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.
Warehousing & Returns
Warehousing
IPG owns and operates a 190,000-square-foot distribution facility that contains approximately seven million books. In the fall of 2009, IPG implemented a top-of-the-line warehouse management system at its distribution center. This system utilizes hand-held scanners to record all inventory movements, stamping every transaction with date, time, and user name to facilitate accuracy and visibility in the warehouse.
At any moment, the on-hand quantity of an item is accurate and reportable, and new stock receipts appear within a day in the publisher reporting area of IPG’s website. A rolling cycle-count constantly double-checks the quantities available, and any unexpected event such as a missed pick automatically generates a full audit of the title.
The books in every order are scanned into ASN (Advanced Shipping Notice) software that checks for accuracy and informs the larger customers, before the shipment is received, what each carton in the order contains. Receipts of stock, stock movements, stock locations, and returns are entered by the electronic scanners in real time so that the location and quantity of each title is tightly controlled.
Major accounts are shipped by truck several times a week. The books ordered by smaller accounts are picked along with the books ordered by the majors—they do not get second-rate service—and are shipped via UPS or FedEx.
Returns
Every returned copy is electronically scanned and carefully inspected, and shippable copies are returned to stock. (Many distributors now simply discard all returned books whether or not they are damaged.) Damaged copies are handled according to individual publishers' instructions.
Jason Groom
Distribution Center Systems Manager
Jason joined IPG in 2001 as a member of the customer service department. He soon showed a flair for working through complicated processing issues and a strong understanding of how computer solutions can be applied to such issues. Jason has helped IPG achieve and maintain its leading role in the integration of technologies into the book distribution industry.
