Other Distributors

Of course, we would prefer to handle as much of your business as possible buy we know that publishers are often scratching around for information on other distributors. We also aware of the ever growing number of magazines that approach us for distribution but for which we are not able to offer distribution. Please do not regard this as a definitive list, there is nothing like research on the web for un-earthing what you need to find. We also recommend looking at the directories on the magazine www.inpublishing.co.uk.  Judging by the demise of Comag, Kable and Worldwide Magazine Distribution these are hard times for distributors so there are possibly too few options, despite that we hope this information helps you.

This is the domain of Central Books but we do inevitably crossover with the other markets, some shops or overseas specialists receive direct stock from specialist distributors like ourselves and from the local news trade wholesalers.  Specialist distributors deliver the vast bulk of magazines direct to each retailers.

The best way to find out about distributors is to ask the retailers who buy from them. If a retailer likes how a distibutor works that is speaks volumes. If a retailer is negtive about a distributor that speak volumes.

Here are three retailers (shops)  that we like that are all very different from each other (visit them, buy a magazine and see what they say about distribution)

Artwords Bookshop , 20-22 Broadway Market, Hacknet, London E8 4QJ tel 0207 923 7507. www.artwords.co.uk 

Good News, 23 Berwick Street, Soho, London W1F 8RB

Magalleria, 5 Upper Borough Walls, Bath BA1 1RG tel 01225 259 602 www.magalleria.co.uk

Other specialists distributiors apart from Central Books

News Trade Distribution

Magazine publishers vary in their distribution needs, most magazines in this country are bought in newsagents which arrive in the newsagents via the news trade network; a virtual distributor* and selling team, a physical distributor [taking printers delivery to local wholesalers] and local wholesalers [each covering a particular area or region].  Publishers sign up with the virtual distributor* with their selling team.  

Many of the titles we handle are not distributed to the news trade, some are too specialist others, will move up to this level when they can. Some of the titles we handle use a news trade distributor and Central Books alongside each other.

There is a list of distributors on the InPublishing website http://www.inpublishing.co.uk/suppliers/magazine_newspaper_distribution  

*These virtual distributors do not physically handle the magazines but they organise the distribution.   

Newstrade Distributors

Overseas Distribution

The most common market in which to have an overseas distributor is the United States. Shops in the US are reluctant to import magazines direct from Europe so publishers will need a US distributor to maximize sales. However shipping costs are expensive and returns can be very high.  Many of our publishers are not satisfied with their US distributor but find getting a better one very hard. Our advice with all overseas distributors is to judge whether the sales justify the contact time and costs. You will most likely sell just as many copies in Korea if Central Books supplies Korean outlets as you will if you agree a sole distribution deal with a distributor, yet the latter will take more of your time with extra costs.

Overseas Distributors

If you are a magazine distributor of specialist magazines and would like to be listed here please get in touch via the contact us pages. We reserve the right not to include your listing or to edit your description.