How to get Your Self-Published Book Into Waterstones

​It’s safe to say that a prevailing dream for self-publishing authors is seeing their book on the shelves of Waterstones. Though this may seem like a daunting task for any author, it is an achievable goal with a few tricks along the way. Read on to find out exactly how to conquer the bookselling giant. 
 
1.     Polish your book to perfection 
 
Before presenting your book to Waterstones, it needs to be in its best possible shape. After all, it’s important to remember that you are presenting a product to a business with an undoubtedly prestigious reputation in the publishing sphere. Rowanvale offers a plethora of self-publishing services, from proofreading to editorial assessments, to book illustration and custom cover design, that elevate our authors’ work to its fullest potential. By utilising professional expertise, you can be confident knowing that the product you will present to Waterstones is completely ready to take on any competitors in the market.  
 
2.     You must have an ISBN  
 
This is an absolute necessity for selling your book as it must be registered in the retail market before it can be distributed to any resellers, be it online or in a physical shop. This can be done independently through Nielsen, though many of our authors take advantage of Rowanvale’s self-publishing packages which all include an ISBN assignment and take the task off your busy plate.  
 
3.     Create a Gardners account  
 
Gardners Books Ltd is the company that Waterstones stock their books from as the largest book wholesaler in the UK. In order to get your self-published book into Waterstones, you will need to complete a Waterstones/Gardners Trading Application Form. Don't forget to organise how you will print your books before sending this off, as you may need to be ready to roll out some copies very soon! 
 
4.     Name your price  
 
When selling to Gardners, self-publishing authors generally give a sizable discount from the RRP price, in order to make their deal as attractive as possible. Usually, the figure sits at around 60% of the original price, and Gardners will then take their own cut of this before selling it on to Waterstones.  
 
Why not do it yourself? 
 
Alternatively, there is also the option of selling your book to Waterstones face-to-face. A common strategy for indie authors is to physically go into a store and present the manager with a copy. Though this may seem daunting, the personal approach can really pay off for self-publishing authors, as the book-loving employees of Waterstones will no doubt appreciate the enthusiasm of a passionate writer.  ​