Book distributor bankruptcy
An American book distribution company called Advanced Marketing Services went into bankruptcy at the end of December. Now all of their assets are frozen, including those of their subsidiaries. One of the subsidiary companies, Publisher's Group West, is a major US distributor for independent and small press publishers, including feminist publishers like Cleis.
PGW had a very profitable year and isn't in trouble, but because they are owned by AMS, all of their assets are frozen, too, including their accounts payable, which means that it will be months or even a year or more before the small presses that distribute their books through PGW will get paid for books sold in the last quarter of 2006 (ie, their Christmas sales, which amount to 1/3 their annual income).
This is going to put dozens of small and alternative presses out of business.
So, if you were thinking of buying a small press book this winter or spring, do it now, and if possible, order the book directly from the publisher. Tell your friends to do the same.
More on how this is going to cripple many small presses.
A New York Times article on the bankruptcy
PGW had a very profitable year and isn't in trouble, but because they are owned by AMS, all of their assets are frozen, too, including their accounts payable, which means that it will be months or even a year or more before the small presses that distribute their books through PGW will get paid for books sold in the last quarter of 2006 (ie, their Christmas sales, which amount to 1/3 their annual income).
This is going to put dozens of small and alternative presses out of business.
So, if you were thinking of buying a small press book this winter or spring, do it now, and if possible, order the book directly from the publisher. Tell your friends to do the same.
More on how this is going to cripple many small presses.
A New York Times article on the bankruptcy
