Established in 1976, PGW’s headquarters are in Berkeley, CA, with national account and international sales offices in New York City. In 2007 PGW became a division of the Perseus Books Group, based in New York, with print, production, and digital services offices in Boulder, CO, a U.S. special sales team in Philadelphia, a UK sales office in London, and distribution and digital printing facilities in Jackson, TN. Over the years PGW has earned a reputation as a distributor that can work with publishers to build bestsellers across all categories. Some of these bestsellers include: 50 Simple Things to Save the Earth, the Pokémon series, Cold Mountain, The Power of Now, Rick Steves' travel guides, and StrengthsFinder 2.0.

PGW provides complete publisher services: marketing, editorial and design consultation, sales through all domestic and international channels, customer service, digital conversion and printing, warehousing and distribution, billing and collections, and detailed reporting for its clients. PGW sells to retail and wholesale accounts through an in-house sales force, stores all active titles in a centrally located distribution center, ships to accounts on a consolidated basis, bills and collects from accounts, and remits to the publisher the sales revenue, less returns, shipping charges, and distribution fees.

PGW maintains a balanced editorial mix in as many genres as possible, while avoiding over-concentration in any subject areas, and actively pursues new relationships with both existing and emerging publishing companies. Categorically, PGW clients’ strengths include: literary fiction, serious nonfiction, travel, self-help and personal growth and natural health, business, children’s books, gay and lesbian interest, popular and counter-culture, and audio books. More than half of PGW’s net billing — not to mention much of its editorial strength — is its backlist.

PGW's systems, processes, and services continue to evolve, and interaction with client publishers includes the latest Web application and reporting solutions. In addition to sales and distribution services, PGW provides client feedback on everything from marketing and title positioning to inventory management and operation logistics. Back to Top

The marketing department is a dynamic and integral part of the distribution enterprise, and the hub of activity at PGW for a publisher’s day-to-day needs. With PGW account managers, marketing assistants, catalog, advertising, and publicity specialists, clients receive the focused time and attention necessary to help them run their businesses successfully and achieve their publishing objectives. Back to Top

Marketing account managers act as consultants and advocates to each client publisher. They advise publishers on topics ranging from packaging and pricing issues to marketing plans and sales trend analysis, and work closely with PGW sales and all other departments to ensure their needs are being met. Account managers also advise and assist publishers in the evolving area of digital services, including e-books, short run printing, print on demand, and retail ‘sampling’ on sites such as Amazon.com, Borders.com and BN.com.

In addition to regular contact by phone and email, account managers coordinate seasonal presales marketing meetings with publishers. They also arrange business reviews and other meetings as needed. Account managers ensure that each client receives a consistently high level of services across PGW and are responsible for providing every client with valuable counsel on acquisitions, pricing, format, promotional strategies, art/design/production, cover copy, and much more. Back to Top

Scheduled seasonally, marketing meetings are a key interaction between publishers and the PGW sales and marketing teams. The format is flexible and includes a comprehensive review of sales, analysis of market trends, formulation of backlist sales goals, and sales projections for new titles. Publishers raise their agenda items, present new titles, and lead a strategy session on their overall program. Attendance at a typical marketing meeting varies depending on the list and territories covered, but always includes the publisher’s marketing account manager and assistant, as well as senior sales staff representing the key selling channels. Back to Top

Within the marketing department, the catalog team produces some of PGW’s most effective sales tools — the New Book, Children’s, and Travel catalogs for each selling season. PGW clients are assigned a catalog specialist who solicits new title descriptions, specifications, and cover images for each season’s titles. PGW’s catalog specialists work with each publisher, as well as copy editors, to produce final content for the appropriate seasonal catalogs. In addition, this title content is carefully managed and fed directly to national accounts such as Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Amazon, and other databases to ensure that the titles are purchased on schedule and that descriptions and all other title related data is correct and up-to-date. Back to Top

The marketing department distributes a weekly update of client-generated publicity to sales reps and accounts, while major national publicity is sent out immediately if necessary. The marketing department also keeps a useful database of public relations and publicity contacts who have worked with PGW clients in the past with positive results. Back to Top

The advertising department at PGW works closely with publishers, account managers, and various sales divisions to coordinate book trade advertising and account promotional activity. A key function of this department is obtaining approvals for co-op requests, including in-store promotions, display ads with wholesalers and/or trade magazines, online promotions, author signings, and newsletters. PGW’s Pre-approved Newsletter program allows accounts to take modest co-op credits for positive reviews without having to get approval in advance.

Co-op Advertising Guide & Request Form

Pre-approved Newsletter Request Form
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Helix Publisher Portal is PGW’s online reporting site where publishers go for information on sales, inventory, and financial reporting, and to upload new title information and artwork.  Helix also has a comprehensive reference section with detailed information about the sales teams, deadlines, requirements, schedules of trade shows and events, and much more.

PGW provides ftp access for each client where detailed sales and inventory reports and statements are uploaded each month. Publishers can also get access to Nielsen Bookscan point-of-sale data, as well as Ingram (ipage) and Baker & Taylor (PubAlley) sales and inventory feeds through PGW. Back to Top

PGW’s sales staff of over 40 people includes national accounts coverage from offices in New York City and Berkeley, a house field force, a six-person special sales group, and an international sales division consisting of in-house sales reps and many more stationed around the world. Most major specialty accounts are handled in-house while commissioned groups are used for gift and gourmet accounts across the United States. PGW field reps have twice won Publishers Weekly’s "Rep of the Year" award in recent years. The PGW sales team is highly respected throughout the trade and has a knack for choosing breakout titles and building bestsellers. PGW has had numerous national bestsellers in the last ten years, including several that have sold well over one million copies. Back to Top