Book Sales & Distribution

BTPS is a full-service book distributor, providing tailored sales and fulfillment options to high quality publishers.

BTPS customers include any account in the book trade as well as mass merchandisers, specialty retail and wholesale customers, the gift trade, museums, Christian bookstores and churches, outdoor stores—essentially any business that buys and sells books. BTPS sells to accounts around the world, both in print and electronic formats.

Click here to learn more about becoming a BTPS book sales and distribution client publisher.

The Baker & Taylor Difference

Publishers who proactively pursue sales and marketing to library markets in addition to sales to general consumer retail/wholesale and education markets benefit from BTPS’s relationship with its parent company and its special relationship to suppliers of education markets.

Speed to Market

The BTPS hub facility in Ashland, Ohio, is also the BTPS POD manufacturing facility and serves as the central location for shipping large orders to national accounts. Baker & Taylor’s additional two U.S. service centers in Momence, Illinois, and Commerce, Georgia, hold stock of many of our clients’ titles that ship to public library accounts nationwide as well.

Data and Reporting

BTPS has a sophisticated portfolio of systems and data processing capabilities that allow seamless communication among BTPS warehouses and business facilities.

In addition, BTPS client publishers have access to real-time information regarding inventory, sales, returns, and revenues through the BTPS Publisher Dashboard. Customizable reports, detail drill-down, and the ability to create an unlimited number of users and set permissions for what those users see and modify are among the features of this robust publishing management tool.

Management

Jeff Tegge – Vice President, Client Services. Jeff is responsible for the full spectrum of Baker & Taylor and Follett solutions and represents BTPS client publishers’ titles to the public library, K-12, and higher education markets. He was previously President of Legato Publishers Group and prior to that, Vice President of Sales at Independent Publishers Group (IPG).

Bob Gospodarek – Vice President, Operations. Bob oversees the book printing and manufacturing operation of BTPS. He was previously Vice President of Operations/COO for Thomson-Shore and President of Guardian Manufacturing.

In-House Sales & Marketing Team

Tony Proe – Vice President, Business Development. Tony facilitates new client acquisitions efforts for BTPS. He has represented hundreds of publishers including Houghton Mifflin, Health Communications, Syracuse University Press, and Tyndale in addition to previously managing his own sales organization. Mark Hillesheim – Vice President, National Accounts. Mark manages sales efforts to BTPS client publishers’ titles for Barnes & Noble and Barnes & Noble College as well as library and trade media in New York and Canada. He was previously Vice President of National Accounts, Backlist Operations at HarperCollins and National Account Manager at Legato Publishers Group (PGW). Andi Richman – Director, National Accounts and Manager, New South Books (Australia). Andi leads efforts to sell to select national accounts, such as Ingram, AWBC and Readerlink on behalf of BTPS’s publisher partners. In addition, she manages the relationship with New South Books in Australia for BTPS internationally. Her previous experience includes national account positions at Guilford Press, Hay House, Harlequin and Dorling Kindersley. Randy McKenzie – Manager, Christian Sales. Randy directs Christian national account sales for BTPS client publishers’ titles for Ingram/Spring Arbor, LifeWay, Christian Book Distributors, Select Media, Mardel, Cokesbury, and the Munce Group, among others. He previously managed a variety of both trade and CBA accounts in addition to helping launch and establish the best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Deanna Meyerhoff – Trade Sales Director. Deanna manages Amazon and other online accounts as well as the independent bookstore channel, including regional and educational wholesalers. She previously worked for PRH managing Amazon and regional independent traditional sales accounts in the Pacific Northwest and Western US. Madeline Conrad – Metadata Manager. Madeline oversees all aspects of metadata for BTPS, including ingestion, dissemination to accounts, and best practices. Madeline holds a MLIS degree from Louisiana State University and was most recently an archivist with History Associates, Inc. Matt Warner – Director, Marketing. Matt spearheads all of BTPS’s corporate marketing. Prior to BTPS, he held various positions at Barnes & Noble.com/NOOK Digital, including as Director of Children’s and Teen Books/eBooks and Director of eBook Channel Marketing & Sales. He also worked in various marketing management roles with several major children’s book publishers, such as Penguin, Random House, Orchard Books, and Lerner Publications.

Canadian Distribution & Sales: Ampersand Inc.

BTPS partners with Ampersand in Canada to facilitate client publishers’ Canadian sales to Indigo, independent bookstores, library wholesalers, price clubs, and other retailers with a team of sales representatives responsible for each Canadian province. In addition, BTPS partners with Fraser Direct Services for warehousing and fulfillment and is part of Fraser’s Jaguar Book Group, an entity from which most Canadian retailers buy, augmenting the market strength of BTPS in Canada while also facilitating payments and collections. View contact information for Ampersand, Inc.

Special Sales

BTPS sells into a wide variety of specialty retail and wholesale accounts including craft stores, gourmet food stores, museums, hospitals, gift shops, specialty retail chains, mail order catalogs, specialty wholesalers, online resellers, bulk/promotional resellers, and homeschool retailers. Click here to email the BTPS Special Sales Team.

Christian/CBA Book Sales & Distribution

BTPS is unique in its partnerships with Christian and faith-based publishers, helping them expand title sales and awareness in both the CBA and ABA marketplaces. Click here to learn more about BTPS Christian book sales & distribution.

Personalized Attention & Resources

Upon joining BTPS, client publishers immediately receive personalized attention and are welcomed into a culture of partnership.

  • A multidisciplinary transition team ensures a detailed, efficient onboarding process.
  • Publishers receive a dedicated client service representative to assist with day-to-day logistical needs.
  • The BTPS in-house sales team provides extensive pre-publication consultation and discussions on title positioning as well as continuous feedback and communication on major accounts, sales presentations, and promotional opportunities.
  • Available promotional programs include representation at national and international trade shows and inclusion in sales catalogs, eNewsletters to independent retailers, and targeted outreach to key retail and library accounts.
  • Publishers have access to real-time information regarding inventory, sales, returns, and revenues through the BTPS Publisher Dashboard.

Integrated POD Manufacturing & Inventory Management

Located in Ashland, Ohio, the BTPS POD manufacturing facility is under the same roof as the BTPS hub distribution facility, eliminating shipping time and expense while allowing for maximum cash flow.

BTPS client publishers receive exceptional pricing. A single print file provides access to POD manufacturing, allowing flexibility in physical inventory management.

Click here to learn more about POD Book Manufacturing with BTPS.

Interested in book sales and distribution for print and/or eBooks with BTPS?

BTPS would serve as a publishing partner under a print or eBook distribution agreement, handling practical operational functions such as warehousing, metadata dissemination, sales, order fulfillment, invoicing, collecting, and customer service.

BTPS welcomes all inquiries but is very selective when evaluating potential publishers.

The publishers in which BTPS is most interested are those who:

  • Have an established publishing program
  • Consistently release new titles each season or on a regular, ongoing basis
  • Demonstrate committed adherence to the industry’s basic solicitation requirements and deadlines
  • Understand where titles fit into the retail landscape
  • Know the competition and target consumer(s)
  • Are prepared to compete in target market(s) in collaboration with BTPS as the distributor
  • Will work with BTPS to agree upon mutual sales targets/expectations
  • Can support titles through marketing/publicity

Those with publishing programs that satisfy this criteria are encouraged to complete our online questionnaire. Please allow for at least 2 weeks for BTPS to review your submission and follow up regarding next steps.

If it feels as though BTPS’ services might be a bit beyond the scope of your current program, BTPS encourages you to investigate Small Press United.