Having commemorated its 75th year, the University of New Mexico Press (UNMP) has even more reason to celebrate 2005. As UNMP rings in the new year, sales figures from 2005 leave the Press with cause for optimism. For 10 consecutive months, UNM Press shattered sales goals and will finish with a substantial profit for 2005, its fifth profitable year in a row. Sales of press titles were about 10 percent above goals for October and an impressive 64 percent ahead of 2004’s pace.
The increase in sales can be attributed, in part, to the publication of two new editions of the press's fourth and seventh grade New Mexico history textbooks, a new bilingual fourth grade edition of the history textbook and an 11th-hour legislative action that spurred the press to create a text to satisfy the state's New Mexico history requirement for ninth graders.
Even aside from textbook sales, the Press was more than 25 percent above sales goals this year and twenty percent ahead of last year's figures, reflecting both strong frontlist sales, and a welcome turnaround in sales of backlist titles.
Of course, good books drive sales and the Press has enjoyed the success of several break-out novels, successful trade mysteries, and ever-popular nature guides that have contributed to press income. A highly respected list of titles in Latin American studies, Native American studies, and western history sustain the press's backlist and also contribute a large portion of sales.
UNM Press undertook a major reorganization in 2002, and that too has proven a successful venture. The marketing and sales departments were combined and Glenda Madden, an experienced manager with more than 25 years of university press experience, was hired as Marketing and Sales Manager. Under her leadership, the press's marketing and sales efforts have expanded significantly. A publicity manager and an events coordinator were added to the staff to increase visibility of UNMP titles.
The press now boasts an internet shopping cart available for shoppers at unmpress.com and also produces four-color seasonal catalogs. Furthermore, recent additions of sales representation in Australia and Japan stretch press sales around the globe.
“In the last three years, we have made adjustments in our sales representation throughout the world, adding to our marketing muscle for UNMP titles and those of our clients," explains Glenda Madden.
"Many people think we publish only books about New Mexico or books by New Mexicans. Granted, a good portion of our authors do live in New Mexico, but we also have authors residing in Minnesota, New York, Texas, Colorado, Montana, Louisiana, New Jersey, Georgia, Oklahoma, California, Guatemala, Mexico, France, Germany and Wales. This diversity has helped place UNMP titles in readers' hands in many far-flung corners of the world," says Madden.
Madden emphasizes the role that UNM Press's professional staff at its distribution center has played in contributing to its exemplary sales.
"It doesn't matter how many people find out about our books if there isn't a customer service and shipping team to get them into those peoples' hands," said Madden. "Our turn-around time for order processing has improved to the point that, in normal cases, our processing time is 24 -36 hours. We routinely get "rush" orders processed in two to four hours."
The communication between and efficiency of the marketing and sales teams and distribution staff will only get better, as the University of New Mexico's Board of Regents recently approved the building of a new facility that, for the first time since its establishment in 1929, will house the entire Press (editorial, marketing, design and production, customer service, business, warehousing, and shipping) under one roof.
The new building is planned for the University's Science and Technology Park and will include about 12,000 square feet of office space and a 23,000 square foot warehouse. The building should be completed by July 2006.
In addition to UNM Press's 80-plus new titles produced each year and a 700-title backlist, the press also warehouses, markets, and distributes the books of approximately 30 other publishers from around the state and the region. The press's new warehouse and office facility will give UNMP space to further expand its own list and to offer our marketing and distribution services to other publishers.
"UNM Press has always enjoyed a reputation as one of the best regional publishers in the country," says director, Luther Wilson. "It can now become one of the very best scholarly presses in the world."
Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at January 11, 2006 04:04 PM