One of the main reasons I LOVE Lightning Source for printing my books is that they have printing facilities in Europe, the U.K., and the U.S. There are times when it just makes sense for me to print books in the UK and have them shipped directly to the buyers.
Australia has always been a challenge because the shipping is expensive, and it takes a long time (I assume it actually goes by ship). We have a huge market in Australia. This new POD facility might be a little cheaper, but it should be a lot faster!
Note to current Lightning Source users: Make sure you set up local pricing options in Australia and the U.K. Check these every few months to make sure they’re still in line. One place to check current conversion rates is http://www.xe.com/ucc/.
Here’s the press release:
- Ingram Content Group announces the opening of its Lightning Source Australia operation
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Ingram Content Group Inc. today announced the opening of Lightning Source Australia, its fifth globally networked print-on-demand facility.
The opening of Ingram’s Australia location broadens the reach of the publishers that work with Lightning Source to a comprehensive network of bookstores, libraries, and online retailers around the world. As an example of what it brings to the market, at launch, over 1.3 million titles from more than 400 worldwide publishers will be available to Australian consumers through leading book retailers and library suppliers, including TheNile.com.au, Emporium Books Online, Dennis Jones & Associates, ALS Library Services, James Bennett, and DA Information Services.
“Our mission is helping content reach its destination. Simplifying the supply chain and making it cost effective to reach more readers is what we do best,” said Skip Prichard, President and CEO, Ingram Content Group Inc. “With the opening of Lightning Source Australia, publishers can take advantage of the Ingram network to print locally and receive all the benefits that they traditionally have through Lightning Source.”
Mr. Prichard continued, “We look forward to working with publishers and building upon our already solid relationships as a leading retail and library supplier in the Australian market and beyond.”
Ingram Content Group offers the only global network directly linked to market channels and a leading print-on-demand solution. The combination of Ingram and Lightning Source can get any book to its ultimate destination anywhere in the world—from a digital file to a reader’s hands—in four to five days, and as little as two days to most locations.
Lightning Source North American facilities include its headquarters in La Vergne, Tennessee, and operations in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Lightning Source international locations include a large-scale operation in Milton Keynes, UK, (central to London) that serves the European region and a facility in Maurepas, France, a joint-venture with Hachette Book Group.
ABOUT INGRAM
Ingram Content Group Inc. provides a broad range of physical and digital services to the book industry. Ingram’s operating units are Ingram Book Company, Lightning Source Inc., Ingram Digital, Vital Source Technologies, Inc., Ingram Periodicals Inc., Ingram International Inc., Ingram Library Services Inc., Spring Arbor Distributors Inc., Ingram Publisher Services Inc., Tennessee Book Company LLC, and Coutts Information Services. For more information, visit www.ingramcontent.com
Ingram Content Group Inc. provides a broad range of physical and digital services to the book industry. Ingram’s operating units are Ingram Book Company, Lightning Source Inc., Ingram Digital, Vital Source Technologies, Inc., Ingram Periodicals Inc., Ingram International Inc., Ingram Library Services Inc., Spring Arbor Distributors Inc., Ingram Publisher Services Inc., Tennessee Book Company LLC, and Coutts Information Services. For more information, visit www.ingramcontent.com
