Back in 1996, the idea of print-on-demand book publishing was new, a process made possible by improved digital printing technologies. Kathleen and Nick Lewis were among the first to catch the POD wave, setting up their company, Publishers’ Graphics, in Naperville, Ill., as an operation that could help small and medium-size publishers meet growing demand for smaller print runs.
The business grew steadily in its first decade, and in 2009, the Lewises made two major moves, opening an additional printing facility in Florence, Ky., and establishing the Book of One process that enabled the economical manufacture of a single book at a time. Now headquartered in Carol Stream, Ill., the company has further expanded its offerings to include specialty offset printing, direct mail, database management, and international distribution. Publishers’ Graphics works with clients from the trade, specialty, and self-publishing markets to manufacture books including textbooks, trade hardcovers and paperbacks, and yearbooks. In 2015, the company produced a total of 6,532,291 books and employed more than 100 people at its three locations combined.
Reflecting on elements of the company’s robust growth, president Nick Lewis says, “Our silver bullet is technology, but it’s not about having the technology; it’s about how it’s used. Time-saving automation is built into every phase of manufacturing.”
At BEA, Publishers’ Graphics is touting its most recent innovation, PG Direct, an e-commerce platform that features direct-to-consumer sales, unveiled in late 2015. “We recognize that publishers are looking for new sales channels and fresh options,” Kathleen Lewis explains. “By eliminating many steps in the process, like warehousing, unnecessary transportation, and labor costs, PG Direct moves them a step closer to a zero-inventory model.” She believes that this solution complements “a renewed focus in the publishing industry on the environmental impact of manufacturing and its associated processes. We’re committed to taking a stand against waste in the traditional publishing model; in fact, PG Direct is a bookstore on a mission,” she says, reiterating the online platform’s tagline.
Early reaction to PG Direct, according to Nick Lewis, has been quite positive. “With over 250,000 books already in our catalogue, authors and publishers are finding the site a welcome addition to the marketplace,” he says. “The feedback tells us that we are on the right track.”
Visitors to Publishers’ Graphics’ booth (846) can learn more about PG Direct and also see a demonstration of the Reprint Center, which allows publishers and authors to simplify book production and order fulfillment.
This article appeared in the May 11, 2016 edition of PW BEA Show Daily.
