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12 Distribution Channel Orders
IngramSpark utilizes Ingram’s global distribution network to make titles available for ordering to over 40,000
independent bookstores, online stores, chain stores, libraries, schools, universities and ebook retailers,
(referred to as “sellers”). This also includes distribution through Ingram International. Ingram International
sells books on an export basis to customers in over 200 countries around the world; thereby, giving titles
world-wide distribution.
Global Connect
With the Global Connect Program (GCP), Ingram/Lightning Source (LS) entered into an agreement with
trusted and vetted printers in certain markets, not currently served directly by Ingram/LS, to provide print
and distribution capabilities in those markets. Bookstores in those markets can purchase your book from
the trusted printer in their country, saving the bookstores overseas shipping fees and providing a quicker
turnaround time for them to receive the product. No inventory, shipping, currency headaches, or import/
export issues to be concerned about. All sales are non-returnable through Global Connect.
By entering a U.S. retail price and wholesale discount for each title, in the Global Connect pricing section,
Ingram will make your titles available in each current GCP Market and any additional GCP Markets as they
become available. Participation in any given GCP Market will serve as your permission to distribute the title
in that market through the GCP.
Drop ship orders are not available through these printers. They only fulfill bookstore and retail orders in
their market.
Click here for a list of current Global Connect Markets.
Distribution Through IngramSpark
When you successfully set up a title through your IngramSpark account, you have the option to add/enable
distribution services for that title. We send title information catalog feeds to retailers, distributors, and
wholesalers, (referred to as “Sellers”) within the Ingram global distribution network, which includes all the
information you provide for your book during the title setup process, including the cover image and pricing
for each market selected. These Sellers will pick up these feeds, as they determine best for their business,
and books may be listed as available for sale on their websites, at their discretion. In the US, these Sellers
include, but are not limited to, Ingram Book Group, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. You can view a complete
list of our global POD print and ebook Sellers here and review more information about title availability here.
Orders received by Sellers are placed directly with IngramSpark/Lightning Source for both print and ebook
titles. When the book is delivered to our Sellers, we will register the sale of the book on the Publisher
Compensation report (generally within 24-48 hours of delivery), located in the REPORT section of the
publisher’s IngramSpark account. Publishers are paid for those sales approximately 90 days after the end
of the month in which the sale was made. Publishers are paid the wholesale price of the book, less print
charges for each book sold.
Once a title is set up under the IngramSpark account, there are no additional fees or charges required to
make the title available for sale in additional markets. Publishers give permission for IngramSpark to sell a
title in all global markets or specific ones, by adding pricing for each market, approving the eproof (available
for print only) and enabling distribution for the title. Each print facility will use the same print-ready PDF
file for the physical book and the same ebook file. Print files and ebook files, and changes to these files, are
continuously synchronized across print facilities, so the same version of the book is available to all global
markets.
Publishers determine the suggested retail list price on all titles in all markets. If pricing is not submitted,
the title will be unavailable for sale in that market.
For titles a publisher makes available for sale in Ingram Wholesale Services, Lightning Source reserves the
right to establish pricing criteria, including maximum and minimum pricing thresholds. Titles failing to meet
this criteria will not be enabled for Wholesale Services.