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.