History >
First a thriving small press, then 40 years of steady growth as a book distributor.
What Makes IPG Different? >
IPG offers more distribution programs, marketing channels, and support services than any other distributor.
General Marketing Approach >
For publishers: high selectivity and close consultation. For customers: intense human contact and state-of-the-art data feeds.
Sales Channels >
IPG has more sales channels than any other distributor.- National Retail Accounts
- National Wholesalers
- Mass Market Retailers
- Independent Booksellers and Regional Wholesalers
- Special Sales and The Gift Market
- Schools, School Libraries, and School Supply Stores
- Book Clubs and Foreign Rights
- The Professional and Academic Market
- The Spanish Language Market
- Canada
- International Sales
- Libraries
- Direct-to-Consumer Sales
Digital Services >
Since 2001 IPG has provided e-book conversion, consolidation, storage, and distribution, and very favorable rates for POD printing.
Specific Services for Publishers >
Pre-pub consultation, sales meetings and shows, access to Bookscan, Publicity and PR, advertising opportunities, and much more.
Operations >
State-of-the-art software and Distribution Center facilities; 24-hour turn time on orders.
Financial Condition & Payment Policies >
IPG's client publishers have been, without exception, paid in full and on time. IPG has no long-term debt at all.
Distribution Agreement >
IPG takes a fee based on net billing but no fees (unlike most distributors) for the storage of active titles, in-out charges, sample copies, etc.
FAQs >
Any questions? Check out answers to frequently asked questions from customers, clients, and current publishers.
Sales Channels: National Retail Accounts
The large retail accounts—Barnes & Noble, Amazon—are intensively serviced by in-house IPG staff. These experienced salespeople are well prepared. In the yearly "trading partner" reviews conducted by these national accounts, IPG always receives a rating of "excellent."
Mark Voigt
National Accounts Manager
Mark has been with IPG since 1996. He sells to Barnes & Noble, Barnes & Noble College, BarnesandNoble.com, Books-A-Million, and Borders, which requires frequent visits to their offices and telephone and e-mail contacts every day.
Prior to working for IPG. Mark was Sales Manager at Pfeifer-Hamilton Publishers in Duluth, Minnesota. Mark was named by Barnes & Noble as their “Salesperson of the Year” in 2009.
Here is a partial list of what Mark and his staff do to properly serve the major retail accounts.
- Produce five new title buy sheets (each with a catalog page attached) for each title presented to Barnes & Noble, delivering and presenting them before deadline
- Present books in person to major account buyers in New York, NY, and Basking Ridge, NJ
- Oversee and negotiate co-op promotion programs with Barnes & Noble and Borders
- Oversee the presentation of books to Borders buyers in Ann Arbor, MI
- Research publishers' titles to determine their salability and correct placement in the market
- Prepare and present reports on sell-through of titles for major accounts
- Provide catalogs and sample copies of books to all major buyers
- Provide analysis and feedback regarding the state of the book market in order to help publishers strategize
