Links for Small Press Publishers

About Our Inventory
The inventory that you see listed on Powells.com combines the stock in our seven brick-and-mortar Portland-area stores with that of several warehouses. In order for a book to show up on our site, it must be stocked at one of these physical locations. The purchasing department for each store, in coordination with Powell's head of purchasing, makes the final decisions about what to add to inventory.

With recent advances in publishing technologies (such as digital content and print-on-demand), it has never been easier to break into the world of publishing. Unfortunately, the increase in titles now available presents a significant challenge to bookstores. It is difficult, if not impossible, for a bookseller to establish relationships with each of the thousands of new publishers that have sprung out of these advances.

To consider carrying your book at our stores, Powell's requires the following information:

• Your name, address, phone number, email address
• Title of book, price, ISBN
• Book summary or description
• Name of distributors who carry your book, if applicable
• Discount information if the book can only be purchased through you
• Shipping information
• Return policy

Please send the above information to:

Powell's Books
Purchasing Department
2720 NW 29th Avenue
Portland, OR 97210

Due to the large number of requests, we cannot personally respond to them all. If we choose to stock your book, we will contact you. If you do not hear from us, we have chosen not to stock your book.

Alternative Distribution Channels
One way to increase the likelihood of bookstores carrying your book is to sell it to a company that has an established relationship with booksellers. The following is a list of links to help the small/self publisher form relationships with these companies.

Nearly every bookstore in the country has an account with wholesalers Ingram and Baker & Taylor. Both of these links provide useful information for the small/self publisher about getting books stocked by these companies.

The following book distributors take care of warehousing, order fulfillment, billing, and returns for publishers. This is not a comprehensive list, but it includes some of the more established companies. Each of the links below will give you an idea of the company and the books they distribute to help you decide.

AtlasBooks Distribution
Charles E. Tuttle Co., Inc.
Consortium Book Sales
Independent Publishers Group National Book Network
Publishers Group West

Finally, the single most important resource on the web for small/self publishers is the Literary Market Place. This site lists every resource a publisher would need — from printers, to marketing agencies, to distributors.

• back to top

Follow us on...