Turpin sees big challenges ahead in the distribution industry

Source: Supply Chain Digital

Date :13/05/2008 09:17:24

Turpin Distribution MD Lorna Summers tells Exec about the challenges of open access, industry consolidation and the slow but steady evolution from print to web.

Written by James Hurley and Produced by Paul Radbourne

A leading international book distributor, journal subscription fulfillment and circulation management specialist, Turpin Distribution provides a range of services that can be tailored to suit the needs of its clients. It currently works with over 50 international publishers, including Brill, Kluwer Law International, OECD, the British Library, the British Psychological Society, the American Association for Cancer Research, the United Nations, and Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC.

“We process books, journals and magazines across print and e-content,” explains Turpin’s MD Lorna Summers. “We cater for professional, academic, scientific, technical, medical and not-for-profit publishers.”

Lorna, an affable Scotswoman, has worked in the industry for 30 years, having originally trained in hotel management before turning to a career in distribution. She took over the company with a partner in 2005, bringing in her own management staff and controls and managing its impressive subsequent growth.

Print to web

Turpin provides customer care, order processing, multi currency billing with account collection and full warehouse services on a global basis, with premises in both the UK and the US; its purpose-built UK head office is located in Biggleswade, close to the A1M and two international airports, while the US office is based in Connecticut. Turpin employs 100 members of staff, the majority of whom work in its customer service, finance and warehouse departments.

Crucially, it operates using the publishers’ own policies, prices, discounts and currencies. To this end, it has developed its own in house computer systems to meet the specific needs of publishers; the company’s Information Systems Director, Chris Ingram, re-wrote the systems and is involved in a continuous improvement programme that ensures the evolution of Turpin’s systems in line with changes in the industry…

May 13, 2008

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