Two years ago Oren Teicher, CEO of the American Booksellers Association, delivered a talk at BookExpo America calling for publishers to develop new business models to help independent booksellers. In the intervening months indie bookstores have tested offerings from various houses. Now, according to Bookselling This Week, one is ready to roll out nationwide. Starting January 1, 2013, Penguin Group USA will launch “Independent Bricks & Mortar Full-Service Bookstore Retail Partnership.”
“Penguin has always recognized the unique and invaluable role of independent booksellers and bookstores. We view our relationship as a partnership, and we look forward to developing these partnerships in exciting new ways in 2013,” said Katya Shannon, v-p of adult hardcover sales at Penguin.
Booksellers have from now through December 15 to sign up with Penguin for the program, which was developed to increase sales and reduce returns for both frontlist and backlist titles. Details are being kept confidential.
