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Createspace Expanded Distribution Channel
Explanation and Links
- Self-Publishing in General
Print-on-demand companies Createspace and Lulu have made self-publishing easy and affordable. The main selling points of these two services over rivals are (1) they provide you an ISBN for free (it costs $100 to purchase a single ISBN), (2) free cover creation software that is relatively easy to use, and (3) listing of all titles on Amazon.com (USA only). Between the two, I prefer Createspace over Lulu. Why? The price one is able to offer a self-published book on Amazon is much lower with Createspace than Lulu.
For example, the Lulu print cost, it's royalty percentage, and Amazon fee (exclusive of shipping) on an 6" x 9" paperback with 300 pages is $16.50. See lulu royalty calculator. The print cost and Createspace / Amazon markup for same book through Createspace is $11.45 (with pro plan that is $39 flat fee per book). See Createspace royalty calculator. That's a huge difference. Also, the integration between Amazon and it's subsidiary Createspace has advantages for authors. Books published through Createspace show up quickly on Amazon and, also, changes after initial publication track through. Not so with Lulu. Also, I don't think the "look inside" feature works on Amazon for Lulu books.
While Createspace and Lulu are geared directly for authors, another print-on-demand company (Lightning Source) primarily serves the small publisher market but can also be accessed directly by authors willing to buy their own ISBNs, create custom covers, and develop some level of tech savvy preparing electronic files for printing. In fact, Lulu uses Lightning Source to print its books. The main advantage of Lightning Source is more numerous distribution channels in the USA and Europe, including listing with wholesalers Ingram Book Company and Baker & Taylor, through which libraries, book stores and other traditional retailers purchase books. Do you want your books to be available at Barnes & Noble or Borders? Then you need a listing with one of these wholesalers. Lightning Source gives you that. Also, Lightning Source books are listed on Amazon.co.uk.
Until very recently, Createspace books that used a Createspace ISBN were not included in "Books In Print" published by Bowker. That changed when Createspace struck a deal with Bowker this October.
- Createspace Expanded Distribution Channel (EDC)
Although the barriers to entry at Lightning Source are not overwhelming, many authors find them daunting and prefer staying in the Createspace / Lulu milieu. Createspace authors have been asking the company for a way to get their books listed with Ingram and Baker & Taylor. The company responded a few days ago with the Expanded Distribution Channel (EDC). The main information page on the Createspace website for EDC is vague as to exactly what organizations are part of EDC; however, the initial EDC press release is more explicit. Lightning Source is owned by Ingram. The EDC is a Lightning Source & Createspace partnership allowing Createspace books to be listed with Ingram in the USA. Also, EDC books shall now be listed in "Books In Print".
At first glance, it sounds like a great deal for the authors affording them the ease of use and lower startup costs of Createspace together with distribution through Ingram. However, all that glitters is not gold. Dig deeper and more information emerges.
- Your book must be under the pro plan ($39 fee) to be eligible for EDC.
- I confirmed with Createspace that they do not have a return program in place for the EDC. Books stores and retailers rarely purchase books unless they can return them. What's that mean for the Createspace author? EDC will allow customers to special order books through bookstores but don't expect the bookstores and other retailers to stock your book on their shelves.
- Additional fees apply to each book sold through the EDC. Following through our above example with a 300 page 6x9 paperback, the additional EDC fee is $2.60 per book (on top of the normal cost charged by Createspace for each book).
- Your EDC book is not available for distribution to libraries unless it has a Createspace ISBN.
- There are still no Createspace distribution channels outside the USA.
My conclusion is that the EDC is an upgrade but not a huge improvement for self-published authors. Perhaps the EDC shall expand over time? One can only hope. Anyone with additional thoughts on this topic please leave a comment.
JJR
12-5-2009
Update: It now looks like the partnership between Createspace and Lightning Source has led to distribution for Createspace titles in Europe. Although there has been no announcement, as yet, from Createspace or Amazon, one of my books has shows up on the website of a UK bookseller listing it as shipping from the UK (meaning POD in the UK). See discussion on Createspace community board. This is a very encouraging development greatly enhancing the value of the Createspace EDC. 12-18-09.
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