“Flow through” is an industry term describing how books are sold and distributed after publication. After printing copies for bookstores to sell to customers, any unsold copies are returned to the publisher for disposal.
“Flow through” describes this continuous cycle wherein a publisher prints copies and sells them to bookstores for distribution to customers before returning any unsold copies to be destroyed by the publisher. The process restarts until the book goes out of print.
Moreover, “flow through” benefits both publishers and bookstores alike, as it allows publishers to print only those copies they know will sell, reducing wastefulness in printing too many copies which won’t sell. Meanwhile, bookstores benefit by reducing inventory needs, thus decreasing costs associated with carrying too much inventory at one time.
Flow through has its drawbacks. One major disadvantage of flow through is that books may take too long to go out of print, which could delay publication for years.
The flow through process is essential in that it helps ensure books are distributed equally across various channels in the book industry. If a book is sold directly to retailers, who then sell it directly to consumers, it is eventually ordered from wholesalers in more quantities by retailers; this ensures more copies remain on shelves for consumers who wish to buy the title they need.
Overall, the flow through process in book sales and distribution is an integral component that ensures books are sold fairly and distributed equitably.