Print Runs

[Tzeentch]

Is there any advice for determining the size of a print run? Specifically, I would like to avoid having my room filled to the rafters with unsold books if at all possible, but I would like have a large enough print run so that I can get some economy of scale. My budget for printing seems a bit higher then most indy games (let's say $5,000 or so) and I do plan on using as many of the marketing strategies as possible, but I don't want to spend too much. Thanks.

[jdagna]

You don't give us much information to go on (like how you intend to sell the book or what kind of book it is).  However, between 500 and 1000 is usually a good balance between per unit cost and total print size. But, if you don't plan on going through distribution, print on demand (basically one at a time) will give higher unit costs, but a better overall strategy.

[taalyn]

So, are there any printers you (or anyone, for that matter) would recommend for POD? I know Kinko's isn't the way to go for POD.

Aidan

[Ron Edwards]

Hi Aidan,

Express Media is my top pick of the moment. Talk to Jake Norwood and Paul Czege about their great experiences with this company. I expect to have similar experiences with the upcoming book copies of Elfs and Trollbabe. Their price quotes are excellent and their customer service is really one-on-one. They'll also warehouse and fulfill for you, although you may have to negotiate a bit regarding prices.

Express Media
A search here at the Forge on "Express AND Media" with the search for all terms specified, will turn up several useful threads.

Best,
Ron

[Brian Leybourne]

Not to put a damper on Ron's recommendation, but there is a gotya with Express Media.

Twice now, they have stuffed up the shipping address with Riddle of Steel books, and only very quick intervention prevented them from shipping the crates to the wrong side of the U.S.

Express Media are a very good company, but make sure you double and triple check the shipping adress they're planning to use at ship time. When they send you the "you order has shipped" manifest, realise also that they're slightly lying, that manifest goes out 3-4 days before they actually ship, which is actually a good thing because it lets you check the shipping address again.

Not to put you off Express Media though, they are really good, they just have that one problem that has occurred twice for us. I have found Elizabeth Harness (EHarness@ExpressMedia.com) to be excellent, with top class customer service. Contact her directly with any issues or queries.

Brian.

[jdagna]

I've had good experiences with Total Printing Solutions (http://www.tps1.com) for softcover book printing (they don't do hardcover in house and thus aren't competitively priced).  One huge advantage with them: an online price quote generator.  If you don't know what things cost, this quote generator will be useful for you, even if you don't do any printing there.

For POD, I think rpgnow.com can't be beat.  DON'T do Kinko's.  The prices are too high and they lack certain capabilities (like a coating for the cover that will make it stand up to regular use).

[Gold Rush Games]

Just wanted to drop a quick note that we're getting ready to roll out the new-and-improved Eureka! Publishing & Distribution program. With it, we're making POD printing, distribution and more available to our clients.

While we can't beat every printer's price on straight POD printing, the quality of our books is quite good can include distribution (through Eureka!), access to the book trade channel (through Ingram Book Co.), and listing on all major on-line sellers (such as Amazon.com, BN.com, et al.).

For more info about the program (sans contract; I'm not quite done updating the site yet), have a look at the Eureka! P&D web site.

[Gold Rush Games]

For more info about the program (sans contract; I'm not quite done updating the site yet), have a look at the Eureka! P&D web site.

  Just FYI, our final contract is up on the site now.

  I think folks will appreciate the fact that we've distilled it down to 2 pages, too (makes it much easier to digest).