Tag Archives: fulfillment companies

Partners

two people on park bench

If you plan on hiring an outside company to handle order fulfillment of your independently published books and DVDs, it is always a good idea to begin your search for a fulfillment company well in advance.

Advanced research (and obtaining quotations) will help you in setting your price points for your products. You will want to make sure the shipping and handling fees you charge your customers will pay for a good part of having your publication shipped from the warehouse to your customer’s door.

A qualified fulfillment company knows and can discuss the mail order industry standards for shipping and handling fees. Make this a part of your discussion when searching for fulfillment companies. Sometimes, two heads are better than one when it comes to establishing appropriate shipping and handling fees.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

In my Book – The Winner Is!

1

This weekend I went to Arts in the Park in Steamboat Springs, CO.  I love going to Arts and Crafts events in communities that have a real appreciation for the Arts. You never know what you are going to find.

There were artists of every medium displaying their wares – potters, painters, birdhouse builders, fiber artists, jewelers and more. Each one interesting, unique and serious about their craft. I enjoyed it all!

The artist that really inspired me the most was a photographer, pictured above, Kenny Tong. His magnificent photographs of China were anything but ordinary. He came all the way from Chino, California to share his photography with Steamboat Springs, CO.  His photography is better than a day at the Spa. The images were pure serenity and tranquility. They captured places and scenes in China that few of us have seen before in books or from other photographs of China. For more information on his art, please visit www.kennytong.com.  And by the way,  you have to see his images first hand to really appreciate what I am talking about.

Kenny, you won my prize for artist of the day! Thanks for sharing your work with Steamboat Springs, Colorado and come back again! I am glad to know your images can be ordered on-line at www.kennytong.com.  Any plans for a coffee table book with your magnificent images?

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com 7

 

 Enjoy the glorious summertime!

 

 

 

 

 

A New Day Rising!

sunrise

There is a group 1,600 filmmakers that have come together to produce “films that matter.” This group of filmmakers, Nomads Land Network www.NomadsLand.com partner with non-profits, ecotourism and volunteerism groups to produce social issue media and documentary films. I am so excited about this network of filmmakers. This is the stuff we at Cornerstone Fulfillment Service, LLC get all excited about and want to shout “Hurray!”

I told you there is alot of good stuff on the horizon in independent filmmaking!

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

Up, Up and Away! Worth Rising For!

DSC_0175

There was  a sight to behold in Steamboat Springs, CO this morning. This weekend is the 29th Annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo!

Folks came from everywhere to watch this beautiful event at 6 am in the morning.  Some balloonists came from as far away as Florida, Iowa and California to participate. There were 32 balloons in all. Can’t wait till tomorrow to see more of the action!

Also, happening on site was one of the Dallas Cowboys’  cheerleaders participating in a photo shoot for their annual calendar.

There is so much to do in Steamboat Springs, CO in summertime. I am not sure what to do this afternoon. Perhaps a visit to the Arts in the Parks event. This evening I think we will take a picnic dinner and see what the American Laughingstock Theatre has to offer.  I don’t know though, there are quite a number of other events that sound pretty darn enticing.

 I would like to try that hot air ballooning stuff someday. I wouldn’t be afraid! And while I am at it, maybe we will take some of our client’s independent book and DVD orders and deliver them personally. After all, we do ship with all major carriers. Perhaps shipping via hot air balloon would be more economical. Maybe our postmaster would like to come along for a ride.

DSC_0101

DSC_0044

DSC_0007

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

Move Forward In Confidence

stop sign

Do your research and be informed. Many order fulfillment and distribution companies charge a hefty monthly minimum fee if your monthly sales volume does not meet their requirements.  Keep this in mind when  you are choosing an order fulfillment company.

Stop! Ask! And move forward when guided by knowledge.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

 

 

Climbing Mountains

Mountain Landscape 1

Many days, there is too much to do and not enough hours in the day to get it done. Everyone experiences that feeling! No one more so than independent publishers.  Writing is a business, publishing is a business and then there is the business side of both, too. Keeping track of your sales and inventory reports, maintaining a database of your customers purchasing your company’s publications, handling pro-forma invoices for trade and wholesale accounts, shipping orders. It all takes away from your task at hand of publishing. If you are a growing publishing company, you know exactly what I mean. 

Affordable order fulfillment companies for independent publishers are available to help with the business and shipping side of your publishing company. What would it mean if you could really focus just on the tasks of  publishing?

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

 

A Friend, Indeed!

IM002228

“Happy is the house that shelters a friend”  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson  When searching for an order fulfillment company for your independently published films or books, look for many of the same qualities you would in a friend.

  • A company that is dependable – will ship in a timely manner.
  • A company that is trustworthy – will get the job done!
  • A company that understands your needs.
  • A company that is fair – is affordable.
  • A company that goes the distance – is adaptable.

If you find a fulfillment company with these attributes, you will have found a friend worth it’s weight in gold. 

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

Think before you leap!

1 Comment

Picture 049 

Many individuals have wonderful, inspiring and thoughtful stories to tell. With the availability of print on demand and desk top publishing, anyone can be a published writer.  But, there are a few things to be  aware of!

Independent publishing includes much more than just writing your book. A well developed plan is critical to a book that will lead to successful sales.

  • Research your topic or subject
  • Think about your niche market
  • Put together an comprehensive marketing plan
  • Remember – the author plays a critical role in marketing
  • Plan for sales and distribution issues (order fulfillment)
  • Research, plan and project costs of independent publishing
  • Decide what parts of the process you can handle on your own
  • Think about the business aspect of independent publishing

And always remember, writing the book is only part of the entire process. Be smart, plan ahead and get professional assistance in the parts of the process where you need help.

This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com

June – Rebuild your Life Month

Leave a comment

Spring is a good time to review the way we do business.  As a fulfillment company, we are constantly reassessing our ways of doing business.

In this time of rising fuel prices and postal increases, fulfillment companies need to reassess and possibly reinvent as well. Locating quality packaging materials at a good price, comparing methods of shipping/delivery, researching business software aimed at streamlining operations are on my mind at this time of year.  Making sure we can deliver products in the most cost effective, dependable way is ever important. And always key to a successful fulfillment business is making sure our independent publishing clients are offered and provided with optional services that will help “lighten the load.”

Happy Spring!!!!

Water lilies

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com