# Global Publishing Distribution Consultant **Company:** [ERG Media](http://jobs.workable.com/companies/izD2qPFgnTSoYTYRyhdxB5.md) **Location:** Milan, Italy **Workplace:** hybrid **Employment type:** Contract [Apply for this job](http://jobs.workable.com/view/256cc04a-55c8-4c2a-8d61-3de61a53da9b) ## Description 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: 1. A global distribution strategy for ERG 2. A prioritized list of 150 to 300 target accounts 3. A top 50 priority-door action plan 4. A map of recommended distributors, agents, and partners by territory 5. A clear strategy for the UK, US, Europe, Japan, Korea, and Middle East 6. Specific recommendations for entering accounts such as Selfridges and other controlled book concessions 7. Recommended commercial terms and account structures 8. Buyer outreach templates and sales materials guidance 9. A framework for seasonal catalogues and title presentation 10. Training for the ERG sales team 11. Introductions to relevant buyers, agents, or distributors where appropriate ### Engagement Structure This is envisioned as an initial 90-day consulting engagement, with the possibility of extending into a longer advisory or part-time commercial role. The first phase should focus on strategy, account mapping, and commercial infrastructure. The second phase should focus on outreach, introductions, buyer meetings, and training the ERG team. The consultant may work remotely, with occasional in-person meetings in Milan, London, Paris, New York, or other key markets where relevant. ### What Success Looks Like Success means that ERG has a clear, practical, and selective global distribution roadmap. Within the first phase, ERG should understand exactly which accounts to target, who controls those accounts, which accounts require distributors or concessions, and which can be approached directly. The consultant should help ERG move from opportunistic sales to a disciplined global distribution system, without compromising the brand’s cultural positioning or giving away unnecessary margin and control. The ultimate goal is to help ERG become one of the most desirable independent publishers in the world, present in the right rooms, on the right tables, in the right stores, and in the hands of the right readers. ## Requirements ### Ideal Background The ideal candidate may have previously worked as: - International Sales Director at an illustrated-book publisher - Distribution Director or Head of Sales at an art, design, or luxury publisher - Special Sales Director at a publishing house - Key Accounts Director for museum shops, department stores, or cultural retail - Senior buyer or consultant for luxury books, museum shops, or concept retail - Sales agent or distributor specializing in illustrated books, art books, design books, architecture books, luxury books, or collectible publishing - Experience working with museum-store buyers, department-store book buyers, distributors and wholesalers, sales agents, hotel or concept-store buyers, or senior publishing decision makers is a plus. Relevant experience could come from publishers or adjacent companies such as Taschen, Assouline, Thames & Hudson, Rizzoli, Phaidon, Abrams, Gestalten, Monocle, Kinfolk, MACK, Steidl, Prestel, Laurence King, or similar. ### Required Expertise The consultant should have strong knowledge of: - Deep experience in illustrated books, art books, design books, luxury publishing, museum retail, special sales, or international book distribution - International illustrated-book distribution - Luxury and cultural retail - Museum-store buying - Department-store book concessions - Wholesale pricing and trade discounts - Returns and consignment structures - Key account management - Seasonal sales catalogues - Special sales and corporate gifting - Distributor and wholesaler relationships - Bookshop, museum, hotel, and concept-store buying cycles - Territory-specific distribution requirements - Premium physical book positioning - Able to travel for at least one visit to Milan