Date:    Thu, 14 Jul 1994 23:50:30 CDT
From:    laurie <[L--D--S] at [UGA.CC.UGA.EDU]>
Subject: Publishers:"40 & 5" Proposal

The following is edited from a three-page press release.
For a complete version or further information, please write
to Preston A. Sweet at the address at the end.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, July 14, 1994
SWEET AND SIM ANNOUNCE "40 & 5" PROPOSAL

In response to rapidly changing market conditions, Preston
A. Sweet, columnist for COMICS RETAILER and Dave Sim,
publisher and creator of CEREBUS, are proposing the adoption
of a "40 & 5" program of standard direct trade terms between
small comics publishers and retailers.

"40 & 5" refers to a standard 40% discount off the cover
price on an order of 5 or more copies from a publisher's
back stock (not necessarily all the same issue).  Payment
would accompany the order and the publisher would pay basic
shipping costs.

Sweet explained, "The current distribution system is set up
to do two things: distribute new books as soon as they are
published, and fill reorders for these books shortly after
their release. However, there are titles which will have
demand for months or even years after they are published.
As currently implemented, the distribution system is unable
to efficiently meet the long-term demands for these books."

Dave Sim adds that, "While a hierarchical system of
publisher-to-distributor-to-retailer works on current issues
of mainstream titles, a back issue system which supports
both distributor and retailer orders has proven more
effective with the small press."

The development of the program came about through Sweet's
frustration in having to contact individual publishers to
determine if they participated in wholesale terms to
retailers on back issues and what these terms were.  He felt
both publishers and retailers would benefit by a standard
set of minimum terms which could be referenced in the books
themselves, as well as advertisements and reviews, in much
the same way as single-copy terms are already presented.

Publishers interested in participating in this program
should write to:

               Preston A. Sweet
               Main Street Comics
               2351 College Station Road, Suite 447
               Athens, GA  30605

(or e-mail: [l--d--s] at [uga.cc.uga.edu])