Small Press Distribution, which distributes nearly 400 publishers, is reorganizing its operations and created a GoFundMe campaign to help fund the transition.
Among the changes: SPD is expanding services to its clients by partnering with Ingram Content Group and Publishers Storage & Shipping to handle storage and shipping. As a result, SPD will be able to offer publishers print on demand, e-book and audiobook distribution services. Ingram will provide pick, pack and ship functions. SPD will continue to take orders, bill, collect and provide customer service on order fulfillment but will close its Berkeley, Calif., warehouse.
"Publishers will see a wider offering of their titles to Bookshop.org, libraries and independent bookstores that are such an important channel for independent presses," SPD said. "Global POD sites will offer affordable international distribution to global markets such as Europe and Australia that have been historically cost-prohibitive with U.S.-based printing and shipping. And Midwest U.S. ship points will decrease freight cost and speed delivery time domestically."
Called SPD Next, the GoFundMe campaign has raised $13,000 toward its goal of $100,000. SPD executive director Kent Watson said, "SPD needs your help to bring our nearly 400 presses with us into the future. Our new model will significantly help underrepresented voices reach the marketplace with increased efficiencies. With this funding, SPD will now be able to offer more options to speed publishers' books to each and every reader around the globe while also offering access to POD, e-books, and audiobooks. Please help us build a brighter future for small press literature with a donation to our SPD Next GoFundMe campaign."