Alice Mabin’s book, The Drover, is doing stellar business for Australian newsagents after bookshops rejected it. I have it in my newsagencies – it’s an excellent book. Some customers are buying it for the history. Others buy it as a gift.
The Drover is an excellent opportunity for our channel. I urge more newsagents to stock this – for the sales and to prove what we can do.
I asked Alice today for an update on how the book was going. Here’s her response:
So I have just counted up my newsagent stockists.
I have 92 newsagents stocking it that are not newsXpress newsagents. There are 21 newsXpress newsagents.
Newsagents that have done ‘outback’ displays to showcase the book have done super well with it- most selling between 60 and 200 books per shop.
To date I have sold just over 11,000 copies.
I am more than willing to book in authors talks or book signings with newsagents for next year. I had my first newsagent signing today in Kerang in Vic at newsXpress Kerand. The newspaper and radio did interviews with me pre the event to promote it and both showed up again today and interviewed me again which was great. The shop had a great little display up where I sat for the day and talked to people as they came in to the shop. We had 52 books go out the door in three hours!
It would be good to highlight the good margin in the book for them and the value that a display has to double figure sales. I find that a lot of newsagents are reluctant to stock it because they see it as a high priced item and are scared they wont sell it. And then they say they don’t have room for a display but as I try to advise them- the shops that have done displays have sold boxes and boxes of books.
I am currently running a display competition with newsagents- if they send me a photo of their display their display will be judged by an independent judge to win a half day photo shoot with me- an $800 prize.
I am also offering free freight on two or more boxes and orders than come in before the 19th of December I am offering deferred terms to the 30th of January 2015. (My distribution centres go on holiday on Friday until the 5th. I have pallets I can get to and send them out via other methods over xmas, but they wont be as efficient as my distribution) I have great point of sale posters I have also been sending out to stores free of charge.
I have attached a bit of a story on me and my journey to doing this that might give you some stuff to play with also.
If you would like some images to go with it, let me know and I can flick a few your way.I think people are worried sales will stop after Xmas also. I think they will slow down but they won’t stop- it’s such a timeless piece of outback Australian history that will appeal to people until such time as a bigger better event is undertaken.
Book signings next year will help reinvigorate the story in shops where sales have slowed down.
I plan to have gift cards and a few other smaller, lower priced items for shops to sell next year which will follow the same outback theme to complement the book.
I am so grateful for your continuing support with my book!
If you would like to order this book please contact Alice on 0499 559 399 or visit her website Http://almabinphotography.com.
FYI I have no commercial connection with Alice. I’m promoting it here because it’s a good story and a good opportunity for all newsagents.