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.
Online Services
Publisher Resources
A private section of the IPG website is devoted to the specific needs of client publishers. This pass-protected portion of the site provides detailed instructions and advice on a multitude of publisher concerns, including recommended printers, major trade and library review publication contacts, a 101 series on book publicity, e-book and POD information, and more. This area also acts as a portal for client publishers looking to view our array of online sales reports. Prospective publishers can log onto a limited version of the Publisher Resources area for a sample of the tools and information on offer there.
Online Forms for Publisher Data
This publisher resources area also offers access to an array of detailed, carefully structured online forms. These forms allow publishers to quickly and easily submit their title data, which ensures that the information in IPG's title database is accurate, current, and consistent. Likewise, book reviews and database corrections can be entered into this section of the website so that they can enrich the title information IPG sends to Amazon and other web-based customers, and also can appear in the many specialty catalogs IPG creates every publishing season.
E-Newsletters
IPG generates an e-newsletter for each of its distribution programs. These frequent e-newsletters convey company news, industry news of interest, tips for publicity and PR, and calls from industry publications for submissions of special information.
IPG also generates several public-facing newsletters aimed at specific elements of the book trade. Newsletters are available for both the Library and Professional and Academic markets from this website.
"My interaction with IPG has been a thoroughly positive experience from day one. In a unique way, IPG and BlueBridge develop and implement marketing strategies together, in a real partnership approach.
Several factors contribute to my great satisfaction: everybody at IPG is highly accessible, by phone and e-mail, and fully aware of my entire publishing program. Key traits of IPG are friendliness, professionalism, and openness! Through regular IPG newsletters, as well as calls and e-mails from IPG staff, I am made aware of a broad range of marketing possibilities, from targeted advertisements to publicity deadlines to special sales and promotion opportunities to book fair participation (the list goes on and on).
And in a joint effort my IPG colleagues and I decide which of these many possibilities we will pursue for BlueBridge. Likewise, the IPG marketing team is extremely supportive of any marketing strategies I am proposing myself, from implementing targeted mailings to attending a trade show together. So while I am an independent, and yes, small, publisher, I have the expertise, commitment, and leverage of a great marketing team that is outstanding!"
—Jan-Erik Guerth, BlueBridge, New York, New York
Clark Matthews
Online Services Manager
Clark spent several years as a software designer at Microsoft and Oracle before coming to IPG as a developer of new online resources. Clark works with in-house staff, publishers, and the software development community to maintain IPG's online infrastructure and build new web resources and functionality that will keep IPG on the cutting edge.
Lauren Klouda
Online Content Specialist
Lauren is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan, where she specialized in English literature. She has focused experience in online social media and marketing services. Lauren works with staff to ensure that our online services convey all the latest information IPG has to offer to client publishers, booksellers, and sales reps alike.
