We've talked a lot about the quality of our materials lately. The other crucial element to keeping prices low is quantity. To get a significant price break for printing paperback books, for example, you have to print 10,000 copies.
In the past two years, in more than half of the books we've published, the author has come back after the initial print run and either requested changes or in two cases a complete relayout of an updated version of the story.
We're able to accommodate these requests, though the latter was a difficult sell to the layout team, because we don't print 10,000 copies at a time.
This morning, I found myself faced with the unpleasant task of going to Jennifer and telling her that we only have orders for 113 hardback children's books. In order to get the price quoted in the blog, we need a minimum of 500.
Out of all the authors and artists I emailed, I've heard back from 4. One of them is Jennifer, whose order for her own books is the bulk of this initial order.
I feel a little frustrated at this point because the whole reason we started this inquiry into hardback children's books was at the request of the authors and illustrators. I have to make or cancel this order on Monday, August 29.
This is where we stand right now:
If your book has black and white interiors (e.g. ABC of Hidden Heroines and Bok Bok's rock) your SRP will be $21.99. (I'm Nocturnal, due to the intense black color saturation, counts as a color book).
The case cost for a minimum of 100 cases is going to be $6.25 rather than $5.55. If we can reach the 200 case minimum, the individual case cost will go down to $6.10.
It seems unlikely that we're going to hit our 500 case minimum. I understand that once the numbers are laid out, it becomes a daunting prospect.
That said, I am still hopeful that those of you who have not yet responded will let me know one way or the other about how you'd like to proceed. I'll keep everyone posted about the status of the order over the next few days.
Thank you,
Cris
In the past two years, in more than half of the books we've published, the author has come back after the initial print run and either requested changes or in two cases a complete relayout of an updated version of the story.
We're able to accommodate these requests, though the latter was a difficult sell to the layout team, because we don't print 10,000 copies at a time.
This morning, I found myself faced with the unpleasant task of going to Jennifer and telling her that we only have orders for 113 hardback children's books. In order to get the price quoted in the blog, we need a minimum of 500.
Out of all the authors and artists I emailed, I've heard back from 4. One of them is Jennifer, whose order for her own books is the bulk of this initial order.
I feel a little frustrated at this point because the whole reason we started this inquiry into hardback children's books was at the request of the authors and illustrators. I have to make or cancel this order on Monday, August 29.
This is where we stand right now:
If your book has black and white interiors (e.g. ABC of Hidden Heroines and Bok Bok's rock) your SRP will be $21.99. (I'm Nocturnal, due to the intense black color saturation, counts as a color book).
The case cost for a minimum of 100 cases is going to be $6.25 rather than $5.55. If we can reach the 200 case minimum, the individual case cost will go down to $6.10.
It seems unlikely that we're going to hit our 500 case minimum. I understand that once the numbers are laid out, it becomes a daunting prospect.
That said, I am still hopeful that those of you who have not yet responded will let me know one way or the other about how you'd like to proceed. I'll keep everyone posted about the status of the order over the next few days.
Thank you,
Cris
