Books on Consignment

I've begun scoping out book sellers in the Bucks County region. The second organization I contacted owns two outlets. As it turned out, their modus operandi was only to sell books on consignment. If that wasn't bad enough, the person I was dealing with was, for lack of a better description - a millennial. What that means in this context, is a young person who has yet to have learn the meaning of respect.

Here's my assessment of consignment.

Not only is consignment a total waste of my time, because I'm not in the business of giving books away or spending my resources to stock someone else's shelves, but in this case, this retail outlet had the audacity to demand a percentage cut that gave them twice the profit than any other participant in the project was getting and to do so without discussing the merits if the project.

My experience with retailers who only deal on consignment is that - 1) your product ends up on the back of the shelf, after only a short time, because the seller is not vested 2) in all cases they display their paid-for product inventory in preference 3) they disrepect both you and your product  4) you have to eat the product they damage because they didn't pay for it and they've got-you-over-a- barrel 5) you don't get paid in a timely manner and the effort to monitor the inventory and seek payment ends up wiping out any profit and, in fact, costs you 6) they loose your product 7) you are expected to accept returns 8) you are expected to refresh their old inventory with new product at your expense 9) you end up loosing your product, your time and the value of your product in the selling environment, because they do not put the effort into displaying or selling and consequently your product goes stale.

So consignment is a bad deal all-the-way-around. It reminds me of the way some theatre groups scam actors into working for free, because "it's good for your" (nonexistent) "career"

So I was disappointed at the "consignment" response. But
add to that; the fact that less than a week after I provided a review package, when I contacted the "buyer" for feedback and to pick up the package (if they were not interested) he tells me he threw the package away. Claiming he read the material, which I doubt, because I know how long it takes to consider the material. Before even talking to me, he threw away my presentation? What kind of business person is this? An outrage and an insult! That package cost me between $50 & $75, plus the time and expense to hand deliver the package and personally check in twice, and he presumes he has the right to throw it away before even talking to me. I'm livid. I'm tempted to sue.

I'm also tempted to revel who that was, but I will withhold my wrath. If you communicate with any bookstore who works on a consignment basis, particularly one with two outlets in Bucks County; be forewarned.

I made the mistake of thinking that respect is to be presumed. I will not make that mistake again. It's not worth it to deal with these retail outlets.

I expect to concentrate on the showroom and sales office in my studio. If you are a retailer, of any kind, who has interest in showing or selling any of our product-lines, you will need to reach out to me.

I will not be pounding the bricks. I may, possibly, do it once in order to create an initial contact. If that results in respect, then great. We can move forward.

If it comes even close to what I just experienced, then that retail outlet will be banned for life from acquiring any of my products. So if it becomes extremely successful, you're out.

The only sales efforts I will make is direct, from my showroom, or online.

From now on any of sales effort that services an outlet directly at their location will need to be via sales reps. So if you are a sales rep and want work, let me know.

The disrespect that I just experienced, and that seems to be increasingly with this younger generation, is not acceptable to me. I'm appalled.

AG

Limited Edition, Signed & Numbered Garden Gnomes

This program was sketched out with the idea of it being part of distributing the books. Now that I have had discussions with Book Sellers, I find that this is even more desirable than I thought it would be. So I am crafting the details of the program and preparing the materials needed to implement this. Expect to see me posting more on that subject in the various blogs, both here and on other forums. AG

p.s. see the terra-cotta version of the Constable Warren Garden Gnome by looking on the sidebar of The Gnomes of New Hope blog.

Special Offer to Book Sellers

     As you will see, when looking below at the Order Form, the discount schedule is such that the highest discount comes from buying a quantity of 144 units. Even though the retailer seeks a larger reduction in cost, that simply is not possible without significant quantities, which, I understand, few retailers are willing to buy. I can't change that fact, no matter how much the book seller would like that to be the case. 

     So for the sake of making the lower pricing available to the book seller, I make this offer: At all times, all orders must be prepaid, that is a given, but I am offering the 144 unit price to all book sellers, under the condition that the prepaid order will be published and delivered only when my pending orders reach or exceed 144 units. meaning to say that the thirty day turn around is not in effect.  Delivery of prepaid orders for units under 72 qty will be delivered by parcel post or may be picked up at the studio when the order is ready. 

     Since shipping is extra. Pick-up or delivery must be determined at the time of the order.  I will accept a prepaid order if the order is a pick-up. I will accept paid and unpaid orders, pending shipping calculations, if required, on the condition that no product will be shipped without the shipping being paid first. Under the prepaid condition the option to pick-up can be determined when the product is ready to ship. 

    All unpaid orders are invalid until they are paid. No product will be produced for any unpaid order. On orders pending shipping calculations, the bookseller will be informed when the costs are determined. The shipping schedule will likely cover those costs when it is completed.

    I will post a shipping schedule based on the quantity pricing here shortly.

     Since the unit cost is reduced, I cannot deliver the product personally, unless I happen to be in the area for other business.

    Since I am under the opinion that this project will result in significant book sales as the theatre aspect of it gets up and running and since the publicity for these books includes the marketing and publicity that is needed for the show and films, I consider this to of benefit to the book sellers. It is important to remember that these components are something that is not common to most books being sold and that this is of great advantage. 

     So I am offering this book to Book sellers at a price that accommodates a reasonable profit to all involved. That means; 1) the creator 2) the publisher 3) the manufacturer 4) in-house wholesale operations 5) the distributor 6) the book seller. as you can see the profit needs to be divided six ways and the pricing structure must accommodate those divisions, no matter how much any one given category wants more for themselves. The reality is that the market will only tolerate so much as an MSRP. Therefore the pricing structure shown is calculated on fixed percentages. More profit will only be derived from more sales. It's that simple.

      So the 144 unit price is available to all book sellers, contingent upon elimination of the thirty day turn around and acceptance of the term that the quantity will be delivered only when the composite of orders meets or exceeds the 144 quantity. Of course you will be able to check in to see how that is going at all times and I will issue updates when it is appropriate. With any luck, four book sellers giving me an order of 36 books will achieve that end. In fact, I will sweeten the pot by saying that an order of 36 books will get you a "Constable Warren Garden Gnome" to display with the books. 

      There are terms regarding the Garden Gnomes. We will display the concrete Garden Gnome and take silent bids on the Gnome. When the store selling books reaches an agreed upon milestone, say 1000 books, the highest bidder gets the Signed and Numbered Garden Gnome. The funds from the silent auction of the Garden Gnome are donated to the local library (or library of the bidder's choice) for children's reading programs. When we do donate that money, we will have a read-out-loud session at that library, which may include a puppetry presentation.. Remember that there are seven books in the series and we will be issuing a different Garden Gnome for each book. So we will do this for each new book issued. 

More (and/or updates) Later.  AG

The Gnomes of New Hope, Illustrated Storybook

Here is the flyer & Order Form for Book One of the Illustrated Storybook Collection

    You  can print these out and use the order form for mail in or email, however PayPal is the preferred payment method, so The Gnomes of New Hope Blog it really the place for online sales. Possibly in the future I will build up this site and use it for the eCommerce related to selling books.

    I hope that we will release the remaining books within a reasonable time frame, but that depends largely upon completing the Illustrations and conforming the books to the publishing layout. Since this blog is rather new and has not been used much, it is best to keep an eye on www.thegnomesofnewhope.blogspot.com