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Blurb Adds Bookstore Distribution to Their Self-Pub Service

Hi-Res-Blurb-logo[1]The POD service Blurb has just pulled off the holy grail of self-publishing; thanks to a new deal with Ingram, Blurb authors can now distribute their print-on-demand or offset printed trade books to nearly 39,000 retailers around the world.

Blurb is joining Createspace and Ingram’s own Lightning Source in offering an option to distribute to bookstores. Launched in 2005, Blurb is best known as a POD service which specializes in graphics intensive titles like coffee table books, cookbooks, and textbooks. They boast a catalog of over 3 million titles from nearly 2 million authors, most of whom are outside the US.

As a result of the deal with Ingram, works distributed via Blurb can be included in Ingram’s catalog, and authors will also be able to offer a range of discounts (25%, 36%,or 55%) to entice booksellers to carry their book. New trade sizes and cheaper printing prices from Blurb will help authors make money on print distribution.

In related news, Blurb also testing a conversion service for ebook distribution to the Kindle Store:

Blurb is also offering its users the ability to easily convert a word doc into a .mobi file for readable on Kindle devices. The service is in Beta and is free for now, though Gittins said they will eventually charge for it. “We’re just looking for feedback,” she said. Blurb is also planning to relaunch its website sometime in October, Gittins said, adding new functionality including online calculators that Blurb authors can use to figure which trim sizes and discounts offer the best profit margins for their books.

Has anyone tried the new service? Are you considering it? Let me know what you think.

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Comments


fjtorres August 19, 2014 um 8:17 pm

No.
Both Ingram and Baker and Taylor have been distributing POD titles from Createspace and Lightning Source to bookstores for a while.

Nate Hoffelder August 19, 2014 um 8:18 pm

Thanks. I had a brain fart and couldn’t remember that.

Edit: I fixed the post.


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