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AEP Online |
Small Companies Find Ways to Go GlobalIn his highly influential book, The World is Flat, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman writes that in the era of "Globalization 3.0," small companies are using collaborative technologies to act big. In the realm of educational publishing, organizations are doing this by immersing themselves in the international marketplace, buying and selling content, and rights and partnering with foreign distribution companies right alongside the large corporations. In fact, preliminary results of a survey currently being conducted by AEP and the Frankfurt Book Fair show that 82 percent of publishers, distributors, and service providers involved in the education sector have plans to expand their international presence in the next two years. Eighty-six percent of these respondents report annual revenues of under $26 million, and more than 75 percent have under 50 employees. In an effort to provide our members with the tools they need to succeed in the atmosphere of Globalization 3.0, AEP has announced the launch of Go Global, a program designed to help educational publishers expand their business through the marketing and sales of intellectual property rights internationally. An outgrowth of a previous successful international publishing partnership with the Bologna Children's Book Fair, AEP's newest venture expands the international business potential for its members to the largest book fairs in the world. "A number of our AEP member companies have been selling international rights for some time, and the sale of those rights now contribute 5-15% directly to their bottom lines," states CEO Charlene F. Gaynor. "These new programs offer our members a proven, turn-key opportunity to test the international waters with minimal investment." Go Global contains three specific initiatives for 2007. The first is the Educational Publishing Pavilion, a partnership with the Frankfurt Book Fair. "With its new focus 'Education for the Future,' the Frankfurt Book Fair sets out to draw attention to the growing importance of education in the age of digitization and globalization," says Thomas Minkus, VP Marketing for the Frankfurter Buchmesse. "We are very pleased to partner with AEP to launch the brand new Educational Publishers Pavilion in Frankfurt's hall 4.2 and also to create a highly attractive program of educational events during the upcoming Book Fair. " The all-inclusive package that AEP has assembled includes everything from a fully outfitted exhibit space complete with Internet access to onsite translators and an appointment service courtesy of the U.S. Commercial Service. There is also a full schedule of programming that features a pre-fair orientation session, meetings with international CEOs, and two networking receptions. "This is an easy way to visit with international colleagues to determine viable international strategies," says Gaynor. Find more on the Educational Publishing Pavilion at the Frankfurt Book Fair here. By many accounts, China is the greatest emerging power of this century, and in preparation for the upcoming Olympics, China has rolled out the welcome mat to foreign guests. Now boasting more than 200,000 attendees at its annual gathering, the Beijing International Book Fair has entered a partnership with AEP and the American Collective Stand to offer the International Children's Publishers Exhibit (ICPE). Through this innovative partnership, educational products can be exhibited as part of a collective exhibit whether or not they are accompanied by a publisher. For a nominal fee, ICPE representatives will show the products and collect business cards and sales leads for publishers. Educational materials will be organized by country within the exhibit; each title will be displayed face out and cataloged in the ICPE catalog; and all information will be reported back to the publisher at the end of the fair. Beijing is becoming an increasingly important trade venue as more than 9,000 copyright transactions were conducted last year. For more information on this opportunity, please click here. In addition to the ICPE, AEP is once again sponsoring a business development tour for American publishers. Escorted by Robert Baensch, author of "The Publishing Industry in China," the ten-day tour will include school visits, meetings with Chinese publishers and booksellers, government officials, university faculty and press, publishing import/export experts, as well as visits to historic sites and the Beijing Book Fair. This is an unparalleled opportunity to make significant contacts, learn about the Chinese education system and get an insider's perspective on educational publishing in China. Click here more on the China Business Development Tour. Questions, ideas, or in need of more information? Please contact Stacey Pusey at 856-241-7772. |
Educational Publishing Pavilion |
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2008 The Association of Educational
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