Skip to main content

Paperight could be the next stage of POD

I just came across a new tech startup that hasn’t quite started yet. It’s a new project by the people behind Electric Book Works, the ebook makers based in South Africa.

Paperight is designed to connect publishers,  print shops, and customers. Let’s say a publisher has a title that they would like to offer worldwide, but the shipping cost is too high (textbook, for example) and they can’t find a local partner. That’s where Paperight comes in.

The publisher can upload the source to Paperight, specify which countries  they want to sell in, and how much they want. Paperight can then distribute the file to participation print shops, collect the royalties, and pay the publisher.

I find this particularly fascinating because of the many complaints I’ve heard about the major POD suppliers. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen proof copies described as cheap looking, amateurish, or frankly crap. A local print shop might not do better, but I don’t see how it could do worse. At the very least the feedback loop will be shorter; looking someone in the eye and telling them they did a crappy job can be an effective motivator.

Does anyone know of an existing system like this? I don’t know of one.

Paperight

Similar Articles


Comments


Paperight’s POD Platform is now in Public Beta – The Digital Reader October 10, 2011 um 4:30 pm

[…] 10th, 2011 by Nate Hoffelder · No Comments · POD // About 5 months ago I introduced you to Paperight, a new startup based on an unfilled need in the print on demand market. Back in May all i could […]


Bookstores Aren’t the Future of POD – Print Shops Are – The Digital Reader June 12, 2012 um 12:15 pm

[…] South Africa based Paperight, which left beta just over a month ago, has the long term goal of connecting customers who want to buy with publishers who want to sell via local print shops. They want to offer readers pretty much the same service as the EBM, only without the hefty capital […]


Write a Comment