Ingram Content Group, which sees the business from a variety of perspectives--it offers distributing, wholesaling, print on demand and digital services as well as the IngramSpark independent author and publisher platform--has experienced in the past weeks what it calls "unprecedented shifts in how consumers buy books. These shifts include changes in book availability due to supply chain issues, traffic at retail stores, temporary closures of libraries and retailers, and an increase in direct-to-consumer book sales, whether in print or e formats." (The company stressed that with so many bookstores moving to home delivery and online sales, Ingram's Direct-to-Home service is "a good way to help loyal customers continue to buy books from stores.")
The company said it's in "a good position to help the industry during this difficult time." Its five North American centers and the recently re-located U.K. distribution facility support one another and have a high level of operational redundancy. The POD business has seven facilities around the world, some of them located with distribution centers. As volume changes, the company is "shifting our people and connectivity to where business is moving, while paying attention to the needs of those who are most affected."
Depending on their locations, Ingram's sales, marketing, customer service and administrative staffs are either working from home or have the option of working from home. At warehouses, the company is focused on keeping staff "safe and healthy. We are allowing for timing between shifts, are focused on social distancing, are cleaning like crazy, and are limiting access to our DCs. If we find ourselves with a requirement to close a facility, we are confident we can be back up and running very quickly. We've been actively talking to publishers and retailers about our business continuity planning. If a print facility or distribution center is closed for any reason, we are capable of shifting work. Shifting work may result in short delays depending on the geography, but we'll still be shipping books."
There are a few disruptions in the supply chain, particularly the "difficulty of importing new book printing and exporting from North America through air routes," which has led to some stock problems and changes in on-sale dates. The company highly recommends publishers use Lightning Source POD services to be able to meet demand quickly. "We've seen a great influx of trade, academic, kids and illustrated titles being set up through Lightning Source and expect the trend to continue," Ingram said. In general, titles selling strongly during this time have been self help, cookery, children's books, work books and activity books, and journals.
Ingram has also "seen an influx of new e-conversions and audio titles" through its CoreSource digital service business. "We all know that the 'e' business has been relatively flat over the past few years," Ingram said. "We expect 'e' formats to continue to grow. CoreSource is well positioned to provide global e distribution and data management."
The company emphasized that it is consulting regularly with suppliers, clients and customers, and urges booksellers and others to be in contact.