This is a sponsored post paid for by Ingram Content Group.

Today’s consumers demand options. The idea of a “one size fits all” approach is now a thing of the past. Sales volumes are directly linked to the variety of format options available on the shelf. The more options available, the higher the potential revenue that can be achieved.

Sales volumes can be linked to the variety of format options available to customers – the more options, physical and digital, the higher the potential revenue that can be achieved.

This also applies to the publishing industry. Many readers are partial to a particular format, be it hardback, paperback, ebook, or audiobook – perhaps opting to listen to books on their headphones or read them on their personal devices. If their preferred format isn’t available when your campaign reaches them, that’s a lost sale.

The bottom line for us is this: Publishers can no longer rely solely on traditional paper books to reach their customers. At Ingram, we are passionate about helping publishers achieve multi-format publication. 

Young publishing house Boldwood Books, founded in 2019, have been working with Ingram’s tools to publish more of their titles in multi-format, including across hardback, paperback, large print, ebook, and audio. Here’s how they are working with Ingram and using this approach to meet the diverse needs of their audience and stay ahead of the competition.

The art of selecting the right partner for multi-format

The multi-format strategy enables Boldwood to maximise their marketing and social media investments by reaching all potential readers with one major launch campaign. 

Ingram is one of the only service providers in the market delivering a one-stop solution for publishing in multiple formats simultaneously, due to the high entry barrier for investment. By using Ingram’s platforms, Boldwood reduced their average working time to take a manuscript from submission to market to only six months.

Through partnership with Ingram, Boldwood can consolidate all their assets in one easy-to-manage location, while Ingram handles the selling and distribution of their books globally in virtually every format. This approach is more efficient than hiring an internal team to manage these processes, allowing Boldwood to focus their resources on their core strengths. 

By using Ingram CoreSource platform, Boldwood can manage ebook and audiobook distributions, ensuring that their content is up-to-date, readily available, and optimised for sale. CoreSource helps Boldwood to monitor, analyse, and optimise their digital performance with:

• Simplified metadata and file distributions and updates
• Dynamic digital sales reporting to spot trends & opportunities
• Customizable reporting with iQ

Through this partnership, Boldwood was able to publish over 400 titles, sign more than 100 authors, and sell 10 million+ books in a wide variety of formats around the world in the first 3 years of their business.

Print-on-demand is a great choice for publishers of all sizes 

Boldwood unlocks a range of benefits in addition to their multi-format publishing capabilities, including the ability to minimise operational costs by holding zero inventory. By utilising Ingram’s print-on-demand solution, Boldwood can dropship books to customers only after a sale goes through. The book prints in just a few minutes, with comparable delivery times to stock books. Crucially, customers don’t discern any differences between a print-on-demand book and one printed using offset printing. As a result, publishers including Boldwood are able to optimise their resources, streamline their operations, and ultimately improve efficiency and profitability. 

Additionally, by adopting the print-on-demand fulfilment process, Boldwood is contributing to sustainability and minimising environmental impact, which is particularly significant in the current climate crisis, given the historically resource-intensive nature of the industry.

Distribution networks: critical to fledgling publishing houses

It can take up to a decade for a young publishing house to establish and cultivate their own distribution networks and relationships with retailers. However, this is a luxury that most new or independent publishing houses cannot afford. 

Boldwood has taken a shortcut by leveraging Ingram’s established relationships with nearly 500 distribution partners, which includes 40,000 retail bookstores, libraries, and educational institutions worldwide, as well as a variety of Ingram platforms. By tapping into Ingram’s worldwide distribution network, Boldwood’s titles are readily available to readers in over 20 countries without additional cost.

Staying up-to-date with technology is crucial for every company to stay in the game. Ingram’s commitment to invest in technology advancements, and expanding the range of publishing solutions we offer, helps publishers like Boldwood to rise to the evolving demands of the current fast-paced book market, tap into the latest consumer trends, and access efficient and effective solutions to help them succeed.

Interested in learning more about how Ingram’s holistic, multi-format approach to global book distribution can help strengthen your business? Fill out this form and one of our representatives will get in touch!

About Ingram Content Group

Ingram Content Group connects readers with content in all forms. With an expansive global network of offices and facilities, Ingram’s services include print-on-demand, digital and physical book distribution and eLearning. By providing comprehensive services for publishers, retailers, libraries and educators, Ingram makes content distribution seamless and accessible. Its associates are revolutionizing content distribution through technology and innovation.

About Jessica

Jessica Nelson has been with Ingram Content Group for nearly five years and is a Marketing Manager on Ingram’s UK Marketing team. Prior to Ingram, Jessica received her Masters in Digital Publishing from Oxford Brookes University. 

About Sammi

Sammi Lau joined Ingram Content Group as a Marketing Manager on the UK Marketing team in March 2023. She has spent her career helping brands create better customer experience through social media, content marketing, and public relations.