Business Updates

JANUARY 19, 2024

Inclement Weather Delays

Inclement winter weather across Tennessee and other parts of the United States has resulted in service delays for Lightning Source. Concurrently, several of our shipping carriers are also facing delays, contributing to extended shipping times. You may see longer than normal shipping times in addition to longer than expected turnaround times.

We appreciate your patience. We are working quickly to get orders completed as soon as possible. 


 

JANUARY 10, 2024

Rush and Express Service Levels

We are pleased to share that rush and express service levels have been reinstated for both paperback and hardcover books in the United States. All service levels (economy, rush and express) are available in our United States, United Kingdom and Australia facilities.
 
Please check your IngramSpark account for current print turnaround times.


 

DECEMBER 4, 2023

Current Turnaround Times in the United States

Beginning December 4, 2023 we are temporarily suspending rush and express service levels in the United States.

Current turnaround times for printing your books:

Economy Service
Paperback books - 7 business days
Hardcover books - 14 business days

Midrun Service
Paperback books - 15 business days
Hardcover books - 20 business days

As a reminder, our turnaround times are for printing and do not factor in shipping times. Many carriers are experiencing delays, so please expect shipping to take longer than usual.

Service levels and turnaround times at our Australia and United Kingdom facilities remain unchanged. Please check your IngramSpark account for additional information.

 


 

27 OCTOBER 2023

Recommended Order Dates
Every year, the holiday season is peak time for us, you, and retailers everywhere. If you plan on placing orders for your books through your IngramSpark account, you’ll want to plan ahead. Below are our recommended order dates to give your books the best opportunity to reach readers in time for the holidays.

United States Order Dates
Hardcover and paperback: Order by November 24th

United Kingdom Order Dates
Hardcover: Order by November 24th
Paperback: Order by December 1st

Australia Order Dates
Hardcover: Order by November 24th
Paperback: Order by December 1st

Need your books fast? Please review the latest turnaround times when placing your order from your IngramSpark account and plan to meet the above recommended order dates, especially for higher volume orders.

 


 

21 AUGUST 2023

Upgrades to Print Equipment at Australia Facility

To support our continued expansion, we are upgrading our equipment and therefore both standard and premium color could experience longer turnaround times for a short period.

  • Beginning Monday, 18 September, standard, standard 70 and premium color print options may take longer to print.
  • We encourage you to order your books no later than Friday, 15 September to avoid any potential print delays.
  • Black & white, and ultra-premium printing will remain available to order with standard turnaround times throughout the upgrade.

*Titles printed in black and white and ultra-premium remain unaffected. This change does not impact any of our other print facilities.

 


 

1 JULY 2023

New Print and Paper Options

New print and paper options will be available for your books. An ultra-premium color option can help you create bright and vibrant books. Groundwood paper is now available. This lightweight, thicker paper is mostly paired with mass market and trade content.

Access our global distribution of over 40,000 retailers, libraries, universities, and educators. Books enabled for distribution will be charged a market access fee equivalent to 1% of the local list price at the time of sale. See more details.

 


 

5 JUNE 2023

Groundwood Eggshell Paper Available in our Australia Facility

Lighter weight. Higher opacity. Groundwood eggshell paper is an excellent alternative to crème paper if you are looking for a thicker but lighter paper that works well for trade books, reader guides, and academic trade titles.

Groundwood eggshell paper is now available in our United States, United Kingdom and Australia facility.

 


 

1 JUNE 2023

Updated Custom Trim Sizes

You can now set up hardcover books at custom trim sizes between the minimum and maximum dimensions shown below.

Custom trim is available through US printing facilities, and only available through publisher direct ordering. Minimum order quantity is 20 copies.

White Paper

Créme & Groundwood Paper

Widths available from: 5” to 8.5” or 127mm to 216mm

Widths available from: 5” to 6.14” or 127mm to 156mm

Lengths available from: 8” to 11” or 203mm to 280mm

Lengths available from: 8” to 9.21” or 203mm to 234mm

 

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1 MAY 2023

Book Setup Fees Discontinued

We will no longer charge book setup fees. You can now upload your books for free. New books now have free revisions. Revise your book within the first 60 days of its production date and you won’t be charged a revision fee.

 


 

21 MARCH 2023

Australia Print Turnaround Times

Extended turn-around times for AU print orders ended on March 6 and are now back to normal. Express and premium service level options are also available again. AU Economy service usually prints in 5 business days AU Express service usually prints in 2 business days AU Rush service usually prints in 1 business day Thank you for your patience and understanding while we managed an unprecedented volume of orders. As a reminder, our turnaround times are for printing and do not factor in shipping times.

 


 

2 DECEMBER 2022

UK Shipping Notification

Due to increased volume, we are removing Rush and Express Service levels from 02/12/2022 in the UK only.

Current Turnaround Times for UK Print Orders:

  • Rush and Express service levels are temporarily unavailable

As a reminder, our turnaround times are for printing and do not factor in shipping times. Many carriers are experiencing delays, so please expect shipping to take longer than usual.

 


 

22 NOVEMBER 2022

UK Shipping Notification: Orders from Lightning Source

Due to the recent announcement by the Royal Mail of additional strike action on the 23rd and 24th of December, the last date orders will be shipped via Royal Mail is now Thursday, 22 December. We encourage all publishers to place their orders early to avoid disappointment.

If you are utilising our Royal Mail shipping options, untracked to UK destinations, please check the Royal Mail website here for further updates on strike action.

 


 

7 NOVEMBER 2022

Australia Print Turnaround Times

Due to increased volume, we are removing Rush and Express Service levels and extending our current turnaround times for AU orders from 04/11/2022.

Current Turnaround Times for AU Print Orders:

  • AU Economy orders for paperback books are estimated to print in 8 business days
  • AU Economy orders for hardcover books are estimated to print in 12 business days
  • Proof orders are processing once a week.
  • Rush and Express service levels are temporarily unavailable

As a reminder, our turnaround times are for printing and do not factor in shipping times. Many carriers are experiencing delays, so please expect shipping to take longer than usual.

 


 

19 AUGUST 2022

Custom Trim Sizes

You can now set up your paperback books with additional trim sizes. Paperbacks no longer need to fit one of our standard trim sizes but can be any variable size between the minimum and maximum dimensions shown below.

Available in Lightning Source facilities located in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia.

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11 AUGUST 2022 

Update: Adjusted United Kingdom and EU Print-On Demand Pricing

Effective 10 October 2022, IngramSpark will be adjusting United Kingdom and EU print-on-demand pricing. As you have likely heard in the news and experienced personally, material and energy prices are rising sharply worldwide.

Considering these unprecedented cost increases, print prices for all products manufactured in our UK print facility will be increasing by 4.9%. Service fees such as title set up, revisions, proof copies and order handling are not impacted by this change.

Click here to view the IngramSpark Pricing and Services Guide.

 


 

12 JULY 2022  //  Update: Midwest Tapes (Hoopla) Sales Reporting Correction

Due to a systems error, the Midwest Tapes (Hoopla) digital sales report for June 2022 was not processed until early July. This means that there are no ebook or audiobook sales reported for Midwest Tapes in June reports. The systems issue was corrected and the June sales file was loaded earlier this week, which means July digital sales will appear unusually large as it will contain two months of reported sales for Midwest Tapes (Hoopla).

We understand the importance of timely sales reporting and apologize for the inconvenience. This was a one-time error and we do not expect it to reoccur.

 


 

1 JULY 2022  //  UPDATE: Colour Printing at Lightning Source Facility in Melbourne, Australia

Due to system upgrades, colour printing at our Lightning Source production facility in Melbourne, Australia will be offline from 18th to 24th July 2022. 

Any order of Premium or Standard Colour submitted during this period will be placed on hold until Sunday 24th July. From this date, orders of colour titles will be printed and shipped. We therefore advise that any time-sensitive orders of Premium or Standard Colour titles be placed as soon as possible. 

Please check your IngramSpark account dashboard frequently for the most current business updates regarding Ingram service levels. All updates will be posted here. 

 


 

1 APRIL 2022  //  UPDATE: Now Available! Special Print Discounts for Australian Orders

We’re offering special discounts on orders placed from our Australian print facility. Stock up and save on orders as small as 25 copies. Buy more to save more! Discounts increase to 30% off when you order between 400 and 499 copies of a single title.

Enter promo code AUSRPROMO22 when you place your next qualifying order*.

 

Order Volume Discount
25-49 copies  5% off
50-99 copies 10% off
100-199 copies  15% off
200-299 copies 20% off
300-399 copies 25% off
400-499 copies 30% off

 

*Offer expires June 30, 2022.  Discount is valid for hardcover, paperback, black-and-white, and colour books. Discount applies to quantity ordered per individual title. Promo code is only valid for orders placed from print the AU facility. Cannot be used with any other offer or discount or with Extended Service. Promo code must be entered in all uppercase, no spaces. 

Ingram reserves the right to reject promotional codes.

 


 

10 FEBRUARY 2022  //  UPDATE: PRINT TURNAROUND TIME DATE

Current Turnaround Times for U.S. Print Orders

  • U.S. orders for paperback books are estimated to print in 5 business days
  • U.S. orders for hardcover books are estimated to print in 10 business days
  • Rush and Express service levels are temporarily unavailable

As a reminder, our turnaround times are for printing and do not factor in shipping times. Many carriers are experiencing delays, so please expect shipping to take longer than usual.

 


 

10 JANUARY 2022  //  PRICING UPDATE

Effective March 8, 2022, IngramSpark will be adjusting print rates in all of our print-on-demand markets.

Here are a few highlights associated with March’s rate adjustments:

  • US premium paperback prices have decreased
  • US and AU hardcover prices have stayed the same
  • US paperback prices have increased
  • UK paperback and hardcover prices have increased, with the exception of Premium Color
  • AU paperback prices have increased, with the exception of Premium Color
  • US returns fees for titles with a returnable status of ‘Return – Yes, Deliver’ will move from $2 a unit to $3 a unit

Helpful Resources:

  • View updated rate cards here
  • Use our publisher compensation calculator to see what you'll earn for existing and future titles. As of January 24, you will see the future pricing option on the calculator.

Throughout these global inflationary times, IngramSpark has endeavored to manage its costs closely by improving its manufacturing efficiencies and supply chain sourcing in order to minimize pricing increases.

Going forward, if there are any additional pricing updates we will notify you of those adjustments, to help you plan ahead accordingly.

Thank you for your continued business as we help your titles reach readers worldwide, in a sustainably responsible way through printing on demand and closest to your customer. 

 


 

16 NOVEMBER 2021  //  USER GUIDE UPDATE

A new version of the IngramSpark Operating Manual (User Guide) is now available here. Changes made in this version include:

  • Supporting information for our new Sharjah printing facility.
  • Supporting information for newly available Small Duplex product offering.
  • New rules for repayment terms of negative publisher compensation.

 


 

16 NOVEMBER 2021  //  AU EXPORT

Coming soon, retailers located outside Australia will be able to purchase print-on-demand books from ICG in Australia in Australian Dollars (AUD). This is great news for retailers ICG trades with globally and benefits you. With fewer limitations on who can place orders and where your titles can be sold, your titles' sales potential is much greater. 

If your titles are already priced in AUD, there is nothing additional you need to do to be included in this new opportunity. This sales channel is only available to titles priced in AUD, so if you have not yet set your pricing for this, please do so now to be included. Click here to read more about this change.

 


 

3 NOVEMBER 2021  //  EU VAT CHANGES

Beginning the week of November 8th, you will notice new web ordering processes for orders printing in the UK and shipping to the EU27 countries due to changes to EU VAT regulations. Please see our updated FAQ for additional information.



 

5 OCTOBER 2021  //  RECOMMENDED ORDER DATES

Based on this year’s volume and ever-changing conditions, we’re sharing recommended order dates for the best opportunity to reach readers worldwide for the holidays. 

Recommended United States Order Dates

Order by November 5, 2021, for Paperback and Hardcover

Recommended United Kingdom and Australia Order Dates

Order by November 19, 2021, for Paperback and Hardcover

As a reminder, current U.S. turnaround times for economy print orders are as follows: (Subject to Change)

  • U.S. Economy orders for 70# paperback books are estimated to print in 20 business days.
  • U.S. Economy orders for 70# hardcover books are estimated to print in 25 business days.
  • U.S. Economy orders for all other paperback book formats are estimated to print in 10 business days.
  • U.S. Economy orders for all other hardcover book formats are estimated to print in 15 business days.
  • Rush and Express service levels are temporarily unavailable.

Spikes in demand as well as anticipated carrier shipping delays during November, December, and early January will likely cause extended turnaround times. Please review the latest turnaround times when placing your orders and plan to meet the above recommended order dates, especially for higher volume orders

 


 

8 SEPTEMBER 2021  //  PRICING UPDATES

Amidst significant uncertainty in the global supply chain, IngramSpark is committed to supporting the book industry with the best possible service through the busy holiday season and into 2022. Over the past several months, the publishing industry has seen several cost increases for consumables, such as paper and packaging materials, as well as an increase in the cost of labor. Operating safely during the pandemic also has required additional resources and investments in manufacturing and distribution centers. 

As a result of these industry-wide challenges, effective November 6th, 2021, IngramSpark is increasing print pricing as follows: 

  • US (United States) market: 6% increase 
  • UK (United Kingdom) & AU (Australia) markets: 3% increase 

These changes do not apply to freight, handling, or title setup related fees. 

View our updated rate card.

To help you assess any increases you may need to make to your retail pricing, we will be adding the future pricing view to our online pricing calculators. You should expect to see that view appear within the next two weeks. As a reminder, you can update your retail pricing through the IngramSpark website, with changes going into effect every Friday at 12:01 AM US Central Time. 

We will also be identifying titles that will move into negative publisher compensation because of these price changes and will communicate that title information to you within the next two weeks. 

 


 

13 AUGUST 2021  //  PRINT TURNAROUND TIME UPDATES

We are extending our current turnaround times for U.S. orders.

Current Turnaround Times for U.S. Economy Print Orders

  • U.S. Economy orders for paperback books are estimated to print in 10 business days
  • U.S. Economy orders for hardcover books are estimated to print in 15 business days
  • Rush and Express service levels are temporarily unavailable

As a reminder, our turnaround times are for printing and do not factor in shipping times. Many carriers are experiencing delays, so please expect shipping to take longer than usual.

 


 

22 JUNE 2021  //  SCHEDULED WEB OUTAGE

Due to scheduled maintenance to update foundational IT systems, ALL IngramSpark accounts will be unavailable for log in starting Friday, July 9 at 9:00 pm CDT for U.S. customers and Saturday, 10th July at 3:00 am BST for U.K. customers and 12:00 pm AEST for Australian customers.

This maintenance is expected to take 24 hours to complete. If there are orders you need to place, titles you need to upload, edit, or approve, or any other actions or information you need to access in your account, please do so before or after the weekend of July 9-11. This advance notice is intended to help you plan accordingly for this temporary outage.

We appreciate your patience as we make these necessary database updates to better support our growing customer base and allow for future platform development.

Your IngramSpark Team

 


 

18 JUNE 2021  //  EU VAT CHANGES

Due to EU VAT rule changes effective from 1st July 2021, Ingram Content Group UK (ICGUK) will be making alterations to the web ordering process for orders printed in the UK shipping to EU27.

Changes will be effective from Q3 2021, please see FAQ for more details.

 


 

9 JUNE 2021  //  UPDATE TO DECLARED UNIT VALUE FOR UK ORDERS

As of  8th June, 2021, the Declared Unit Value (DUV) field on the Orders page of your IngramSpark account has been updated to meet requirements for all orders being exported from the UK. Check here for more details.

There will also be an update to shipping rates from the UK to EU27 countries as a result of changes being implemented by the EU on 1st July, 2021.

Please note this refers to UK orders placed by publishers from their IngramSpark account only. Wholesale orders (when retailers order your book from Ingram via our wholesale network) are unaffected by this change.

 


 

21 MAY 2021  //  U.S. RUSH AND EXPRESS UPDATE

Due to increased volume, Rush and Express Service levels have been temporarily removed for United States hardcover orders. The Rush and Express Service levels remain for hardcover orders in the United Kingdom and Australia and for paperback orders in all facilities.

 


 

17 MAY 2021  //  EU VAT RULES

Changes to European Union Value Added Tax (VAT) Rules

From 1st July 2021, European Union VAT rules on cross-border business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce activities will change. The EU will be removing the current €22 value minimum VAT threshold meaning that all goods entering the EU will be subject to customs clearance and VAT charges. 

The EU will introduce a new online ‘Import One Stop Shop” (IOSS) system which will allow vendors to make their VAT returns and payments online, away from the EU border.

Key Actions:

  • No action is required by you for orders made available via global distribution – i.e., on titles you have made available to retailers when you enable your titles for distribution and set a wholesale price and discount. In this instance the retailer will be responsible for complying with the new VAT rules.

This information in no way constitutes tax advice; you should seek the services of a registered tax specialist if this is required.

 


 

23 APRIL 2021  //  SERVICE UPDATE

We’re pleased to announce that Express and Rush Service levels have been reinstated for both paperback and hardcover US orders. With this addition, all service levels (Economy, Express, and Rush) are now available from our US, UK, and AU print facilities.

Additionally, for those with ebooks, we've added two new ebook distribution offerings in Asian markets for more international sales opportunity:

  • Ainosco: a professional multi-lingual ebook channel for research libraries in institutions of higher learning has been added to our one-book-one-sale ebook retail business model and library single user ebook business model
  • iGroup: a one-stop shop for information products and library technologies has been added to our library single user ebook business model

 


 

29 MARCH 2021  //  PRINT TURNAROUND TIME UPDATE

We’re pleased to announce that print turnaround times have improved for US hardcover orders from 15 to 10 business days.

Current Global Print Order Turnaround Times

  • Global paperback orders are estimated to print in 5 business days
  • UK and AU hardcover orders are estimated to print in 7 business days
  • US hardcover orders are estimated to print in 10 business days

 


 

12 MARCH 2021  //  POST-BREXIT SHIPPING METHODS

Now that the Brexit transition period is over, we’re able to provide an update regarding our tracked shipping options and rates for UK print deliveries into the European Union. These updates will go into effect on 23rd March 2021.

To view these updates, please refer to our Shipping Options Sheet and FAQs.

Please note: these updates only refer to orders placed through your IngramSpark account to print from our UK facility and ship to an EU location. If you do not place orders from our UK print facility to ship to the EU, you can disregard this message.

We're happy to continue to ensure your books successfully reach their end destinations.


 

5 MARCH 2021  //  PRINT TURNAROUND TIME UPDATE

We’re pleased to announce that print turnaround times for US hardcover orders have improved from 20 to 15 business days.

Current Global Print Order Turnaround Times

  • Global paperback orders are estimated to print in 5 business days
  • UK and AU hardcover orders are estimated to print in 7 business days
  • US hardcover orders are estimated to print in 15 business days

 


 

1 MARCH 2021  //  DOCUMENT UPDATES

Updated versions of the User Guide and File Creation Guide are now available with the following changes:

Print on Demand Operating Manual

  • Page 7: Updated to reflect new perforation availability.
  • Page 8: Updated to reflect changes to our Catalog Integrity guidelines.

File Creation Guide
Trim Size Matrix and Text Setup pages updated to reflect new perforation availability.

 


 

17 FEBRUARY 2021  //  U.S. DISTRIBUTION UPDATE

Due to extreme winter weather conditions affecting some of our distribution facilities in the U.S., you may experience delays in order processing and transit times. Please continue to check this page for more updates.

 


 

12 FEBRUARY 2021  //  PRINT TURNAROUND TIME UPDATE

We’re pleased to announce that print turnaround times for US hardcover orders have improved from 30 to 20 business days.

Current Global Print Order Turnaround Times

  • Paperback orders are estimated to print in 5 business days
  • UK and AU hardcover orders are estimated to print in 7 business days
  • US hardcover orders are estimated to print in 20 business days

We’re monitoring the lockdown in Australia closely and will let you know on this business updates page and the orders page of your account if anything changes, as well as keep you informed on the return to standard print turnaround times for US hardcover orders.

 


 

22 JANUARY 2021  //  PRINT TURNAROUND TIME

Print turnaround time for paperback orders placed from our US, UK, and Australian print facilities has returned to our standard print turnaround times. We anticipate a reduction in US hardcover print turnaround times soon and will keep you updated via this business updates page when we have information to share.

Current Global Print Order Turnaround Times

  • Paperback orders are estimated to print in 5 business days
  •  UK and AU hardcover orders are estimated to print in 7 business days
  • US hardcover orders are estimated to print in 30 business days

 


 

20 JANUARY 2021  //  CUSTOMER SUPPORT UPDATE

To better assist you, our live phone support and chat options will be temporarily unavailable for United States customers.

In an effort to process your requests in a more timely manner, we will be focusing all U.S. support representatives on queries submitted via our support form at this time. If you’re awaiting response from a previous email or form submission, please know we’re working to address these requests in the order in which they’ve been received, and there is no need to submit an additional request due to this business update. By focusing support queries to a single communication channel, we hope to resolve requests more efficiently than we’ve been able to across multiple touchpoints.  

We’re aware that some requests require a personal touch. Here are a few tips to help us help you when you submit a request. We appreciate your continued patience and understanding as we work diligently to support you as soon as possible. 

 


 

13 JANUARY 2021  //  BARNES & NOBLE EBOOK SALES REPORTING UPDATE

As a follow-up to the December 2 announcement below, we have received an update from Barnes & Noble (B&N) that the B&N ebook sales portal is back online. IngramSpark has now processed the pending B&N ebook sales from October - December 2020, and publishers with B&N ebook sales during that time period will see those sales reflected in their February statement.

 


 

11 JANUARY 2021  //  AUSTRALIA FACILITY UPDATE

We are pleased to announce that we have now completed the move to our new Australian facility. Consequently, we have resumed production of Standard Color and Standard Color 70 formats. These book types are once again available for publisher direct and wholesale orders.

All other product lines–paperback, hardback, premium color, and black & white–remained in production throughout the move and are therefore unaffected by this announcement.

Click here to find out more about how we are growing in Australia. 

 


 

4 JANUARY 2021  //  U.K. PRINT TURNAROUND TIMES

Print turnaround times for U.K. Rush orders have now returned to normal service levels.

Paperback:

  • Economy Service – Usually prints in 5 business days
  • Express Service – Usually prints in 2 business days
  • Rush Service – Usually prints in 1 business day
  • Proof Service – Usually prints in 3 business days

Hardback:

  • Economy Service – Usually prints in 7 business days
  • Express Service – Usually prints in 4 business days
  • Rush Service – Usually prints in 2 business days
  • Proof Service – Usually prints in 4 business days

 


 

31 DECEMBER 2020  //  U.K. SHIPPING UPDATE

Further to our previous message on 24th December regarding UPS stopping their European Road Service. 
 
Update: As of 4th January 2021: UPS will resume Standard Services in both directions between the UK and continental Europe.  
 
All UPS Standard packages that were picked-up and held pending the resumption of service will be shipped to their destinations as soon as possible.  Customer wanting to know the status of their shipment can track their packages on UPS.com

 


 

30 DECEMBER 2020  //  U.K. BREXIT UPDATE

As Ingram Content Group UK assess the full implications of the UK/EU Trade Deal which was announced on December 24th, our freight rates and associated costs will remain unchanged at this time for tracked and untracked services to Europe from our Lightning Source UK operation.

We are evaluating a number of scenarios in the light of the deal and will update options and associated charges shortly.

 


 


29 DECEMBER 2020
  //  
U.K. PRINT TURNAROUND TIMES

Print turnaround times for U.K. paperback and proof orders have returned to normal service levels.  Please note Rush orders remain on extended turnaround times.

Current Print Order Turnaround Times

  • Paperback orders print in 5 business days
  • Hardcover orders print in 9 business days
  •  U.K. proofs orders print twice a week

 


 

24 DECEMBER 2020  //  U.K. SHIPPING ALERT

Due to UPS stopping their Europe Road Service, IngramSpark in the UK have placed the affected orders on hold. Please note these orders are still being printed and packed, and shipping will recommence once UPS confirm the service is open again.

 


 

23 DECEMBER 2020  //  U.K. SHIPPING ALERT

Lightning Source UK Freight Provider UPS have halted shipping into Europe and Ireland by Road due to coronavirus until further notice. This affects all shipments with European destinations.

The UK and French governments are currently discussing ways to get freight moving, and we strongly recommend that you keep yourself up to date with developments directly at the courier website via the link below, or directly on their sites:

Link to UPS Notice: https://www.ups.com/gb/en/service-alerts.page?id=alert1

We are continuing to work with UPS on updates and will advise accordingly.

 


 

21 DECEMBER 2020  //  BREXIT UPDATE

Currently we provide services and products for shipment within the European Union (EU27 Member States). Following the end of the Brexit transition period, our shipping options to the EU27 Member States will change, effective 1st January 2021. 

We have plans in place to minimize disruption of supply.

If a trade deal is agreed, there will be minimal disruption. However, an important change we have already implemented is the supply of commercial invoices to the EU27 Member States.  

In the event of a ‘no-deal Brexit’ scenario, we have several options, including a move to a Single Point of Entry Arrangement (SPE) via Belgium for tracked services.  Untracked services will continue to be available. Please be advised that shipping rates and associated costs are subject to change. 

Further updates will be communicated as they become available.    

 


 

21 DECEMBER 2020  //  SADDLE STITCH PRODUCT RETIREMENT

On March 1, 2021, Ingram will no longer offer the saddle stitch format as the software and equipment required to print this product have become obsolete.

If you have saddle stitch titles in your account, you will need to revise your existing saddle stitch title(s) by selecting a new format and providing new files to maintain availability through our distribution channels. Saddle stitch title(s) not updated to a new format by February 28, 2021 will be cancelled.

To see if/which of your titles are saddle stitch, use the search bar in your account to sort by “Format” and select “Saddle Stitch” from the dropdown menu.

Our popular perfect bound format is comparable to saddle stitch with the pages and paperback cover glued together versus stapled. Perfect bound books have an 18-page minimum, a spine, and also offer more interior color options at similar or less expensive print costs than saddle stitch.

We look forward to continuing to offer your content in a new format.

 


 

15 DECEMBER 2020  //  AUSTRALIA PRINT TURNAROUND TIMES

The print turnaround time for orders of both paperback and hardback books in Australia is being extended as we continue with the move to our new Australian facility and adjust to holiday volume.

Current Turnaround Times for Australia Print Orders

  • Australia orders for paperback books are estimated to print in 7 business days
  • Australia orders for hardback books are estimated to print in 9 business days
  • Australia proof orders will now run once a week

 


 

8 DECEMBER 2020  //  U.K. PRINT TURNAROUND TIMES

The print turnaround time for U.K. orders of both paperback and hardback books is being extended as we continually adjust to holiday volume.

Current Turnaround Times for U.K. Print Orders

  • U.K. orders for paperback books are estimated to print in 7 business days
  • U.K. orders for hardback books are estimated to print in 9 business days
  • U.K. proof orders will now run once a week

 


 

7 DECEMBER 2020  //  HOLIDAY PRINTING AND TITLE AVAILABILITY

We understand that print delays and title availability messaging on retail websites are causing challenges for you and your readers in receiving titles in a timely manner. As we work to return to standard print and customer support response times, we’ve outlined here some actions you can take to help improve your readers’ experience today. We hope the immediate availability of this article proves helpful to you.

On behalf of the IngramSpark Team, we want to thank you for your continued patience and support as we’ve experienced fluctuations in our service operations throughout the year. We’re humbled by your continued support and remain dedicated to authors and indie publishers, like you, as well as to the publishing industry at large.

 


 

2 DECEMBER 2020  //  BARNES AND NOBLE EBOOK SALES REPORTING

We received an update from Barnes & Noble (B&N) that the B&N ebook sales portal has been offline for an extended period of time. This means that October ebook sales from B&N were not processed in November. Once the B&N portal becomes available again, we will work to process the sales as soon as possible.

We understand the importance of timely sales reporting and apologize for the inconvenience.

 


 

2 DECEMBER 2020  //  AUSTRALIA FACILITY MOVE

We are currently in the process of moving to our new facility in Australia. While all measures are being taken to minimise disruption, you may experience some delays to our normal Service Levels for a short period.

Continue to check this page frequently for up-to-date information.  All updates will be posted here as information becomes available.

 


 

1 DECEMBER 2020  //  U.S. PRINT TURNAROUND TIMES

The print turnaround time for U.S. orders of hardcover books is being extended to 30 days. Paperback books will remain the same as announced on 24 November for the time being as we continually adjust to holiday volume.

Current Turnaround Times for U.S. Print Orders

  • U.S. orders for paperback books are estimated to print in 10 business days
  • U.S. orders for hardcover books are estimated to print in 30 business days

 


 

24 NOVEMBER 2020  //  U.S. PRINT TURNAROUND TIMES

We are extending our current turnaround time for U.S. orders.

Current Turnaround Times for U.S. Print Orders

  • U.S. orders for paperback books are estimated to print in 10 business days
  • U.S. orders for hardcover books are estimated to print in 15 business days

As a reminder, our turnaround times are for printing and do not factor in shipping times. Many carriers are experiencing delays due to the pandemic. Please expect shipping to take longer than normal.

Continue to check this page frequently for up-to-date information. All updates will be posted here as information becomes available.

 


 

13 NOVEMBER 2020  //  RECOMMENDED ORDER DATES

As the holiday season picks up, please be aware of the following:

Current Turnaround Times for U.S. Print Orders

  • U.S. orders for paperback books are estimated to print in 5 business days
  • U.S. orders for hardcover books are estimated to print in 10 business days

As was shared in an email, if you plan on placing orders for your books through your IngramSpark account, you’ll want to plan ahead. Below are our recommended order dates to give your books the best opportunity to reach readers in time for the holidays:

Recommended United States Order Dates

Hardcover

Order by November 13, 2020

Paperback

Order by November 20, 2020

 

Recommended United Kingdom Order Dates

Hardcover

Order by November 30, 2020

Paperback

Order by December 4, 2020

 

Recommended Australia Order Dates

Due to the move to our larger facility, we encourage you to place your Australian orders as soon as possible

 


 

11 NOVEMBER 2020  //  BREXIT

Brexit & What it Could Mean for Your Book Sales
Following a referendum on European Union (EU) membership in June 2016, the United Kingdom (UK) ceased to be a member of the EU on 31st January this year. This process is commonly referred to as 'Brexit'.

If you have titles priced in GBP/Euros, your business may be affected by the end of the Brexit transition period. Under the terms of the UK's withdrawal agreement with the EU, the UK will continue to trade with EU member states as though it were still a member of the European Union's single market until 31st December 2020. At IngramSpark, we're prepared for the possibility that the UK will be trading with the EU under the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules from 1st January 2021 onwards.

Recommended Actions
We suggest you price your titles in all available currencies & markets – this will ensure that we can supply retailers who are based within the EU by either our Global Connect print providers, or via Ingram Book Company, who trade in US dollars.

How to price your title in additional markets:

  • For New Titles: When adding a new title to your account, you will see a prompt on the ‘Print Pricing’ section called ‘Pricing for Brexit’ indicating where you can add additional pricing.
  • Existing Titles: When you click into an existing title in your account, you’ll see a prompt that says ‘Pricing for Brexit’ in the ‘Print Pricing’ section indicating where you can add additional pricing.

 


 

4 NOVEMBER 2020  //  AUSTRALIA FACILITY MOVE

Updates on the Australia Move

On 10 August, we notified you about our expansion in Australia. COVID-19 in the area delayed our initial move date, but with restrictions easing, we now expect to begin moving safely in the coming weeks.

What This Means for You

  • We expect Standard and Standard 70 Color printing to be unavailable for approximately six weeks from 4th December.*
  • 26 November will be the last day to order Standard Color titles from the Australia site before printing ceases on 4th December.
  • All other product lines – paperback, hardback, premium color, and black & white – will remain available throughout the move.
We encourage all publishers to place your orders from our Australian facility before 26 November.
 
*These dates  are subject to change due to factors relating to COVID-19.  We will notify you when Standard Color becomes available again.
 

 

27 OCTOBER 2020  //  SIGN NEW AGREEMENTS

To better serve you and expand your book distribution, we've made updates to the following agreements to ensure your titles reach new market offerings as they become available. These new agreements apply to your IngramSpark account whether you currently have titles or not.

  • Global POD Agreement and Ebook Agreement - REQUIRED
  • Amazon (Kindle) Addendum - optional UNLESS you currently distribute ebooks to Amazon via IngramSpark
  • Apple (Agency) Agreement - optional UNLESS you currently distribute ebooks to Apple via IngramSpark

You will need to sign these updated agreements by January 27, 2021 to ensure the continued and future distribution of your content.

A summary of the updates is available upon logging in to your account, along with the complete agreements.

If these updates are not agreed to by January 27, 2021, we will have to suspend your IngramSpark account and remove existing titles from distribution. Click here for important information on account suspension.

If you have questions regarding these updates, please contact our support team.

We look forward to sharing your story worldwide for years to come.

Sincerely,
The IngramSpark Team


 

15 SEPTEMBER 2020

Estimated United States print turnaround times for paperback books have improved from 22 business days to 18. While this is always subject to change based on demand, especially as the U.S. enters the holiday season, we wanted to share this update. Hardcover books printed in the U.S. are still estimated to print in 24 business days.

Additionally, in regards to our below posting on 10 August, COVID-19 and subsequent restrictions in the Australia-New Zealand region have delayed the move to our new facility in Melbourne. Until the move begins, Standard Colour will continue to be supported. We will be sure to provide as much advance notice on new move dates as possible.


 

10 AUGUST 2020

We're Growing in Australia

We've outgrown our current operation in Melbourne, and are investing in a new, larger Ingram Content Group facility to support our continued expansion within the region.

 

What This Means for You

  • Standard color printing will be unavailable in Australia during the move to our new premises. Estimated to start 12th October 2020, this change will last for approximately six weeks.*
  • All other print formats will continue, as usual.
 

*COVID 19 may change our plan but this is as things currently stand in the Australian market. If things change, we'll let you know.

 


 

5 AUGUST 2020

Ingram Remains Operational in Australia

Following the recent increase in new COVID- 19 cases in Australia, some new restrictions have obliged some businesses to close temporarily. However, we are pleased to report that Ingram’s operations, including Lightning Source, remain open.

Should this situation change, we will notify you accordingly.

For more information on the new restrictions, please refer to the Australian government’s official website detailing the country’s latest COVID-19 response measures.



15 JULY 2020

COVID-19 continues to impact the book industry’s supply chain. IngramSpark is adapting to exceptional volume, changes in the nature of orders, and additional health and safety practices. These changes are worldwide and, while our U.K and Australian facilities have been operating to normal service levels, our North American operating and customer support turnaround times have been most impacted. The majority of our North American orders have been fulfilled ahead of quoted turnaround times, but we are working quickly to return to normal for all orders, including making a substantial investment in our U.S., U.K., and Australian print-on-demand facilities. These investments will significantly increase our print capacity in the coming months.

We, like you, understand and are working through the global impact of the virus. We appreciate your patience, continued business, and ongoing support as we all navigate these unprecedented changes and continue to grow together. 

The world has changed, but our commitment has not.
Your IngramSpark Team

 


 

8 MAY 2020

As you’re familiar, during these extraordinary times, we’ve taken on significant volume and have had to extend our turnaround times on U.S. orders over the last two weeks. As we manage that previous volume and continually receive new orders, we must extend our turnaround times further.

Current Turnaround Times for U.S. Print Orders

U.S. orders for paperback books are estimated to print in 22 business days

U.S. orders for hardcover books are estimated to print in 24 business days


Ingram is in a unique position to help keep the book supply chain functioning throughout this unprecedented situation of printer and retail limitations and unpredictable demand. We are working diligently to uphold our commitment to the publishing industry. Every author and publisher is important to us, and we appreciate your patience as we work to return to our standard turnaround times.


1 MAY 2020

We are extending our current print turnaround times for some U.S. order types. The book industry is currently experiencing changes in the supply chain and shifts in sales channels. Similarly, we’re adapting to exceptional volume, changes in the nature of orders, and additional safety practices in our manufacturing facilities.

As a result, we’re required to further extend the turnaround times for U.S. print orders. We expect to be back to traditional operating turnaround times in a few weeks and appreciate your business and support during this challenging time.

Current Turnaround Times for U.S. Print Orders

U.S. orders for paperback books are estimated to print in 10-12 business days

U.S. orders for hardcover books are estimated to print in 12-14 business days

 


 

24 APRIL 2020

We are extending our current print turnaround times for some U.S. order types. 

U.S. orders for paperback books are estimated to print in 5-7 business days

U.S. orders for hardcover books are estimated to print in 10-12 business days

Rush and Express orders will be temporarily unavailable as of April 24, 2020


Please check this page frequently for up-to-date information. All updates will be posted here as information becomes available.



20 APRIL 2020

IngramSpark is offering several discounts to support authors and publishers during this difficult time. 

Free Title Setup

  • Code: INGRAMSPARK2020
  • Stipulations: Valid for print and ebooks until May 31, 2020. For free title setup, code must be applied at time of title setup. The code is not valid for refunds on previously submitted books. 

Free Revisions

  • Code: INGRAMSPARK2020
  • Stipulations: Valid for print and ebooks until May 31, 2020. 

5% Off All Orders Printed from Our US Print Facility

  • Code: INGRAMSPARK2020
  • Stipulations: This offer is valid for orders printed out of our US print facility only. It cannot be combined with other offers (except for the INGRAMSPARK2020 code for free title setup or revisions) and cannot be applied to the extended print service level. At this time, this offer will be available as long as our print facilities and print capacity is fully operational or until May 8, 2020.

Volume Discounts for Orders Printed from Our AU and UK Print Facilities

Order Volume

Discount

50 - 99 Copies

5% Off

100 - 199 Copies

10% Off

200 - 299 Copies

20% Off

300 - 399 Copies

30% Off

400 or More

Contact ingramsparkinternational@ingramcontent.com

  • Code: SPARKUKAU2020 
  • Stipulations: This offer is valid for orders printed out of our UK and AU print facilities only. The discount applies to order volume per ISBN (for example, you must order 50 copies of the same title in order to apply the discount code). It cannot be combined with other offers (except for the INGRAMSPARK2020 code for free title setup or revisions). At this time, this offer will be available as long as we are fully operational or until May 31, 2020.

19 MARCH 2020

Following governmental announcements, many retail, shops and businesses have been ordered to close until further notice. Please note that as a result, shipments to some locations in Europe and other destinations may be impacted, making deliveries delayed or not possible at this time.

We continue to work with our carriers to ensure that shipments reach the intended destination, but we advise that you review governmental announcements with your own relevant regions and postal codes before placing your order and where possible ensuring the intended delivery address remains accessible.


13 MARCH 2020

As you know, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is impacting the publishing industry including cancelled events, limited employee travel, and workforce and supply shortages. We are also closely tracking the various supply chain, print, and distribution challenges facing publishers. At Ingram, we understand our responsibility in serving the book industry with print and wholesale distribution services. Through our diversified print and distribution warehouses, our global services help keep the industry running, especially in times of need.

While you work to safely and efficiently create content and meet sales demand, we want you to know that we stand with you, ready to assist. Please consider our global solutions as part of your preparations:

  • Print On Demand (POD): When supply and demand is difficult to predict, POD becomes even more viable. Print as many or as few books as you need without upfront investment in inventory or inventory fees. This starts with ensuring your titles are in our catalog. Whether you utilize our full services, having titles in our global system serves you well.
  • Drop Ship: We can drop ship any order on your behalf globally.
  • Speed: Our seven global print facilities and additional global partnerships can print your books on-demand in days, not weeks.
  • Short Run Print Orders: We offer print runs up to 2,500 units at competitive rates.

We value your business and the trust you place in us to help you reach your publishing goals.

If you have additional questions, please contact customer support.