In Manhattan, a photo from April 2022. Image – Getty iStockphoto: Jerome Labouyrie
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
Klingelhöfer: ‘Technology and Expertise’
As Publishing Perspectives readers know, the digital distributor Bookwire is based in Frankfurt, and has been in “expansionist mode for some time.
Today (March 30), the company is announcing that the United States market is its next target, the company outlooking the formation there of a “dedicated US market team.” This news, of course, was telegraphed somewhat to discerning readers by the company’s March 21 announcement just last week of a partnership with the Los Angeles-based digital-first publisher Podium.
“This move is a clear indication of Bookwire’s ambitious goal to establish a strong presence in the US market,” the company’s media messaging today reads, “and provide specialized services tailored to the unique needs of American publishers. This new team serves as the foundation for the company’s future growth in the market.”
Brittyne Lewis—who was identified as Bookwire’s United States market manager last week in the Podium announcement—is mentioned again today as the lead on the new Stateside project.
In announcing the news, the Bookwire team writes, “Bookwire fully commits itself to a long-term growth strategy in the United States, with the goal of sustainably establishing the German-born international company in the American market. With the creation of its US subsidiary, Bookwire will now offer an extensive portfolio of services in digital publishing, differentiating itself as a seamless full-service provider for publishing customers of all sizes.”
The company’s proprietary software called Bookwire OS/One Solution opened in 2019, and is promoted as being able to connect “production, distribution, marketing, and analytics features, the company says, in a single platform for publishers.
Jens Klingelhöfer
Jens Klingelhöfer, co-founding CEO of Bookwire, is quoted today, saying, “Bookwire is known internationally as a comprehensive distributor of ebooks and audiobooks, and now our company brings that expertise to the United States’ market.
“With Bookwire OS and our team, we offer a unique combination of technology and expertise, allowing them to provide their customers with a full range of services, from digitizing and formatting ebooks to distribution and analytics, as well as audiobook production.”
Lewis previously has worked with Lakeside Book Company and Libre Digital in Austin, Texas; and with RR Donnelley & Sons in Bolingbrook, Illinois. She began her association with Bookwire at the beginning of the year.
Brittyne Lewis
And Lewis says, “Bookwire is the perfect option for new customers looking for a one-stop answer to their digital publishing needs and for anyone who wants to take advantage of the company’s industry-leading expertise in audiobook production and distribution.
“Our software, Bookwire OS/One Solution, will be a strong distributor in the American market, meeting the needs of publishers of all sizes, and helping them to enhance their reach and increase their revenue.”
In opening its United States effort, Bookwire brings to seven the number of markets in which it has interests:
- Germany
- The United Kingdom
- Spain
- France
- Brazil
- Mexico
- United States
It lists its office locations as being in Frankfurt and Dortmund, Barcelona, London, Mexico City, São Paulo, New York City, and Paris.
More on Bookwire is here, more on its base market in Germany is here, more on the United States’ market is here, more on ebooks is here, and more on audiobooks in international publishing is here. Publishing Perspectives is a media partner with Bookwire’s ‘All About Audio’ conferences.
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