Put Me In Coach - I'm Ready to Play in the Field of Distribution!
Hey, sports fans, it's not a moment too early to start planning for next year's catalog. We've put together a more streamlined process for renewals in the 2005-2006 Cookbook Marketplace Catalog and want to familiarize you with the FRP system.

The cycle for the Cookbook Marketplace Catalog information runs from April 1, 2005 - May 31, 2006. Once all renewals are in place, it takes three to four months to assemble the catalog, hence the need for renewals to take place during the months of November and December 2004.

Here are the details and deadlines:

• Catalog Renewal Invoices will be mailed out beginning November 2004 for the 2005-2006 catalog season. Renewal Invoices will be mailed to your group home office address, along with a return address envelope for your convenience.
• Upon receipt of Renewal Invoice, process your payment and advise us of any content changes or cover graphic updates needed to your title(s) by viewing your information at our website: www.cookbookmarketplace.com. (A content change form will be included with the Renewal Invoice if you need to make revisions).
• Return Renewal Invoice Payment/Content Changes info in the supplied return address envelope, Attn: Julee Hicks.
• Deadline to process Early-Bird Renewals is December 1, 2004. Only those renewal payments received at our offices by December 1, 2004, will eligible for Early-Bird Drawing. (See below for further explanation of the Early-Bird program).
• Final deadline for renewals is December 15, 2004.
• Cancellation of services requires a written notice per title be sent to our offices by December 15, 2004. Any remaining inventory that we have on hand of cancelled titles as of May 1, 2005, will be returned to your location at the purchased price, plus shipping charges. Please send Cancellation Notice to the attention of Julee Hicks in the supplied return envelope.
• If neither a Renewal Notice, or Cancellation Notice is received by December 15, 2004, we will automatically renew your title(s) "as is" and send a second notice invoice for payment so the benefits you receive from distribution will not be interrupted.
• The 2005-2006 Catalog will be completed and ready for mailing during the month of April 2005!

2005-2006 Fee Structure:

The "additional book fee" helps to defray the rising costs of increasing our retail exposure on behalf of our publishers. We are working to expand into more new markets through trade shows and further developing our marketing opportunities within the distribution network. Our main goal is to increase a certain level of influence with retailers and other types of revenue resources on your behalf.

SPECIAL EARLY-BIRD INCENTIVE
The first 25 Renewals that are received by December 1, 2004, in our offices will be entered into a drawing. The winner will receive a collection of 6 new FRP cookbooks ($25 average retail price per book). The total value of the package is $150 and certainly well worth the early effort!

Contact Julee Hicks for the 2005-2006 renewal information. Take this opportunity to process your renewal for next year - the earlier the better - and you'll increase your chances of being included in the Early-Bird Registration drawing. If you have any questions regarding the Cookbook Marketplace Catalog or the overall renewal process, contact Julee Hicks at 1-800-358-0560 or via e-mail at jhicks@frpbooks.com.

Cookbook University - April 11-12, 2005, at the Wyndham-Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas. Make plans now to attend and send as many representatives from your organization as possible. This is a great opportunity to experience a fabulous training seminar while networking with other self-publishers who are in the business of cookbooks. For more information, contact Julee Hicks at jhicks@frpbooks.com or 1-800-358-0560.

Success and Good News

Ohio Hospitality Educational Foundation (OHEF):
Betty Kaye and I have been working on developing their pre-sales and promotional strategy by using Marketing Momentum. They have ordered postcards to use in 4 large mailings - potential wholesale accounts (bookstores, gift shops, gourmet stores, schools that run hospitality-type programs; other restaurants in the area to promote the cookbook through their venue; as well as the Foundation supporters and other members that work with OHEF. They are also going to supply the schools with posters to assist with pre-orders and use the color copies as part of their press kit. They will also use the book cover on CD to get the image up on the web immediately and begin taking orders right away. They are really working through their marketing plan and planning out their mailings and promotional strategies. Hats off to Betty and her group at OHEF as they celebrate the debut of their cookbook, Dessert First!

Holiday Stress

The holidays will be quickly upon us and with that comes STRESS! Most of you have a personal "to do" list, a professional "to do" list and a Cookbook Publisher "to do" list. We can't help much with the personal and professional lists but we do have some suggestions for the Cookbook Publisher.

Spend at least one hour per day on marketing the cookbook. If you are a cookbook chairman in charge of the cookbook committee it is crucial that you are organized. Break the list down into bite-size pieces to keep from getting so overwhelmed. Be aware that each individual on your committee is busy during the Holidays so don't waste their time by not being organized. Delegate responsibilities and praise them for what they accomplish.

Let's take a look at ways you should be spending that hour a day…

• Call existing wholesale accounts and ask them if they need more books. If local, offer to deliver the books.
• Call your Distributors and discuss how the book is selling. Offer them a deeper discount or some incentive for a reorder.
• Send a Happy Holidays card to accounts thanking them for their business.
• Send important media contacts a "goodie" package made from recipes in the cookbook.
• Call a prospective account and pitch the book. Share with them how well the book is selling in other stores in the area. Offer free shipping or an incentive for the first order.
• Call a CEO at a local corporation and suggest he/she purchase cookbooks for the staff.
• Call a local nonprofit organization and make the offer for them to sale the cookbook as a fundraiser.
• Write a press release for January. Topics for January: healthy eating, soups, comfort foods, New Year resolution to cook at home and have regular family meals. Give them a weekly menu idea from the cookbook.
• Call a friend and share a recipe from the book. Remember that more books are sold by word of mouth than any other way!