Hi Angela,
Would I approach a Barnes and Noble with a consignment agreement or there’s too much red tape for that?
Thanks!
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
First, it’s far easier for a local author to get their books into a local store than it is to get placement in all their stores. This is true for all bookstore chains.
With more than a million new books hitting the market each year, in addition to all the existing books, mid-list titles, classics and best sellers, there are just far too many books for stores to stock now. And, most books are purchased online anyway.
Unless you’re a celebrity or a best selling author, asking Barnes and Noble to stock your book in all their stores just isn’t going to happen, no matter what type of terms you offer. But, you can increase your chances of getting your book into a local bookstore if you remove the financial risk from that store. How? Offer to sell your book on consignment to them.
Please see:
How to Sell to Books on Consignment to Bookstores and Other Retailers
You should know that, in most cases of unknown authors, the time and expense spent trying to get two or three copies on the shelf of a local store may not be worth it. The books are likely to be returned to you later, dusty, bent, and perhaps unsellable.
See:
Marketing to Bookstores – Still a Waste of Time?
It’s usually more lucrative to spend your time marketing directly to the public online. Most of those folks will, in turn, also order your books online.
See:
90+ DAYS OF PROMOTING YOUR BOOK ONLINE: Your Book's Daily Marketing Plan by Angela Hoy and Richard Hoy
Promoting your book online should be considered at least a part-time job. Highly successful authors spend more time promoting a book than they do writing it - a lot more.
We know what you're thinking. You're an author, not a marketer. Not to worry! We have more than a decade of successful online book selling experience under our belts
and we're going to teach you how to promote your book effectively online...and almost all of our techniques are FREE!
Online book promotion is not only simple but, if you have a step-by-step, day-to-day marketing plan (this book!), it can also be a very artistic endeavor,
which makes it fun for creative folks like you!
Yes, online book promoting can be EASY and FUN! Let us show you how, from Day 1 through Day 90...and beyond!
RELATED:
STOP GLUTTONOUS PURCHASING PRACTICES BY BOOKSTORES! Why ALL Books Should be Non-Returnable!!
Authors – Avoid Being Victimized by Bookstores
Mailing “Free” Books To Bookstores And Libraries Can Backfire
When Bookstore Clerks are Jerks
Offering Credit to Bookstores Can Be VERY Risky
Do NOT Sneak Your Self-Published Book Onto Bookstore Shelves!
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