As the major book printing company consolidates their position worldwide, they gain the capability of book printing books themselves in foreign languages rather than licensing translation rights to others. The major STM book printing company, in particular, is increasing their ability to sell their products digitally and directly to end-users without the use of intermediaries. Rights work involves close contact with the editorial, production, promotion and sales departments, and accounts. Selling to customers, who are mainly editors or directors of other firms, has to be carried out in a regular and personal way, and good negotiation skills are required to negotiate deals and contracts. Foreign travel includes at the very least attending the major book fairs in Frankfurt and Bologna. Staffs who sell many books of international appeal, such as highly illustrated color non-fiction, travel widely and frequently, making sales trips to countries in addition to their attendance at relevant fairs. There is a great deal of paperwork, correspondence, maintaining customer mailing lists, and record keeping after fairs and sales visits.
The majority of books have no significant rights sales income within Book Printing company, but some (such as in consumer book printing, especially in adult and children highly illustrated color books) earn much or depend on rights deals for viability. Where agents are involved, many rights may be reserved and not available to the book printing company, limiting what then can be sold. For example, a book printing company buying volume (essentially print) rights for a specified territory will not be able to sell translation rights. By contrast, the non-consumer book printing company acquires all rights from their non-agented authors.
Spiral Book Printing
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