Small publisher sells via ‘pay what you want’ model

In the US, small publisher Brooklyn Arts Press (BAP) is pre-selling a title using a ‘pay what you want’ model, reports Flavorwire. Print copies of poet Noah Eli Gordon’s book The Word Kingdom in the Word Kingdom are being sold through BAP’s website, with customers asked to nominate how much they are willing to pay on top of a US$5 (A$6.40) postage and handling fee. BAP managing editor and publisher Joe Pan said on average customers are paying around US$10 (A$12.80), although a number are paying US$18 (A$23), which will be the book’ retail price from 7 March, and a few have paid upwards of US$25 (A$32). Pan said: ‘I had been toying with the idea of a “Pay What You Want” model for about three years, but never seriously considered it until last year, when we noticed poetry sales plateauing across the board.’ BAP hopes the model and word-of-mouth will drive sales.