Getting your books read
Our print and distribution service is a game changer for authors, making your books available to thousands of retailers and customers around the world through print-on-demand and wholesale supply.
What are your print and distribution options?
Printing a stock of books
Having a stock of books printed, any number from 10 to 10,000 provides you with the opportunity to sell copies either to independent & high-street retailers through a wholesaler, or through your own website or at events, directly to the customer.
The greater the print run, the lower the unit cost and therefore the more flexibility you have to offer a competitive retail discount and benefit from a larger profit margin.
[Important fact: Softwood does not claim a royalty share for the books we produce or support.]
Global Print-on-Demand
Print-on-demand publishing allows authors to sell books that are only printed when ordered, reducing upfront costs, storage needs, and financial risk while keeping titles available worldwide.
This is a more cost-effective and sustainable publishing model as a result, though unit costs can be considerably higher than a printed stock as economies of scale do not come into play. A higher unit cost can mean it is more difficult to set a competitive RRP.
Get your books stocked by retailers
Ever wondered how bookshops order stock?
Softwood is proud to partner with Gardners Books. Gardners is one of the major wholesalers that provide stock into retailers, both independent bookshops and high-street (such as Waterstones) and online (e.g. Amazon) retailers.
Established over 40 years ago, Gardners ship around half a million books every day to retailers around the world and are the key to getting your book easily ordered, stocked, and returned by bookshops.
As a result, Softwood authors can benefit from placing any number of copies, from 10 to 10,000 in stock with Gardners for retailers to order for 24hr delivery.
Holding stock with Gardners means bookshops can order your book easily and return unsold copies, making retailers far more likely to stock, promote, and take a chance on your book.
We provide monthly sales reports and royalty payments for this distribution. Having this data so regularly can be a huge advantage when implementing a marketing campaign!
How does our print-on-demand service work?
Print-on-demand publishing allows authors to sell books that are only printed when ordered, reducing upfront costs, storage needs, and financial risk while keeping titles available to online retailers worldwide.
We encourage authors to see publishing as a business enterprise. Therefore, by setting an attractive discount for retailers and being conscious of printing costs, together we can set a competitive Recommended Retail Price (RRP) that establishes the book as an attractive product for retailers to list and for your readers to purchase.
Talk to us first to discuss your ambitions and expectations for your book. Is print-on-demand the right route for you?
Complete the book design, register for your own ISBN from Nielsen. (We'll complete the registration for you before publishing). Owning your ISBN underlines the control and ownership you have of your book.
If you're having a paperback and hardback edition, you'll need to purchase two ISBNs - cheaper still if you purchase a block of 10!
eBooks published through Amazon KDP do not require an ISBN, though if distributing through alternative sources, your eBook will require one.
ISBNs are owned in perpetuity and here is no deadline for using one that you buy.
Complete a print-on-demand agreement with Softwood that confirms your unit cost, retail discount, RRP, and profit margin. This also confirms that authors are in full ownership of their books at all times and that Softwood does not claim a royalty share.
Once the author has approved the print-ready PDF files, Softwood will create the metadata (for example, allocated THEMA category codes), register not only the ISBN but also register the book with our EU Authorised Representative to comply with EU GPSR (General Product Safety Regulations).
The book is now ready to be published.
The book's metadata (description, size, RRP, categories, keywords etc) are released into the book feed. We would usually expect online retailers to react to and list newly published books within 14 days of publishing.
A retail listing can depend on a competitive retail discount offered and subsequent RRP.
Disclaimer: Retailers have their own criteria for listing books and whilst we can ensure correct metadata, we don't have any control over the ways that books may be displayed with individual retailers.
Softwood authors benefit from receiving monthly sales reports and profits directly via Softwood. This can be advantageous for those looking for regular data to assist a marketing strategy.
Why having a stock of books can boost your success
Having a stock of books boosts your success by making your title immediately available to retailers, distributors, event organisers, and reviewers, removing delays that can cost sales opportunities.
Bookshops are far more likely to stock books that are readily available and returnable, which increases visibility, discoverability, and credibility in the market.
Stock also enables you to respond quickly to media features, bulk orders, school visits, festivals, and signings, helping you turn momentum into sustained sales rather than missed chances.
It's worth remembering that bulk printing lowers the cost per book, enhancing potential profits.
Give your book a premium touch with bespoke options that captivate readers and elevate its design. From luxurious covers to unique interior elements, our special edition enhancements add value and make your book truly stand out.
Please note, special features such as Spot UV, foiling, sprayed or digitally printed edges are only available through a printed stock and not via print-on-demand.
Ensuring you have a stock of books in advance of your book launch is a great idea.
Keeping a small stock to introduce to retailers, use for book signings, and local fairs can also be valuable.