Trafford Publishing

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Trafford Publishing
Parent companyAuthor Solutions
Founded1995 (1995) (Victoria, British Columbia)
FounderBruce Batchelor, Marsha Batchelor, John Norris and Steve Fisher
Country of originUnited States
Headquarters locationBloomington, Indiana
Publication typesBooks
Official websitewww.trafford.com

Trafford Publishing is a book publishing company for self-publishing authors. Formerly based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Trafford Publishing is now based in Bloomington, Indiana, US.[1]

History[edit]

Trafford Publishing, founded in 1995 by Bruce and Marsha Batchelor, John Norris, and Steve Fisher, specializes in print-on-demand (POD) publishing.[2] The company's approach allows for printing books in short runs or individually, based on orders from authors or retail customers. Bruce Batchelor, one of the founders, served as CEO until 2006.

Trafford's business model requires authors to pay upfront for the setup costs of publishing, and it places the responsibility for marketing primarily on the authors themselves. At its largest, Trafford employed around 150 people across offices in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. The company operated its own printing facility in Victoria, Canada, and also utilized the printing services of Lightning Source Inc. (LSI), a subsidiary of Ingram Books, and BookSurge LLC for its printing needs.[3]

The range of publishing packages offered by Trafford varies from basic services, aimed at authors looking to print copies for personal use, to more comprehensive packages that include online ordering capabilities and internet distribution. The company has also ventured into e-book conversion and distribution, partnering with platforms like Powells.com and Lightning Source Inc. (LSI) for digital distribution.

In 2009, Trafford Publishing was acquired by Author Solutions Inc., a conglomerate that also includes AuthorHouse and iUniverse, under the ownership of Bertram Capital Management LLC, a private-equity firm based in San Mateo, California. This acquisition followed Author Solutions Inc.'s purchase of Xlibris in January 2009.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Andrew Duffy (April 7, 2009). "US firm buys out Trafford". Times Colonist. Archived from the original on April 8, 2010. Retrieved November 22, 2009.
  2. ^ "Trafford Publishing announces new print-on-demand colour publishing service. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  3. ^ Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg (April 9, 2009). "Self-Publisher Buys Rival As Sector Consolidates". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 22, 2009.

External links[edit]