Global Publishing Distribution Consultant

About the role

ERG is an independent publishing house and creative studio producing highly considered books, objects, and cultural projects across automotive, design, architecture, travel, art, music, and luxury culture. We have built a reputation for creating books that sit somewhere between publishing, brand storytelling, and collectible object making. Our projects are sold through our own channels, selected cultural retailers, brand partners, and direct-to-consumer platforms. As we continue to grow, we are building a more sophisticated global distribution network that preserves the quality, scarcity, and cultural positioning of our work. We are not looking to become a conventional mass-market publisher. We are looking to build a highly selective global distribution system that places ERG books in the world's best bookstores, museum shops, concept stores, department stores, hotel boutiques, and luxury retail environments. The Role ERG is seeking a Global Publishing Distribution Consultant to help us design and execute the next stage of our international distribution strategy. This person will advise ERG on how to build a stronger global sales and distribution network while maintaining control over our brand, margins, presentation, and customer relationships. The role is both strategic and practical: we need someone who can map the industry, identify the right partners, open doors, advise on terms, and help our internal team understand how the global illustrated-book and luxury publishing distribution ecosystem really works. Key Responsibilities Distribution Strategy Develop a clear global distribution strategy for ERG across major territories, including the UK, Europe, North America, Japan, Korea, the Middle East, and selected Asian markets. Advise on which accounts should be handled directly by ERG, which require local distribution partners, and which should be approached through special sales, wholesale, or concession structures. Help ERG define the right balance between scarcity, prestige, sell-through, margin protection, and international growth. Account Mapping Build a detailed target-account map of the most important global doors for ERG, including: Luxury department stores Museum shops Independent bookstores Art and design bookstores Concept stores Hotel boutiques Automotive and watch retail environments Airport and travel retail Private clubs Cultural institutions Corporate gifting and special-sales accounts Identify the actual decision makers behind these accounts, including buyers, concession operators, wholesale partners, and preferred distributors. For accounts such as Selfridges, Harrods, Liberty, Le Bon Marché, Dover Street Market, MoMA, Tate, V&A, Daikanyama T-Site, Tsutaya, Isetan, Mitsukoshi, Kinokuniya, and similar, clarify the correct route to entry and the commercial structure required. Industry Intelligence Provide ERG with a clear understanding of how major publishers and luxury book brands structure their distribution, including companies such as Taschen, Assouline, Thames & Hudson, Rizzoli, Phaidon, Abrams, Gestalten, and others. Explain the role of trade distributors, wholesalers, sales reps, museum-store networks, department-store concessions, and international territory partners. Help ERG avoid common distribution mistakes, including over-distribution, excessive returns exposure, low-margin wholesale dependency, and loss of brand control. Commercial Terms and Infrastructure Advise ERG on appropriate trade terms, wholesale discounts, minimum order quantities, payment terms, returns policies, consignment structures, freight rules, and replenishment systems. Help build practical tools for the internal sales team, including account templates, buyer outreach language, seasonal catalogue structure, line sheets, order forms, and sales reporting frameworks. Advise on metadata, ISBN usage, ONIX requirements, distributor compatibility, and any operational systems needed to sell professionally into the book trade. Door Opening and Introductions Use existing industry relationships where appropriate to help ERG reach the right buyers, distributors, sales agents, and retail decision makers. Support the ERG team in preparing high-quality outreach to priority accounts. Where suitable, participate in introductory calls, buyer meetings, and strategic negotiations. Training and Knowledge Transfer Train ERG's internal sales and operations teams on how global publishing distribution works. Help the team understand the difference between direct retail, wholesale, trade distribution, special sales, museum retail, and luxury retail. Create a repeatable process that ERG can continue to operate after the consulting engagement ends. Key Deliverables The engagement should produce: A global distribution strategy for ERG A prioritized list of 150 to 300 target accounts A top 50 priority-door action plan A map of recommended distributors, agents, and partners by territory A clear strategy for the UK, US, Europe, Japan, Kore

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