independent publishers guild

IPG Events 2010

The IPG organises several events a year, enabling members to regularly meet and discuss important industry issues. Events include seminars the IPG annual conference and collective stands at leading books fairs, including London, Frankfurt and Beijing. The inaugural Independent Trade Forum took place in Eastbourne in September 2005; this was a joint initiative between the IPG and the Booksellers Association, linking independent publishers with independent booksellers.

Spring Conference
The IPG's spring conference is a must-attend event that looks at varied publishing matters and runs workshops on aspects of the industry. We invite key figures to talk and share advice, and run a troubleshooting session where members can seek answers to their questions from fellow delegates. The social side of the conference is great too - meet fellow publishers and network with business contacts.

Seminars
IPG seminars are an excellent way to pick up useful business tips and learn from the experts. Issues under debate have included sales, marketing, rights, distribution, retailing and e-commerce and international trade.

The IPG holds an autumn seminar in November each year. The seminar takes place at a venue in central London and usually lasts from about 3pm to 7pm. There is a dinner afterwards at a nearby restaurant. Attendance numbers are usually about 100 for the seminar and about 50 people usually go on to dinner as well.

Book Fairs
Join the IPG's collective stand at important book fairs in London and Frankfurt. Because the IPG negotiates great deals on stands, sharing space is a cost and time-efficient way of getting a presence at these high-profile events.

Warning: The Fair Guide/Construct Data Publishers

The company that used to trade under the name of Construct Data Verlag or GMBH is now operating under the name of Fair Guide, Fair Guide or Expo Guide from Mexico. This company sends out misleading contracts to companies taking part in trade fairs purporting to be official fair guides. The contract is for three years and costs Eur 1181 per year.

More information can be found at:

http://www.stopecg.org/construct_data_fairguide.htm

For several years, the above company was sending out misleading information, inviting companies to submit their catalogue entry in their 'Frankfurt' Fair Guide. This was not the Frankfurt fair organisers' catalogue, and contrary to first impression, catalogue entry was not free -- they were charging a hefty fee.

On 13th February 2007 Construct Data Verlag signed a far reaching settlement with the Schutzverband gegen unlauteren Wettbewerb in the Austrian courts. Following continuing widespread complaints about Construct Data's conduct, a further agreement was reached on 21st Feb 2008.

It now appears that Construct Data has agreed:
1. To cease the mailing of misleading contracts from Austria
2. To cancel their demands for money against all companies who signed in error and dispute the contracts, regardless of location.

If you signed Construct Data's contract in error you must now notify them in order to be covered by this agreement. For a draft letter, go to http://www.stopecg.org/cdcancellation.doc

Once you have formally notified Construct Data, that should be the end of it.