Resources for transitioning away from Baker & Taylor
On Wednesday, May 1, 2019, Baker & Taylor announced that it would no longer distribute books to their retail accounts. Below is the timeline of closures. If you are a Baker & Taylor customer, please take note of these dates. Scroll down for publisher and wholesaler offers and details about how to set up direct ordering accounts.
Date |
Event |
May 14 |
Final shipment of Paperback Essentials |
May 31 |
Current promotions will end |
May 31 |
End of B&T's support of Indie Next Program (June Indie Next titles) |
June 1 |
Last day for shipments of author event orders |
June 30 |
Last day My Books & More websites will continue to operate. The ABA has announced a special deal for IndieLite websites as a replacement for My Books & More. Click here to contact the IndieCommerce team for more information |
June 30 |
B&T will ship NYP titles through June, all open orders for pub dates after July 1 will be cancelled. If you would like a report of what is on order with a pub date after July 1, reach out to your rep. |
July 1 |
All 2019 Co-op report requests need to be made by July 1 and reports will be sent to you by the end of August. |
July 15 |
Last day for shipping all other orders. Any orders received after noon on July 15 will be cancelled. This includes Home Delivery orders. |
July 30 |
Last day B&T will accept overstock returns at the return center. |
GLIBA shared Joanna Parzakonis's (This is a Bookstore & BookBug, Kalamazoo, MI) helpful thoughts for the next steps. “Our thinking [about our stores’ strategy] has ranged from immediate action plan sort, including:
- Processing all of our B&T returns as soon as possible,
- Scaling back our orders,
- Increasing our EDI capacity to midsize houses,
- Setting a schedule to wean our staff off of the B&T database for customer service; and
- Working to identify a wholesale alternative to our store’s now only distributor, who we were encouraged to hear some supportive messaging from.”
We're compiling all the resources put out by the regionals, ABA, and various publishers to help aid the process of transitioning away from Baker & Taylor as they shut down the wholesale trade distribution arm of their business. Click the links below to learn more.
Wholesalers
(arranged alphabetically)
Bookazine
Ingram
Longleaf Services
Longleaf Services has announced two major changes to its terms for U.S.‐based independent retailers, effective July 1: the implementation of a single, simplified discount structure and a free freight incentive, which retailers will automatically receive at the same discount rates across all Longleaf presses.
Microcosm
In the wake of B+T's announcement, we are expanding our wholesale services and offering special terms for bookstore accounts.
Special for trade accounts:
2752 N Williams Ave
Portland, OR 97227 USA
503-799-2698
Pubeasy & Pubnet
MVB US is offering a special promotion to independent booksellers who want to take advantage of the company's Pubeasy and Pubnet services, both of which facilitate easier, direct communication with publishers. Pubeasy is a service that allows booksellers to check price, availability, and the status of their orders as well as order directly from 14 of the largest North American publishers and distribution clients. Pubnet allows publishers to place direct orders with more than 200 publishers through an automated process through their existing point of sale systems; it is suited to stores that have higher volume. The $75 set up fee is currently being waived.
Click here for more information about PubNet
Click here for more information about PubEasy
Publishers
(arranged alphabetically)
Blackstone Publishing
Candlewick
Candlewick's new, enhanced offers include:
To learn more about Candlewick's offers, accounts should contact their Candlewick sales rep directly or e-mail Elise Supovitz.
Capstone
Any new account that meets the Capstone accounting criteria will receive the following:
Contact: [email protected]
Toll Free Phone: 1-877-245-4892
Toll Free Fax: 1-888-262-0705
Email: [email protected]
Mail: Capstone Customer Service, 1710 Roe Crest Drive, North Mankato, MN 56003
Program ends December 31, 2019.
All discounts, prices, terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without notice.
Chooseco
Chooseco, the publisher of Choose Your Own Adventure stories, has announced that its Choose Indies Direct program is eligible for any publishers who do not already have a pre-existing account with Chooseco. The terms are as follows:
Free Sprit Publishing
Free Spirit Publishing is offering the following special terms for indie bookstores looking to establish direct accounts:
Discount Schedule and Trade Policies
Terms
Freight
Returns
Claims/Shortages
Click here to view Free Spirit’s complete frontlist, backlist, and specialty catalogs on Edelweiss+. Add [email protected] as a contact on Edelweiss+ to place an order. Contact [email protected] for expedited help opening an account or to confirm discounts and terms for existing accounts.
Hachette
Hachette Book Group is launching Indie Direct, which is designed for any indie bookstore that does not already have an account with HBG. (The new account must be set up and first order received by August 30.)
HarperCollins
For all bricks and mortar independent bookstores who were ordering all their HarperCollins, Harlequin and
HarperCollins Christian titles from Baker & Taylor, we offer fast-tracked credit approval and account set up to
help you open a new HarperCollins account.
To apply:
Once you have an account:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is launching Fast Track, a new program to serve independent booksellers impacted by the changes at Baker & Taylor.
The program includes:
Ed Spade, vp, sales and national accounts, HMH Books & Media, said, "We're glad that we can offer the Fast Track program to streamline new account set up and initial ordering for these valued indie accounts and we're grateful for the support they provide for our books and authors.
Independent Publishers Group
Independent Publishers Group has launched an Indie Direct program, which offers special terms for one order placed between May 10 and September 1.
For new accounts:
For all accounts, new and current:
More information, including a promo code and ordering details, will be sent directly to bookstores from IPG's dedicated indie bookstore sales team. In the meantime, stores can contact customer service at (800) 888-IPG1 or [email protected].
Macmillan
New Harbinger
New Harbinger Publishing is extending an initial order incentive including the following:
Click here to download an account application.
Peachtree Publishing
Peachtree Publishing will offer a package of special terms to new customers and those who have not ordered from Peachtree for more than a year. Specifically, the company wants to reach those independent booksellers impacted by Baker & Taylor’s recent announcement that it will no longer distribute books to retail accounts.
For these customers, Peachtree has issued the following incentives (valid until November 1, 2019):
Penguin Random House
Scholastic
Scholastic will institute its 'Holiday Express Ship Program' effective June 1.
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster has launched Indie Quick Start to make it easier for indie stores that do not have accounts with S&S to set up accounts. The program is valid for all S&S titles, as well as titles from its many distribution clients (Andrews McMeel, Baen, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Gallup, Hazelden Publishing, Inner Traditions, Insight Editions, Kaplan Publishing, little bee books, North South, Open Road, Post Hill Press, Regan Arts, Reader's Digest, Ripley Publishing, Skyhorse, Viz Media, WeldonOwen and the World Almanac, among others).
As part of the program, S&S is offering to independent bookstores without a current account, or accounts that have been inactive for a year:
The new or renewed account and first order must be set up and made by August 30.
S&S has assigned a dedicated customer service representative to handle the Indie Quick Start process, and has set up a dedicated phone line and email inbox. For more information, booksellers should contact 800-976-1725 or [email protected].
Workman
The following terms are applicable for titles published by all Workman imprints, including Workman Publishing, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, Algonquin Young Readers, Artisan, Storey Publishing, and Timber Press, as well as distributed partners The Experiment, duopress, and Erewhon Books. Benefits of the new terms include:
Wholesalers
(arranged alphabetically)
Bookazine
- Bookazine, based out of New Jersey, is ready for new accounts now.
- Bookazine is a family-owned, full-service wholesaler offering a wide-ranging and deep inventory of new releases and bestselling backlist, with expertise in children’s titles, small press and regional titles, gay and lesbian books and magazines, and pop culture titles–including graphic novels and manga. They supply books to thousands of bookstores and libraries throughout the U.S. and around the world and enjoy positive business relationships with more than 25,000 publishers worldwide.
- Prepaid accounts take 48-72 hours to establish and begin shipping.
- Accounts with credit terms need to allow a minimum of two weeks to establish.
- You can begin by filling out a credit application and contacting Steve Goldberg by email or phone: 201-858-7558.
Ingram
- Details on Ingram's transition process
- Ingram's website
- Stores with Ingram accounts, be sure to contact [email protected] or your Ingram rep to adjust your credit line with this shift.
Longleaf Services
Longleaf Services has announced two major changes to its terms for U.S.‐based independent retailers, effective July 1: the implementation of a single, simplified discount structure and a free freight incentive, which retailers will automatically receive at the same discount rates across all Longleaf presses.
- Bookstores will automatically receive the same discount rates across all Longleaf presses. No action is needed on your part to receive these discounts:
- T (Trade): 45%
- S (Short): 40%
- X (Text): 20%
- ND (No Discount): Net Pricing
- This means stores can either create one Longleaf order for titles from any combination of Longleaf distributed presses or continue to separate orders by sales rep or publisher. These rates are for Returnable accounts.
- Free Freight on shipped orders totaling 10 copies or more when you sign up for our 10 Copy Order Minimum and Consolidation Program.*
Microcosm
In the wake of B+T's announcement, we are expanding our wholesale services and offering special terms for bookstore accounts.
Special for trade accounts:
- Order through your Book Travelers West rep (or directly from Microcosm)
- Minimum order of 15 assorted units
- 46% on Microcosm Publishing titles
- 40% on distributed titles
- Orders of 15+ distributed units, 42%.
2752 N Williams Ave
Portland, OR 97227 USA
503-799-2698
Pubeasy & Pubnet
MVB US is offering a special promotion to independent booksellers who want to take advantage of the company's Pubeasy and Pubnet services, both of which facilitate easier, direct communication with publishers. Pubeasy is a service that allows booksellers to check price, availability, and the status of their orders as well as order directly from 14 of the largest North American publishers and distribution clients. Pubnet allows publishers to place direct orders with more than 200 publishers through an automated process through their existing point of sale systems; it is suited to stores that have higher volume. The $75 set up fee is currently being waived.
Click here for more information about PubNet
Click here for more information about PubEasy
Publishers
(arranged alphabetically)
Blackstone Publishing
- Indie Store Special
- free shippping no minimums
- 50% off srp on all products
- payment terms are net 30 days
- Free returns on all products
- Greg Boguslawski, Director of Sales and Merchandising
- Adam Shea, Retail Sales Cordinator
- BlackstonePublishing.com
Candlewick
Candlewick's new, enhanced offers include:
- Candlewick's seasonal backlist stock offer, providing additional discount and dating, now has a reduced unit minimum and is available multiple times per season. For more details, click here.
- Candlewick has added a wholesale offer for indie bookstores that have book fair adjuncts.
- Candlewick is a participating client publisher in PRH's Indie Express program for bookstores that had been ordering exclusively from B&T.
To learn more about Candlewick's offers, accounts should contact their Candlewick sales rep directly or e-mail Elise Supovitz.
Capstone
Any new account that meets the Capstone accounting criteria will receive the following:
- First order of 15 or more assorted books will earn a 53% discount plus FF
- Subsequent orders will receive regular terms: 1-249 = 50%; 250+ = 55%. Free Freight on 15+.
- Opening order must use promo code: NewAcct2019.
Contact: [email protected]
Toll Free Phone: 1-877-245-4892
Toll Free Fax: 1-888-262-0705
Email: [email protected]
Mail: Capstone Customer Service, 1710 Roe Crest Drive, North Mankato, MN 56003
Program ends December 31, 2019.
All discounts, prices, terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without notice.
Chooseco
Chooseco, the publisher of Choose Your Own Adventure stories, has announced that its Choose Indies Direct program is eligible for any publishers who do not already have a pre-existing account with Chooseco. The terms are as follows:
- 50% off with no MOQ
- Free freight for orders of 10+ units
- No prepayment
- Net 60 terms
- No credit application or credit check necessary
Free Sprit Publishing
Free Spirit Publishing is offering the following special terms for indie bookstores looking to establish direct accounts:
Discount Schedule and Trade Policies
- 1–9 items = 40%
- 10+ items = 45%
- Permanent nonreturnable accounts receive an additional 5% discount
Terms
- Net 60 days
- Credit references required
- Prepayment required for 6 months for retailers without credit references
Freight
- FOB: Free Spirit Publishing, Minneapolis, MN
- Free Shipping on orders of 5 or more items within the continental United States
Returns
- Call 800.735.7323 or email [email protected] for authorization.
- We do not accept estimated returns as deductions on your remittances.
- Only materials returned in resalable condition (no stickered books) will be accepted.
- Titles out of print for more than 180 days will not be accepted.
- Posters and In a Jar® products are nonreturnable.
Claims/Shortages
- All claims or shortages must be reported within 30 days of the invoice date to receive credit.
Click here to view Free Spirit’s complete frontlist, backlist, and specialty catalogs on Edelweiss+. Add [email protected] as a contact on Edelweiss+ to place an order. Contact [email protected] for expedited help opening an account or to confirm discounts and terms for existing accounts.
Hachette
Hachette Book Group is launching Indie Direct, which is designed for any indie bookstore that does not already have an account with HBG. (The new account must be set up and first order received by August 30.)
- Benefits include:
- expedited account set-up
- no minimum quantity on the bookstore's initial order
- expedited credit approval
- additional discount for the store's initial order in the program.
HarperCollins
For all bricks and mortar independent bookstores who were ordering all their HarperCollins, Harlequin and
HarperCollins Christian titles from Baker & Taylor, we offer fast-tracked credit approval and account set up to
help you open a new HarperCollins account.
To apply:
- ABA members can find our Credit Application on BookWeb.org. Please fill out and submit to [email protected]
- Non-ABA members can e-mail [email protected] to request the credit app
- When reaching out please specify that you are a former Baker & Taylor account
- Every effort will be made to expedite the account review and set up process
- No order required to open an account
- Effective through October 1, 2019
Once you have an account:
- A sales consultant will be assigned to help you with order questions, register you on our customer service website and make sure you are maximizing our terms of sale.
- Orders received by 3pm (EST) will ship out the next business day
- All HarperCollins, Harlequin and HarperCollins Christian titles can be combined on orders.
- Our frontlist and backlist catalogs are available on Edelweiss and we encourage all accounts to utilize the tools available on Above the Treeline.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is launching Fast Track, a new program to serve independent booksellers impacted by the changes at Baker & Taylor.
The program includes:
- expedited account setup for new accounts that were working with B&T
- a special offer on the first order
- waived minimum order quantities
- and more.
Ed Spade, vp, sales and national accounts, HMH Books & Media, said, "We're glad that we can offer the Fast Track program to streamline new account set up and initial ordering for these valued indie accounts and we're grateful for the support they provide for our books and authors.
Independent Publishers Group
Independent Publishers Group has launched an Indie Direct program, which offers special terms for one order placed between May 10 and September 1.
For new accounts:
- No prepayment required for the first order
- Automatic credit limit of $1,000 for opening a new account
- No credit application required.
For all accounts, new and current:
- An additional 5% discount on an order of 10 or more units
- Net 60 dating on the order
- Free freight for 10 or more units ordered
- Qualifying orders placed by 11 a.m. Central time will ship by the end of the next business day.
More information, including a promo code and ordering details, will be sent directly to bookstores from IPG's dedicated indie bookstore sales team. In the meantime, stores can contact customer service at (800) 888-IPG1 or [email protected].
Macmillan
- Contact info: Call 888-330-8477 to find out who your sales rep is
New Harbinger
New Harbinger Publishing is extending an initial order incentive including the following:
- Discount of 49.5%
- Outgoing orders of 10 units of more will ship free freight to destinations in the Continental U.S.
- Any backorders generated from the initial order of 10 units or more will receive free freight as well.
Click here to download an account application.
Peachtree Publishing
Peachtree Publishing will offer a package of special terms to new customers and those who have not ordered from Peachtree for more than a year. Specifically, the company wants to reach those independent booksellers impacted by Baker & Taylor’s recent announcement that it will no longer distribute books to retail accounts.
For these customers, Peachtree has issued the following incentives (valid until November 1, 2019):
- A special discount on initial orders;
- A simple online application for new accounts;
- Free freight with low minimums.
Penguin Random House
- A streamlined new-account application (now available online) – no opening order necessary
- A streamlined credit-approval process (for Baker & Taylor customers in good standing)
- Special offer on your first order (includes a lower unit-minimum)
- Dedicated PRH sales director with expertise in helping B&T customers transition to ordering directly from Penguin Random House
- Dedicated PRH sales reps (community bookstore specialists) to help you navigate seasonal frontlist ordering and backlist replenishment
- Special offer from Above the Treeline to help with inventory management
- For more information, e-mail [email protected] (This offer expires on 10/1/2019)
- More information about the "Indie Direct" program
Scholastic
Scholastic will institute its 'Holiday Express Ship Program' effective June 1.
- Backlist orders placed directly with Scholastic between June 1, 2019 and August 30, 2019 will receive express, two-day shipping for the summer.
- The publisher is extending its backlist stock offer to July 31, 2019.
- With this offer, booksellers have the choice of an additional 2% discount, or delayed billing until the extended date of October 15.
- No minimun quantity for opening orders on new accounts.
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster has launched Indie Quick Start to make it easier for indie stores that do not have accounts with S&S to set up accounts. The program is valid for all S&S titles, as well as titles from its many distribution clients (Andrews McMeel, Baen, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Gallup, Hazelden Publishing, Inner Traditions, Insight Editions, Kaplan Publishing, little bee books, North South, Open Road, Post Hill Press, Regan Arts, Reader's Digest, Ripley Publishing, Skyhorse, Viz Media, WeldonOwen and the World Almanac, among others).
As part of the program, S&S is offering to independent bookstores without a current account, or accounts that have been inactive for a year:
- expedited application and credit approval process
- quick initial order processing and no minimum for new customer initial orders
- promotional terms for new store openings.
The new or renewed account and first order must be set up and made by August 30.
S&S has assigned a dedicated customer service representative to handle the Indie Quick Start process, and has set up a dedicated phone line and email inbox. For more information, booksellers should contact 800-976-1725 or [email protected].
Workman
The following terms are applicable for titles published by all Workman imprints, including Workman Publishing, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, Algonquin Young Readers, Artisan, Storey Publishing, and Timber Press, as well as distributed partners The Experiment, duopress, and Erewhon Books. Benefits of the new terms include:
- Lower minimums for free freight
- Changing how backlist is defined to make it easier for indie accounts to reach minimums on backlist stock-up offers
- Extra discount earned on face-out quantities on all frontlist titles
- Easy credit application process for new accounts (now available online) and a New Store Special with no-minimum