PYXIS Editorial Proposal
Publishing Industry Management June 2022
Table of Contents About Team Project Details Catalog First Year Love Second Year Power Third Year Identity Design Schedule Marketing Budget
About PYXIS PYXIS meanings: a vase with a cover, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans a small box or case Astronomy : the Compass, a southern constellation: one of the subordinate constellations The Ancient Greeks identified the four main stars of Pyxis as the mast of the mythological Jason's ship, Argo Navis. PYXIS is a project based in Barcelona that merges a publishing house with a subscription box service. The team behind PYXIS will issue a quarterly subscription box that will feature the following: a paperback book published by PYXIS a book selected by an indie bookstore - small/medium format coffee/tea from small business print/poster from an art store map with contacts of the local businesses PYXIS has partnered with in the box in the form of a postcard. Through the other items included in the box, we aim to support local businesses and give them more visibility. In addition to that, we will also create a map on our website with all the places we partner with which will grow with every PYXIS box, thus increasing the visibility of small local businesses based in Barcelona and growing their network of support. We think PYXIS is a perfect gift for any occasion. Not only for someone else, but for one's own self, where via one beautiful and creative product, we have managed to bring together artists, designers, and writers, supporting the arts, creativity, and local talent all at once.
Core Team Camila Garces Natali Dobreva Lauren Schiff Bianca Lopez
Project Details Every year PYXIS will delve into one main theme (e.g. love) and the 4 boxes/PYXIS books/books selected by indie bookstores will be dedicated to exploring different sub-themes/aspects of it (e.g. attraction, sex, etc.). By focusing on different aspects of one main theme, we want to look into the complexities behind it. The PYXIS books will contain short stories, poetry, and artworks. All of the works included in our books will be submitted through open calls on the PYXIS website which will be available to participants internationally. The languages in which we accept works are Spanish and English. There will be 3 open calls - for short story writers, poets, and artists (visual/graphic artists and photographers) - which will be published 4 times per year and their themes will reflect the ones that are going to be the focus of each book. All of the submissions on the open calls will be reviewed and selected for publication by professionals with rich experience in the publishing and artistic fields. The final books will consist of 10 short stories, 10 poems, and 10 artworks. We plan to produce between 200 copies for each edition. Each book will contain an additional surprise - a sneak-peek into the upcoming book will be slipped into the back cover. We think this small preview will help build anticipation, leaving our subscribers curious about the rest of the content. In addition to the 4 books, the PYXIS catalog will also include a 5th book which will be a collector’s edition that will include all of the 4 books published throughout the year as well as additional materials. It will be a hardcover book with a design similar to the other book designs and its title will be the one of the main theme that has been chosen for the current year. It will be available at the end of the year, in a limited edition of 100 copies and can only be bought through our website. PYXIS books will have a collection design. Each year the design will be based on one color (depending on the theme) and every book will have different elements of that color. Through this, the aim is to achieve a simple yet elegant design so that when the different editions are placed together on a shelf, they will all correspond and be cohesive with one another.
Catalog Year One Sub Topic
The ancient Greeks found diverse kinds of love in relationships with a wide range of people—friends, family, spouses, strangers, and even themselves. This outlook contrasts with our typical focus on a single romantic relationship, where one hopes to find all the different loves wrapped into a single person or soul mate. The message from the Greeks is to nurture the varieties of love and tap into its many sources. There also exists a legend that two people who are connected by a red thread are destined lovers, regardless of place, time, or circumstances. This red thread may stretch or tangle, but never break.
AFFECTION: LUDUS Scholars commonly use the Latin word ludus to describe this form of love, which concerns the playful affection between friends or casual lovers. We’ve all had a taste of it in the flirting and teasing in the early stages of a relationship. But we also live out our ludus when we sit around in a bar bantering and laughing with friends, or when we go out dancing. SEX: EROS Eros, named after the Greek god of fertility, represents the idea of sexual passion and desire. Eros was viewed as a dangerous, fiery, and irrational form of love that could take hold of a person and possess them. SELF : PHILAUTIA Aristotle realized there were two types of philautia. One was an unhealthy kind associated with narcissism, where one becomes self-obsessed and focused on personal fame and fortune. A healthier version enhances and nurtures a wider capacity to love. The idea was that if you like yourself and feel secure in yourself, you will have plenty of love to give others (as is reflected in the Buddhist-inspired concept of “self-compassion”). RELATIONSHIPS: AGAPE Selfless love. This was a love that is extended to all people, whether family members or distant strangers. Agape was later translated into Latin as caritas, which is the origin of the word “charity.”
Catalog Year Two Main Theme POWER Great ability to do, act, or affect strongly; vigor; force; strength. A source of physical or mechanical force or energy. Of or relating to political, social, or economic control. Many believe power comes from “outside-in.” That power is given to a person by someone else. They see power as a position or title, which comes with authority and control, and a belief in the form of supremacy over others. Others believe that power comes from “inside-out.” They maintain that power is the ability of each individual to cultivate by themselves. Power may be increased within a person by the choices they make, the actions they take, and the thoughts they create.
Sub Topic AUTHORITY The ability or potential of an individual to influence others and control their actions. Power is necessary for authority, but it is possible to have power without authority.
CORRUPTION Corruption is a phenomenon with many faces. The term typically refers to the misuse of power and resources for private gain. It is characterized by a range of economic, political, administrative, social and cultural factors, both domestic and international in nature. Corruption is not an innate form of behavior, but rather a symptom of wider dynamics.
DETERMINATION To be firmly set in one's decision or course of action, especially with the aim of achieving a particular goal. An individual or group of individuals who are determined to do something and are extremely motivated and unlikely to quit or change their mind. REVOLUTION Revolutions take the form of organized movements aimed at effecting change— economic change, technological change, political change, or social change. Typically revolutions are carried out because it has been determined that the current institutions in society have failed or no longer serve their intended purpose.
Catalog Year Three Main Theme IDENTITY Personal identity is a composite of one’s personality traits, beliefs, values, physical attributes, abilities, aspirations, and other identifiers that make them who they are. Multiple types of identity come together within an individual and can be broken down into some of the following examples: cultural identity, professional identity, ethnic and national identity, religious identity, gender identity, etc. Identity formation and evolution are impacted by a variety of internal and external factors like society, family, loved ones, ethnicity, race, culture, location, opportunities, media, interests, appearance, selfexpression and life experiences.
Sub Topic LOSS Loss may be conceptualized as "identity loss," the destruction or denial of a particular, meaningful, and positively affective self-other bond which has constituted a central personal identity for self. BELONGING In Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, belongingness is part of one of his major needs that motivate human behavior. The need to belong refers to a human emotional need to affiliate with and be accepted by members of a group. A sense of belonging involves more than simply being acquainted with other people. It is centered on gaining acceptance, attention, and support from members of the group. COMMUNITY Communities are a source of identity. Every community has its distinct traditions, values, and norms. Communities provide a wealth of organized and deep rooted knowledge, which builds from countless interactions of various socio-political, socio-economic, and socio-cultural attributes that occur over time.
FREEDOM Identity categories can be viewed as being intertwined with power relations, and with processes of subjection and exclusion. However identities are also sources of important values, and of freedom, for they are shaped and sustained by relations of interdependence and solidarity.
Design As we have mentioned before, the characteristics of our books will be elegance and minimalist. This is a crucial eye-catching element for our readers. For this reason, the design of our books will have a Japanese style binding. The color of the thread with which it is bound will correspond to the color of each edition, this gives strength to the brand and provides something different for our readers. We want the cover of each book to have illustrative elements that generate a line that leads to the next edition. According to the box of the 4 editions of the year, our primary aim is to keep the reader´s focus and attention on the content of the books, so that is why the design of the box will be kept simple and mainly match the color of the edition. The box that we will publish at the end of the year with all 4 editions will be more elaborate, with higher quality materials and in color. Our aim is to create a visually appealing book that can be viewed as a work of art which will draw our users to collect them.
Typography Our books/zines are going to have a clear and simple font. In the upper margin of each work will be written the name of the edition that is being read at the moment. We do not want the pages to be only loaded with text, that is why there will be illustrations, some color pages and words written in other directions. The typography will be SERIF. This typeface helps the eye by creating an optical illusion of a horizontal line, through which the eye moves when reading. It is a high quality typeface as the finials are much sharper. The font size will be between 11. With this size we will have approximately 50-70 characters per line, this helps not to tire the eyes of our readers and to be able to make jumps in the text in a natural way. Likewise, the line spacing will not be too small. The material of the pages will not be too heavy. We want it to be light, delicate and easy to carry around. Each edition will have a color that identifies it. This is why the sheets will be dyed in the color that corresponds to each edition.
DESIGN EXAMPLES First Year: LOVE
1. Affection: Ludus
2. Sex: Eros
3. Self: Philautia
4. Relationships: Agape
Pyxis box
OUR PRODUCT:
Schedule MAY
NOVEMBER
2ND Box Set
4TH Box Set
FEBRUARY
AUGUST
1ST Box Set
3RD Box Set
DECEMBER Collecter's Edition & Box Set
Marketing The promotion of the PYXIS boxes will be done through Facebook and Instagram (posts, paid ads), Google Ads, and on our website. We will also have paid ads on other book-related websites. By partnering with independent bookstores/art stores/coffee and tea shops, we rely on their assistance in the marketing of our subscription boxes. When a local business is being featured in a specific edition of a box, we will provide them with a number of subscription boxes to be featured in their store. In addition, flyers and physical promotions will be distributed to them as well. To get up close and personal with our consumers we will send free boxes to book influencers (bloggers, YouTubers, etc.). Another very important way to promote our product is through WOM (word of mouth). We understand the importance of book fairs and that is why we also want to be part of their activities. Our idea is to book a booth/table at festivals, fairs, and events.
PYXIS Budget Month
Item
Number Published
Box
1,000
Zine
2,000
Box
2,000
Zine
3,000
Box
2,500
Zine
4,000
Box
3,000
Zine
5,000
Pages
Size of Item
Cost of Printing
7 x 10 Inches 5.5 x 8..5 inches
Price
Sales
Marketing
400 0.40pp 4,221 2.11 ea
45
18,000
5,000
15
15,000
800
45
90,000
5,091.93 1.697 ea
15
15,000
1,000
45
112,500
5,858.06 1.465 ea
15
22,500
1,200
45
135,000
6,624.19 1.325 ea
15
30,000
February
60
May
60
7 x 10 Inches 5.5 x 8..5 inches
5,000
August
60
7 x 10 Inches 5.5 x 8..5 inches
5,000
November
60
7 x 10 Inches 5.5 x 8..5 inches
5,000
December Box for Box Set Boxes to hold 4 zines per Box Set
1,000
NA
3,319 119.00 for 3D Box Set Design 22 x 8.5 3,200 For inches Custom Printed boxes ‘ 3.20 ea
50
50,000
3,000
4,000 Zine for Box Set
Hard Cover Book
60 1,000 of per Zine 5.5 x 8..5 inches each issue 100
240
NA
NA
5.5 x 8..5 4,202 inches 42.02 ea
70
7,000
3,000
6,000 avg. Of $25 per page
NA
NA
NA
240
Translation
Zine
4
60 pages per Zine x 4 Zines per Year
5,858.06 1,465 each
NA
PYXIS Budget Cont..
Ítems Published Annually Total Boxes Printed Total Zines Printed
10
Total Estimated Costs
44,574.24
8,500
Total Estimated Cost of Mktg
21,500
18,000
Total Estimated Sales
495,000
NET TOTAL
428,925.76
Budget Notes Cost of Printing in Full Color Book Source Zine Source Box for Box Set Source Hardcover Book Source
Division of Zines February 1,000 for boxes; 1,000 for local shops to carry May 2,000 for boxes; 1,000 for local shops to carry August 2,500 for boxes; 1,500 for local shops to carry, November 3,000 for boxes; 2,000 for local shops to carry