Small Press Distribution Hits Fundraising Goal

Small Press Distribution has raised $111,421 in the GoFundMe campaign it launched earlier this year, more than $10,000 over its target. The money will be used to underwrite a number of operational changes, which will include offering its publisher clients more services and wider distribution through physical and online stores, the distributor said.

“We’re extremely grateful for the outpouring of SPD Next support from more than 150 donors,” said Kent Watson, SPD’s executive director. “Our new model will help us speed more books to readers around the globe, giving underrepresented literary voices even more access to the marketplace.”

In its new model, SPD has partnered with Ingram Content Group and Publishers Storage and Shipping to warehouse its inventory and provide pick, pack, and ship functions. SPD will continue to take orders, bill, collect, provide customer service on order fulfillment and promote sales for the hundreds of small presses that depend on it for distribution, as well as provide training and assistance for the new services. SPD’s Berkeley warehouse will close after the transition—likely late this summer—but the nonprofit organization’s front office will retain its historical Berkeley presence.