? What’s the Difference?
There are really only a handful of wholesalers and distributors left in the book industry. Partners has two divisions: Partners Book Distributing (PBD) is the wholesale division; Partners Publishers Group (PPG) is the distribution division. PBD has been in business since 1984. PPG has operated since 1997.
Wholesalers:
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Wholesalers sell primarily to retail outlets whether it be independent bookstores or chains such as Borders and Barnes &Noble.
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Wholesale discounts tend to be in the 55% range with publisher paying inbound freight charges to the wholesaler. (Note: some wholesalers will ask publisher to pay freight both ways- Partners does not).
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Wholesalers are usually non-exclusive.
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Wholesalers generally do not make sales presentations to the retailers. Partners will, however, present regional titles to buyers at independents and to all the book chains with whom we conduct business.
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Wholesalers generally do not market or promote books to the consumer.
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Wholesalers will stock certain quantities of titles but will not warehouse your entire inventory.
Distributors:
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Distributors sell to both retail and wholesale outlets. In the case of the book industry, a distributor sells to the largest retailers (Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Waldens) and to the largest wholesalers (Ingram and Baker &Taylor - the only other remaining 'national' wholesalers are Partners and Bookazine).
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Distributors generally look for a 65-70% discount off the retail price (PPG asks for a flat rate 65% discount with the publisher paying inbound freight to PPG without additional fees aside from participation in advertising programs with customers).
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Distributors generally want exclusive agreements (at least to the book trade).
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Distributors will catalog your titles, make the sales presentations, and do presentation followup.
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Distributors provide some assistance and direction with promotional and marketing programs (this varies greatly and so do the costs). In most cases, the more marketing the publisher itself does, the greater the sales effect generated.
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Distributors may or may not warehouse entire inventories.
Both distributors and wholesalers expect the publisher to provide books on a returnable basis and, depending on the arrangement, usually pay based on store sales on 90-180 day terms (after this initial period, the publisher is paid monthly for the prior 90 day sales period less any returns). There is often a percentage held back to cover potential returns from stores.
Both wholesalers and Distributors will provide sales reporting at various levels of detail.
This is a capsule summary of the wholesaler/distributor differences/similarities. Generally, for regional titles, an effective wholesaler is sufficient. For national titles, distributors will provide broader market coverage.
Please feel free to call us (517-694-3205) or e-mail with questions.
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