After experiencing a backlog for much of the first quarter that put the company about one month behind its usual shipping cycle, Penguin Putnam is back to its regular turnaround time for paperback orders. David Shanks, Penguin Putnam's COO, told PW that the delay was the result of moving Penguin's paperback titles from its Tennessee warehouse to its warehouse in Pittstown, Pa. As more books arrived at the Pittstown facility, Penguin found itself short of staff, a situation that has now been corrected.
A number of booksellers reported to PW during the first quarter that Penguin orders, which usually take two weeks to arrive, were taking as long as six weeks. Many booksellers said they were placing orders with wholesalers to ensure that they would receive books in a timely fashion.
Penguin plans to move its hardcover titles out of the Tennessee warehouse after the Christmas rush, which would put the switch in late October or early November. To avoid a repeat of the problems it had with its paperback consolidation, Shanks said that Penguin will make sure the Kirkwood, N.Y., warehouse is fully staffed no later than August.
