Simon & Schuster launches new Premier Marketing Plan that simplifies access by booksellers to promotional funds; new portal manages invoices, order tracking, promotional information

Kendall Sinclair

NEW YORK , May 28, 2013 (press release) – Coming June 10: New Customer Portal to Serve as One-Stop Destination for Invoices, Order Tracking and Promotional Information 

In recognition of the important role played by independent booksellers in helping consumers find books and discover new authors, Simon & Schuster announced today a new Premier Marketing Plan that simplifies access by booksellers to promotional funds. Simon & Schuster also announced a June 10 launch date for a new Customer Portal that will consolidate in one easy to use destination critical resources including marketing/coop information, order tracking, invoices and digital catalogs.

Under the company’s new Premier Marketing Plan (PMP), eligible accounts can receive promotional funds based on the previous year’s total direct and indirect net physical purchases, paid directly to the account via quarterly credits. The plan also provides exempt funds for publisher-approved author appearances. For participating accounts, the PMP replaces the traditional co-op pool and newsletter co-op, and eliminates existing co-op approval procedures.

The Premier Marketing Plan follows closely upon other recent initiatives from Simon & Schuster in support of the independent channel, including 60-day dating (from end-of-month) and a new, lower 30-unit minimum for orders.

To qualify, accounts must be independently owned and operated, full-line, retail brick and mortar bookstores with a maximum of 15 shipping destinations. Participating accounts must demonstrate a commitment to marketing Simon & Schuster’s titles in-store, and must create and execute a marketing plan in conjunction with their Simon & Schuster sales representative. The Premier Marketing Plan is applicable only for wholly-owned Simon & Schuster adult, children’s and audio titles, and has an effective date of January 1, 2013.

“Our Premier Marketing Plan has been developed thanks to a fruitful dialogue and much helpful feedback from our bookselling partners in the independent channel,” said Michael Selleck, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing. “At the top of their wish list was faster and easier access to promotional funds and we are pleased to offer this improvement which will enable all of us to place yet more focus on marketing and selling books. We look forward to continued partnership with our independent accounts in bringing books by our authors, at all different stages of their careers, to the attention of readers everywhere.”

Simon & Schuster encourages accounts to sign up directly for the Premier Marketing Plan by visiting the new Simon & Schuster Customer Portal (http://customerportal.simonandschuster.com) beginning June 10. Accounts wishing to sign up for the PMP at BookExpo America can fill out necessary paperwork at the Simon & Schuster booth (#2638, Level 3) or meeting room (#3239, Level 3). For more information, they can visit the Portal or contact their Simon & Schuster sales representative.

Simon & Schuster, a part of CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com

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