Hachette Book Group is going live with Batch for Books this coming Tuesday, July 7. HBG agreed last year to join Batch, which streamlines invoice management and payment processes for both booksellers and publishers, and now joins Batch's other U.S. partners--Penguin Random House, Macmillan, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, W.W. Norton & Company, Independent Publishers Group, Microcosm Publishing, Arcadia Publishing, Blackstone Publishing, and Gardner's US. More than 650 bookstores in the U.S. use Batch, which was founded in 2000 by the Booksellers Association of the U.K. and Ireland and is used in more than 80 countries.
Mike Shoults, CEO of HBG US Distribution, said, "At HBG US Distribution, one of our top priorities is empowering independent bookstores to thrive. We're excited to partner with Batch for Books and their intuitive, paperless platform, which streamlines invoice management and payments so booksellers can spend less time on paperwork and more time serving their communities and connecting readers with great books. I look forward to this collaboration and the real difference it will make for our bookstore partners."
Fraser Tanner, CEO of Batch for Books, said, "Hachette Books Group going live is an exciting milestone for Batch for Books and all Batch users. The partnerships that we've established with Hachette, and all our publisher partners, show their continued commitment to the independent bookselling community. They know improved workflows and greater efficiency through Batch support a healthier and more sustainable bookselling ecosystem and creates value for both booksellers and publishers. We're positive our indie bookstore partners will be ecstatic to see HBG on their Batch portals starting next month."
Allison Hill, CEO of the American Booksellers Association, said, "We're thrilled that Hachette is going live with Batch this July. We know the Hachette team has worked hard to move this project forward over the last year, and indie booksellers will be thrilled that the time has finally come. ABA is grateful to Hachette for their commitment, leadership, and follow through with Batch, and we're grateful, as always, to the Batch team for all they do to help independent bookstores thrive."