Guide to How We Sell Magazines

1. We ask each of our magazine publishers to produce a magazine flier about once a year. We would suggest that you email us a draft copy for us to suggest possible amendments. We prefer word files but we can take PDF files. We can provide sample fliers and a guide Preparing a Magazine File https://www.centralbooks.com/knowledge-base/magazine-publishers-information/preparingmagazineflyer.html) Central Books will do a general mailing; the flier will be sent to a selection of outlets that take other related periodicals from us. Usually this will involve sending out about 300 fliers over six weeks, with some shops being mailed more than once.
2. Central Books will do a general emailing if appropriate; a mail merged version of the flier will be emailed to a selection of outlets that take other related periodicals from us.
3. Central Books will do a targeted mailing; the flier and a sample copy of your periodical will be sent to a selection of targeted outlets, up to 50 shops. These samples will NOT be sales so if a publisher does not want us to use samples or wants use to limit the numbers for this purpose we will adjust accordingly.
4. About 4 weeks into the mailing Central Books will contact some of the target outlets to back up the mailing.
5. Central Books will continue to use your flier and send sample copies over the next year. Sending it to new accounts and when outlets express an interest in expanding their title range.
6. We have a magazine representative who visits shops and makes regular phone contact with shops. Visiting is done on a shop by shop basis concentrating on the larger outlets and does not happen at the same time as particular title promotions. Phone calls cast a larger net and mostly replace the need for visits to promote a given title.
7. We regularly check against returns' records to ensure that customers are taking enough copies of each title. We do phone rounds and send emails to check on the sales of double issues at Xmas and in the summer but we rarely ring round outlets asking if they have sold out of a particular issue of a particular title. If you know someone has sold out of your magazine please contact us. We will then contact them and try to up the regular standing order. If publishers report that that an issue is selling out across the board we will issue chasers by email and phone to sort this out.
8. Once a year we produce a physical magazine catalogue. Every magazine we distribute is listed and described in the catalogue. You see more  via the product search Central+Books+Magazine+catalogue or if you are already a client publisher go to Magazine Catalogues (https://www.centralbooks.com/knowledge-base/magazine-publishers-information/magazines-catalogue.html) for more details
9. We regularly up-date our on-line catalogue with new text and new titles. Our client publishers can go log in to our site, update descriptions and upload cover images. If you are already a client publisher and do not know your login details call us on 44(0)20 8525 8825.

We have tried to be as comprehensive as possible but if you have any questions please contact Mark Chilver or Sasha Simic 44(0)20 8525 8825.