From the press release:

After many years as a hold-out taking care of distribution into all channels on its own, graphic novel publisher NBM, a pioneer in launching the form in the US, has signed with IPG to start handling all its sales outside of the comic market as well as all its warehousing and fulfillment starting June 1 of this year.

“I’m very excited to form this partnership with a solid company that comes highly recommended from across the industry. This will give us a good base from which to grow and remain a leading player in the independent comics field,” says NBM publisher and founder Terry Nantier. “For a long time, we were able to handle it all ourselves well enough using a book fulfillment service warehouse. But in the last few years, as graphic novels’ acceptance has widened considerably, the scope of where they can be sold has widened a lot as well. That, plus logistics considerations, points to a good time to partner with such a strong distributor as IPG, bringing muscle to our distribution which they can do best, and let us concentrate more in our office on what we do best: publish and promote some of the best graphic novels the world has to offer.”

IPG (Independent Publishers Group; www.ipgbook.com), owned by Chicago Review Press, Inc., is one of the leading distributors of quality independent publishing houses in the country. “NBM has an excellent reputation and a devoted following for their titles. We are very excited to be working with them to bring efficiencies, economies, and an expanded customer base to their business,” says IPG President Mark Suchomel.

NBM (www.nbmpublishing.com) was the first comics publisher to pursue general bookstore distribution ever since its inception in the mid seventies, at first getting Caroline House, an early model for such distributors as Publishers Group West, to distribute its fledgling line in the late seventies and then as the category started getting noticed, signing with PGW for 2 years in 1986. Ever since, NBM had been handling its own sales into the chains, wholesalers and indie stores, accumulating advanced experience in this market, well ahead of its fellow comics publishers, even assuming the first distribution of Dark Horse’s books there. “Now we look forward to further expanding our presence with IPG’s help,” said Nantier.

Established in 1971, IPG (www.ipgbook.com) was the first organization specifically created for the purpose of marketing titles from independent presses to the book trade. It was acquired by Chicago Review Press in 1987. IPG has a wide reach in the market, distributing academic, Spanish-language, computer and general trade nonfiction and fiction titles.

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