In November 2021, Lightning Source: Sharjah opened its doors in the famed Sharjah Publishing City supporting a new way for publishers to sell more books in the Middle East and beyond. A joint venture between Ingram Content Group’s Lightning Source, LLC and the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), Lightning Source: Sharjah is one of the first large-scale printon- demand operations in the Middle East. Since opening, it has enabled publishers to meet consumer demand in the region much faster, helping meet growing customer demand more efficiently.
It’s not about book printing
Perhaps an odd thing to write about a newly launched print-on-demand (POD) service in the region, however, it is not so odd when you understand the powerhouse behind it all, Ingram Content Group. Ingram has combined its vast network, trade knowledge, and innovative advancements so that publishers do not even need to print a book until they have made a sale. With over 40,000 global retailers and a growing range of local booksellers in the region, publishers can gain efficiency. while capturing more sales opportunities.
“The new Lightning Source facility in Sharjah is a winwin- win situation for our customers, authors, and Kinokuniya UAE alike,” said Steve Jones, store manager at Kinokuniya in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. “Now, we can receive stock within a couple of days — cutting lead times by a few weeks. We look forward to using this service even more in the future.”
Benefits to publishers
Availability. It matters, as does the message presented to booksellers. With Lighting Source: Sharjah, publishers can have their books shown as available to order before they are printed. Only when the bookseller or library places an order does Lightning Source: Sharjah print the book. The publisher receives payment for the sale, therefore freeing their cashflow to focus on what they do best - create amazing content.
More Sales. With world-wide availability and fast delivery, the demand for books is increasingly global. Ingram makes this happen, helping publishers sell more books in more parts of the world and thus getting books into the hands of more people.
Savings. In addition to generating global sales for publishers in the region, publishers can also print locally too. No more overprinting. Publishers can order just what they need when they need it.
Progress since the launch
Retailers in the region are increasingly using Lightning Source: Sharjah to fulfil local demand, and with over fifty regional publishers currently using the service, demand is increasing each month. Regional publishers including Obeikan, one of the largest publishers in the Middle East, are using this service to meet both local and global demand. With a growing Arabic catalogue, retailers can order relevant books locally, receive the books quickly from Sharjah, and support the region’s growing reputation as a literary and publishing centre of excellence.
What does this mean for publishers?
In short, more opportunities to sell your books! To get started, contact me on: Hassan.ali@lightningsource.ae.
Hassan Ali is the regional sales and account manager for Lightning Source: Sharjah
