Keywords can relate to genre, themes, time periods, etc. Sep 06, 2018 im trying to decide whether to allow our book to be marked returnable in ingram spark. Ingram spark has the widest printing and distribution options with partnerships with over 30,000 bookstores, universities, and retailers as well as the online stores. Now get 15% off print between 125 copies of your new book at ingram spark. Book publishing is a returnsbased business, which means authors who.
Why you need both createspace and ingramspark build book. Ironically, if you choose kdp print expanded distribution, what they do is list the book in ingram. Bookstores can buy from createspace, but they cant return books which dont sell, and. Ingramspark is an online selfpublishing company that allows you to print, globally distribute, and manage your print and ebooks.
Ingram book company, the parent company of lightning source, recently launched their new authorcentric platform for print on demand publishing and print and ebook distribution. Ingram spark allows you to publish print books that can not only be ordered by bookstores, but can be returned for credit, just as with traditional publishing. Allowing returns on your book mean you will pay the. One platform for all your print and ebook distribution needs worldwide. On the face of it, there isnt that much difference between the createspace service and what kdp is offering on the print side. Yes, pod publishers have found a way to profit from returns, too. Thats because both ingram spark and ingram book company reduce the discount you offer to bookstores. Use this tool to determine the weight and spine width of your print titles. I made the mistake of using ingram spark for self publishing wired an fbi story.
So, how did placing this new book into ingram printondemand work out. New shelves books why you need both ingramspark and kdp. Amazon out of stock issues and the pros and cons of. Ingrams book printing fees vary depending on the printing options you select. How to get your books into bookstores with ingram spark alliance of independent authors. Additional services arent offeredno editing, cover design, formatting, isbn assignment or proofing all essentials to successfully publishing your book. It is associated with ingram content group, a major book printerwholesaler, and is the selfpublishing branch of lightning source, inc. Once your book is in production and available for printing. I too have found that the ingram spark interfaceoffers no problems if your manuscript is formatted correctly.
Upload directions are easy to follow i walk you through using ingramspark here. Such as understanding and organizing the ingram spark forms and bookkeeping for selfpublishers. Updating pricing, returns, and discounts weekly in ingramspark. Is prints author title on the spine at 48 pages, which is a reachable length for my beginning chapter books.
Allowing returns on your book mean you will pay the difference if it gets returned. While print on demand services and digital innovations have helped the book business better predict book demand, returns are still an inevitable part of the bookselling process if youve chosen to make your book returnable with ingramspark. A separate rma number is required for each return condition. A standard wholesale discount is widely considered to be 55 percent. If your book, like ours, has a market in bookstores and libraries, youll want to use the workaround below. Another shocking reason to never accept book returns. Ingramspark by linda austin, moonbridge publications updated march 2020 ingramspark is is a printondemand, digital printing company for books, and also formats ebooks. Can i get it distributed through ingram publisher services.
Today were talking ingram spark s wholesale discount, how to price your book, and how to not end up owing money every time you make a sale. Ebook distribution is also possible, with ebooks made available to major online retail partners in ebook distribution channels including amazon, apple books, and kobo. Heres why you would update pricing, discount, or returns in your ingramspark account. It seems that these returns happened all in a short period of time so either someone bought a bunch of copies and returned them or they are playing me. How to fix your ingram spark pdf with free pdf fix download. Ingram spark is backed by the largest distribution network ingram book group, llc reaching well over a 100 countries with 39,000 retailers in their network and is the worlds largest book wholesaler for online or independent brick and mortar stores, big or small chain stores, as well as libraries and universities. Nov 15, 20 ingram book company, the parent company of lightning source, recently launched their new authorcentric platform for print on demand publishing and print and ebook distribution. If we use ingram spark is there a way for books stores to do returns. With ingram spark, you can publish a hardcover with dust jacket, a softcover and an ebook, or any combination thereof.
Sep 09, 2019 that last itemamazon doesnt allow returns after 30 daysis a huge downside. Jan 02, 2020 ingram spark fulfills a need, but it does so at a cost of time and labor on the authors part. Led by a passion to see more books, in all formats, reach more markets across the globe with speed and ease, ingram publisher services offers an extensive selection of tools and services along with access to an industryleading e book platform. But what if the bookseller goes to order your book through ingram and sees that it has a nonreturnable status. Nov 15, 2018 ingram spark does not let one pick and choose specific distribution outletseither they distribute the book to all outlets or they dont. The ingramspark wholesale discount and how it could cost you. I am reformatting my create space kid lit book for ingram spark in order to enable the spine printing required by my local library. Faq for ingram publisher services ingram content group. People that are interested in their services might want to know more about the agency and not just how their platform works. You also have the option to accept returns on your book with ingramspark.
Control the cost of printing with print on demand from lightning source. Alli watchdog giacomo giammatteo provides an invaluable detailed analysis of the two biggest print service providers for indie authors, ingram via its two different subsets, lightning source for publishers of many books and ingram spark for. How is ingram publisher services different than making my titles available through ingram wholesale, lightning source or ingramspark. Oct 01, 2019 you also have the option to accept returns on your book with ingramspark. I found no issues with ingram, but i have found many with kdp, even on the books moved from createspace to kdp. Book related keywords up to 7 terms that readers will use to look for books like yours. Ingram spark has it as saddle stitch, isbn 01, released in a few days. Ingram spark make most of its money by taking a cut of whatever you earn when you sell a book. In cases of print and ebook distribution, the orders are added to your monthly compensation report when you sell a copy, and youll then receive your compensation. Ingram book group llc ingram publisher services llc lightning source llc vitalsource technologies llc ingram library services llc tennessee book company llc one ingram blvd.
Trim size matrix page 1 of 2 080117 premium color 50lb75gsm creme 50lb75gsm white 50lb75gsm white 70lb105gsm white 70lb105gsm white page range 181050 pgs 181200 pgs 181200 pgs 18900 pgs pf 18840 pgs hc 18900 pgspf 18840 pgshc 448 pgsss inches mm bindtype premium color available 4 x 6 152 x 102 perfectbound 4 x 7 178 x. Publishing your book is changing on ingramspark the book. They are more focused on adding your book to their catalog to help boast their numbers to retailers. Why you need both createspace and ingramspark build book buzz. If youre new to the publishing world, book returns may be a bit of an elusive concept. Put book ordering on autopilot with automatic fulfillment along with access to our many book distribution locations. To find out how many books were returned and when the books were returned, you can generate a print sales report through the online publisher compensation payment report. Hardcovers, paperbacks, and ebooks in color or black and white.
When you get into the publishing business, you will be bowled over by how thin the margins are, so any penny saved is a penny earned. Jan 23, 2018 today were talking ingram spark s wholesale discount, how to price your book, and how to not end up owing money every time you make a sale. I was told by someone at is, that if the print format was different, the isbns had to be different. Order quickly and easily with ipages oneclick option. One book or thousands print what you need and nothing more.
Titles are eligible to be included in ingram advance only once, when they are first released through our printing partner. Jun 24, 2016 createspace is also thought to generally offer lower per book prices than ingram spark, although costs vary with page count and format. We are unable to provide any specific retailer information. Cover template generator use this to generate a template for your cover design, complete with support files, email instructions, and more useful info.
Why indie authors should use both kdp print and ingramspark. And if you ever decide to not enable returns on any books that have had it enabled, then any books sold before you disabled it will forever be returnable. If a bookstore orders your book, and does return it, and if you want that returned book, ingramspark still gets the printing fees which you pay, not the bookstore, plus handling fees. Many indies focus on using amazons own createspace, but you can access thousands more bookstores, universities, retailers, libraries and booksellers through ingram spark for extended distribution. If applicable, sales taxes will be applied at the time an order is placed on your account. But when the bookstore decides theyve overordered and returns copies. Weight and spine width calculator cover template generator use this tool to determine how much you will pay to print and ship orders directly to yourself or to your customers. Retail book ordering services, tools, fulfillment ingram. After making a title nonreturnable from returnable, bookstores and retailers will have the ability to return books for 6. If youre a newbie author looking to publish your first book, maybe start with just amazon. Through kdp expanded distribution, your book would be available to other online retailers, as well as bookstores, libraries and academic institutions. Did you recently book an author event at a local bookstore.
Jan 31, 2018 as a side note, the current pricing calculator for a 200page book with standard 6. How to set retail discounts and returns on your book with. To find out how many books were returned and when the books were returned, you can generate a print sales report through the online publisher compensation payment report of your ingramspark account. Reports, distribution sales payments, payment schedule. We understand that books stores are unlikely to order even from ingram unless returns are an option. Historically, publishers grant booksellers the right to return unwanted andor overstocked copies of books. If there were no sales, a report will not be produced. Get your book into amazons print book free first when you do decide to print. Check the book, make sure its great, then perhaps look at ingramspark afterwards. Providing you have your own isbn, youre free to use the pod services of more than one company. I cant get a straight answer as to why this happened either. Full service distribution fees are charged as a percent of net revenue net of discount and returns. Tempted to pay a few hundred dollars to your pod publisher to make your book returnable. It took from time of ordering proof to receipt of proof three days no extra charge from create space.
Hi mark, when any company or store or library orders from ingram, they will buy your book at about 55% discount and you will be paid by ingram spark the remaining 45% minus printservice cost. Publishers, retailers, libraries contact us ingram. Would like to see a followup book explaining more specifically about a step by step workflow once the books have been made. Jun 03, 20 however, ls is being reinvented as ingram spark, and although a lot of it will be changing for the better, it looks like there could also be trouble ahead for many authorpublishers, both new and existing. Books printed through ingramspark will be listed in catalogues such as ingram and nacscorp and will be available for order through all major retailers. Search extensively by publisher, language, category, and more. Sell more books in print through ingram spark with andy bromley duration. You can submit updates to a books list price, discount, andor returns option through your account no later than 11. Why ill never use ingramspark again the writers cookbook. Once you complete and submit the data below, we will email you back a template and support files to be used to build your cover. The ingram content group was formed, in 2009, when ingram lightning group merged with ingram digital group.
This means that any retailer who buys your book through ingram can return the book, in any condition, for a full refund. Kdp has it as perfect bound, isbn 02, already live. Ingram spark requires 35 days to produce a book once an order is placed. The one from ingram spark looked faded i have about nine color illustrations inside the book, all were washed out, even the black print. May 04, 2016 i am reformatting my create space kid lit book for ingram spark in order to enable the spine printing required by my local library and indie bookstore for acquisition. Lets introduce ingram spark, a brand new platform that will be released this july 1st. What i havent been able to find out, and ingram spark hasnt responded to my email, is what is the author actually charged. The big new decision with ingram, of course, was whether to move my four earlier books from their lightning source world over to the newer ingramspark realm. It was selling on amazon no problem since it came out 7 months ago, including several times where the quantity they have listed sold out and there were always more on the way and the stock was back up. Ingramsparks goal is to be the biggest book distributor in the world.
The ingramspark wholesale discount and how it could cost. Mar 09, 2019 in this ingramspark unboxing, find out just how good ingram content group is in publishing paperback books on amazon. In this ingramspark unboxing, find out just how good ingram content group is in publishing paperback books on amazon. The author must become somewhat of an expert in publication formats and tweaking their manuscript to fit the publishers requirements. This book touches upon this, but im looking for a more concrete workflow plan on the business end of it. Books printed through ingram spark are better quality. With this marketing opportunity, ingram will produce a short paragraph describing the title. However, we are not taking client walkins or pickups at this time. For your first book, we recommend adding your title to ingramspark, ingram s indiepublishing platform. That said, my amazon book certainly wasnt poor quality, and amazon in general is a lot easier and cheaper to use. If you change the returns option for your book from returnable to nonreturnable or nonreturnable to returnable, it can have a negative impact on your compensation earnings. With ingramspark you can make your book available in print and electronic formats to more than 39,000 retailers, e. Provide the right amount of discount, but also ensure that you accept returns.
This means that any retailer who buys your book through ingram can. New ingram spark discounts for indie publishers by joel friedlander on january 8, 2014 176 comments last years launch of ingram spark the new publishing portal from the biggest and most experienced print on demand supplier anywheregot off to a rocky start. We are here to help make your ordering process as smooth as possible. The book industry is the only retail industry i know of that allows returns on unsold merchandise. However, ls is being reinvented as ingram spark, and although a lot of it will be changing for the better, it looks like there could also be trouble ahead for many authorpublishers, both new and existing. If you accept the returns, ingram charges a return fee and deducts the publisher compensation, then ships you a box of books. Via kdp regular distribution, your book will be available on all amazon sites worldwide. If you want to use both ingramspark and amazon kdp, you can do that.
Mar 08, 2019 kdp print expanded distribution does get your book listed in ingram, but with a wholesale discount of only 25 percent, most brickandmortar stores will not be interested. The wholesaler or distributor returns the books back to us and they expect to be reimbursed the wholesale price of the book. How to get your books into bookstores with ingram spark. With ingram lightning sources oneoff digital print technology and printondemand services you can order 1 printed copy of your book or thousands of copies order only what you need, when you need it and with a fast turnaround time. Apr 18, 2018 my book beyond the battle is published through ingram spark. A dirty little secret about book discounts holly brady publishing.
As books are returned, booksellers expect to be reimbursed for the cost i. If a bookstore orders your book and does not return it, ingramspark gets the printing costs plus their portion of the discount. Before you return product, you need to request a return merchandise authorization rma. You only have 350 characters including spaces, so think of this as your book s elevator pitch. We are open and staying safe during the covid19 crisis to make sure your book orders get made. Use this tool to determine how much you will pay to print and ship orders directly to yourself or to your customers. Ingramspark makes distribution for selfpublishers even more expansive by granting access to ingram s global. From your screen to ingramsparks pod platform 18 december 2017 julieann harper, selfpublishing expert and founder of the pickawoowoo publishing group, regularly assists authors who encounter problems with uploading their files to ingramsparks printondemand and distribution platform. They allow returns, which are necessary for physical bookstores, but this can mean. But what if the bookseller goes to order your book through ingram and.
Paying an extra charge and doubleplus for a proof from ingram spark took three weeks to get an inferior. Wholesale books for retailers fulfillment, ordering ingram. Ingramspark has continued to improve and expand its printondemand business by offering the widest choice of trim sizes, many in both hardcover and paperback bindings. Short book description this brief summary will appear in ingram catalogs and some retailer sites. Print titles arent the only books distributed through ingram. Selling more books in print through ingram spark and aer. So in order to preserve my income stream from amazon, i was forced to stop distribution with ingram altogether.
You can use sparks price calculator to see how much you would make per book sale, adjust your price or discount as necessary. If you have agreed to accept returns, youll have to accept returns from everyone who orders your book through ingram, not just individual stores of your choosing. Ingram s book printing fees vary depending on the printing options you select. My new book has been released since july 31st 2019. Ingram advance is a monthly print catalog that that ingram book group distributes to booksellers and libraries around the world. If you change a title from nonreturnable to returnable, booksellers can return unsold copies of the book, even if the book was purchased prior to the return status change. This is the mode you need to use for interior files for ingram spark, and indeed for most pdf interiors of any book. Returns are processed through ingram and the information for the retailer who returned the book s is proprietary. If youre interested in getting your books into physical bookstores, then consider ingram spark. When adding pricing for each market, round up the list price so it ends with.
There are a few good reasons to update pricing within your account. Dec 11, 2017 as global, mobile and digital book sales continue to expand into new markets, there is a continued desire for print in established markets. Retail booksellers order books from ipage or integrate your pos system for regular standing and automatic ordering. By using ingrams easytouse online search, order, and account management platform, ipage, youre able to free up time and so much more. Its called ingram spark, and i interviewed robin cutler about the new service in july 20. Ingram book group llc ingram publisher services llc lightning source llc vitalsource technologies llc ingram library services llc tennessee book company llc one ingram.