WHAT'S A CIROBE?

CIROBE: The Chicago International Remainder and Overstock Book Exposition or CIROBE is an annual tradeshow for the bargain book trade. Closed to the public, it is the industry’s preeminent tradeshow taking place every October in Chicago. 

HOW IT AFFECTS PUBLISHERS AND AUTHORS: It is an industry plush with success and plenty of worldwide business, an entrepreneur’s dream and an author’s nightmare. To get your arms around this industry, visit CIROBE’s website. In the left hand column, click on Learn About The Bargain Book Industry and also click on the glossary. It contains terms worth knowing, terms such as “white sale, hurts, assortments, bid list, etc.”

POWER PLAYERS: There are almost 150 remainder booksellers listed in the LMP (Literary Market Place). Maybe these power players are not as glamorous as big-time publishers who court the famous among their authors, but no one can argue they don’t take the financial risks book publishers do either.

FOR INSTANCE: World Publications is a major player. They wholesale to libraries, museums, bookstores and other specialty retailers who must purchase—got that, must purchase—at least 2 copies of each title and submit a minimum order of $150.00 net. They ship “20 million books each year to over 10,000 retail outlets worldwide,” an impressive business model any entrepreneur would welcome. 

WHERE DOES ALL THIS LEAVE US? Informed! From learning about what it costs to publish a book to remainders and CIROBE, an expanded knowledge-base not only helps us prepare and focus our book proposals from a publisher’s viewpoint but avoid many of the typical vulnerabilities that plague writers.

Publishing is a tough, unforgiving industry yet it does have a light at the end of its seemingly dark tunnel called print on demand or POD . This growing do-it-yourself phenomenon is gaining acceptance but here’s the rub. We still need to identify, stage and sell our books and services whether we are an author, writer or entrepreneur who writes books. 

Build your company on a rock and write your book from knowhow! Start by getting your copy of How to Develop a SMARTPLAN for Your Business from your favorite bookseller. It’s the first-ever interactive printed book. Using your smartphone to scan 2D codes, it instantly links you to videos, webinars, podcasts or whitepapers where you learn more.

THE FALL OF ROME

When tragedy strikes like it did in Tucson, Arizona several days ago, we take notice, blame and morn. What we don’t seem to do is acknowledge we’ve been promoting violence for decades!

Society has slowly grown from love of country, moral respect and knowing when to draw the line to vulgarity, gluttony, thinking crime’s charismatic, and using our bodies for entertainment. One is noble and the other is fools’ gold. 

Doesn’t history teach us anything? Not only did the Roman Empire fall because it allowed vulgarity, gluttony, brutality, and using the human body for entertainment so has every other great country in history.

Build your company on a high road not on fools’ gold! Start by getting your copy of How to Develop a SMARTPLAN for Your Business from your favorite bookseller. It’s the first-ever interactive printed book. Using your smartphone to scan 2D codes, you can instantly link to videos, webinars, podcasts or whitepapers where you learn more.

GREED

Excluding natural disasters, accidents or war victims, beggars were everywhere this past year. All of them beg to support the “poor me” mindset. That is, I can do what I will and guilt-trip you to “save” poor me. Beggars, of course, include governments, corporations, nonprofits, professional beggars, beggars who don’t know any better, and the down trodden.

Empathy is justified at times – or not. What’s not right about begging is affixing a label to a beggar confirming to the beggar it’s alright to beg! It’s not OK! 

I didn’t open the door to worldwide stock market greed or corporate and government mismanagement that led to greed. I wasn’t stupid enough to buy a house that I couldn’t afford. Nor did I unzip some drunk’s mouth and pour alcohol down his/her gullet or opted in on a drug-user’s holiday!

Exactly why should I give money to support the self-centered? You say—what! Wait up folks; I donate both money and time: money where it’s justified and time when a sincere individual asks for professional input.

But the “straw that broke [this] camel’s back” and topped off the beggars' year of greed was Oprah’s new network website. I wanted to find out the channel in my area – but COULDN’T without giving Oprah’s gatekeepers my email address! Well duh! 

SHAME ON YOU Oprah! That’s GREEDY. Why do you ALSO need my email address? Don’t you already have enough going for you? Why do you need my email address before I even decide if I like your TV channel?

You want to dun me? You want to allow your advertisers’ to dun me? Isn’t it obvious I’m a willing viewer or I wouldn’t be on OWN’s website in the first place? Ever hear of “web analytics”? It was a real turn off. Oink! Oink! 

Learn to respect your customers. It’s the most important thing you’ll ever do! Start by getting your copy of How to Develop a SMARTPLAN for Your Business from your favorite bookseller. It’s the first-ever interactive printed book. Using your smartphone to scan 2D codes, it instantly links you to videos, webinars, podcasts or whitepapers where you learn more.