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Book Clearing House Acquires Upper Access Fulfillment
For a printable version of this release, please click here.
March 2000 - Two book-fulfillment services will be combined when Book Clearing House of Harrison, N.Y. acquires the fulfillment portion of Upper Access, Inc. of Hinesburg, Vt. All titles now carried by Upper Access will be transferred to BCH during the first week of March. Spokespersons for both companies emphasized that the transition will be seamless, with no disruption of services or sales. The two companies had been friendly competitors, providing similar services, including toll-free, around-the-clock book ordering. The agreement culminates several months of discussion. With the acquisition, Book Clearing House will be representing more than 400 independent publishers. According to Nancy Smoller, president of BCH, "Our rapid growth comes from a simplified, low-fee structure that emphasizes fast, efficient order processing and delivery."
Book Clearing House has been in business for over 50 years, specializing in obtaining books for corporate libraries, and has a long-standing reputation for quality, service, and speed. It began its fulfillment activities two years ago, using the same business strengths to grow rapidly. The company takes orders via 800 numbers, fax, and a secure web site. The toll-free phone numbers used by Upper Access will be transferred to BCH. Upper Access will keep its book listings on its web site (http://www.upperaccess.com) in place for several months after the transfer, to be sure that no orders will be lost while BCH puts a new, larger site in place.
Upper Access publishes books and develops business software for the publishing industry. "We've been eager to return our focus to our core business, which is publishing," says Steve Carlson, vice president of Upper Access. "We were thrilled when BCH expressed an interest. Our primary concern, in getting out of the fulfillment business, has been that the publishers we work with remain in good hands. I think Book Clearing House is in the best possible position to pick up where we're leaving off with these wonderful publishers." Upper Access began as a publisher in 1986 and expanded into fulfillment in 1989. "At that time, we filled a significant need, because most small-press titles were hard to find and nobody else was doing a good job providing this type of service," Carlson says. "But now, BCH is doing an outstanding job, and is growing and improving with experience. It's a good time for us to pass the torch to them, so that we can devote more or our effort to publishing books." Upper Access also develops Publishers' Assistantant, the Windows-based business software program used by several hundred small-to-medium-sized publishers.
Upper Access can be reached at upperacces@aol.com. Book Clearing House, 46 Purdy Street, Harrison, New York 10528, phone (914) 835-0015, fax (914) 835-0398. Contact at Upper Access: Steve Carlson or Kristen Lewis, phone (802) 482-2988. Contact at Book Clearing House: Nancy Smoller, phone (800) 431-1579.
Nancy Smoller
Book Clearing House
(800) 431-1579
bchouse@book-clearing-ho
http://www.book-clearing-house.com/
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