Flow through is a term used in the book and publishing industry to describe the way in which books are sold and distributed. When a book is published, the publisher will typically print a certain number of copies and then sell them to bookstores. The bookstore will then sell the copies to customers. The unsold copies are returned to the publisher, who will then destroy them.
Flow through is used to describe this process because it is a continuous cycle. The publisher prints copies of a book and sells them to the bookstore. The bookstore then sells the copies to customers. The unsold copies are returned to the publisher, who destroys them. This cycle repeats itself until the book goes out of print.
Flow through is beneficial to both the publisher and the bookstore. The publisher is able to print only the number of copies that they know will be sold. This reduces the amount of waste associated with printing too many copies of a book that will not sell. The bookstore is able to reduce the amount of inventory they need to carry, which reduces their costs.
Flow through is not without its drawbacks. The main drawback is that it can take a long time for a book to go out of print.
The flow through process is also important because it helps to ensure that books are distributed evenly throughout the different channels of the book industry. For example, if a book is sold to a retailer who then sells it to the consumer, the retailer will likely order more copies of the book from the wholesaler in the future. This helps to ensure that the book is available to consumers who want to buy it.
Overall, the flow through process is an important part of the book industry that helps to ensure that books are sold fairly and that they are distributed evenly.