Image: Oxford Children’s Fiction
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
Sales, Distribution Start October 1
England’s Oxford University Press has announced a US sales and distribution agreement with the Independent Publishers Group (IPG) for the exclusive distribution of Oxford Children’s fiction titles.
This is, according to that media messaging, “the first time there will be a direct sales channel into the United States” for Oxford University Press’ children’s fiction.
In a prepared statement about the deal, Helen Freeman, director of Oxford Children’s, is quoted, saying, “From our earliest conversations, it was clear how much the IPG team appreciated the quality of our children’s list. …
“We know this agreement is going to provide some truly wonderful reading experiences to even more children.”
In recent years, according to the promotional copy sent to us about this arrangement, “Oxford Children’s has become well known for publishing popular first chapter books.
“Many of Oxford Children’s bestselling young fiction series will be part of the selection launched and distributed by IPG.”
Brooke O’Donnell
Brooke O’Donnell, senior vice-president of international business development with IPG (and managing director with Trafalgar Square Publishing), is quoted, saying, ““Oxford University Press is one of the world’s most prestigious publishers,” and she speaks of how glad the company is to “sell their children’s fiction list in North America.
“These books are of the highest quality, and we look forward to bringing them to market this fall.”
And Stuart Keltie, international sales director at Oxford University Press, says, “The relationship we have built with IPG will allow us to work with one of the most comprehensive sales and marketing teams in the United States, cementing the position of Oxford Children’s fiction list within one of the largest children’s markets in the world.”
The IPG-Oxford University Press agreement is to become active on October 1.
OUP’s press offices confirm to Publishing Perspectives that this deal is for the United States and Canada, not—as was originally distributed to the news media—”North America and Canada.” You may see that phrasing elsewhere.
Thanks to the OUP’s own Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries, we can assure our readership that no secret continental secessions have taken place, and that Canada is still part of North America, defined as “the continent consisting of Canada, the United States, Mexico, the countries of Central America, and Greenland.”
It’s a good Monday when you can help out Oxford University Press with a point of geography.
More from Publishing Perspectives on distribution is here, more on Oxford University Press is here, more on IPG is here, and more on children’s books is here.
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