Newsstand first to launch Espresso
19.01.09 | Catherine Neilan
Magazine subscription business Newsstand has become the first publisher in the UK to make use of the print-on-demand Espresso Book Machine, pipping Blackwell to the post after the academic retailer pushed its initial start date back from last autumn.
Newsstand Books, the recently launched division of the online firm, produces out-of-copyright, back-listed, and out-of-print titles, as well as self-published books, collated academic publications and large print versions “of any title”.
Business development manager Jennifer Harrison said the firm is in discussions with UK publishers to obtain the rights to print backlisted book titles, although she declined to offer any further details.
She estimated since setting up in October 500—600 books had been sold via the machine, which had initially expected to be launched in the UK via Blackwell’s UK branches.
Last summer it was announced the bookseller was planning an autumn trial, however this has since been pushed back to April. John Atkins, m.d of Newsstand, said: "There are those who say that the
printed copy is dead and that everything will be read from a screen of one sort or another. We believe that the pleasure and convenience of the printed word will ensure that this does not happen."
Comments on this article
By Dr D Ben Rees
I publish books in Welsh and we have a few that I would like them to be republished- some 20 copies,others 100 copies.What is the way to do it22 Jan 09 23:29
By Edward McBride
reference your blog Daily Mail 24/4/2009, ATM for books............I have just researched a A5 book of 300 pages, in word, printed both sides, 40 bw photo's subject WW2. I will need a sample to show potential customers,"can you do it" ???08 May 09 19:24
By Peter C. Harz
I just finished my memoir of 454 letter size pages (wps/doc). What are your specifications for a 20-unit, short print-run 6x9" paperback. Will you be willing to do the print-ready setup, and to put it into 'PDF'? I live near Halifax, Nova Scotia21 Aug 10 21:53
