Amazon launches print on demand A

MAZON has opened its first Print on Demand facility in Western Sydney, the first for Amazon in the Southern Hemisphere.

The state-of-the-art printing service enables authors and publishers to print paperback books at its Kemp’s Creek Fulfilment Centre, making their selected catalogue of titles continuously available for fast delivery to Australian readers.

The launch sees customers have access to millions of books on amazon.com.au that will be delivered faster to customers in Australia, as the books will be printed locally.

With Print on Demand, once a customer places an order for a title enrolled in the program, Amazon.com.au prints the book and delivers it to them.

This eliminates the needs for manufacturing or storing surplus books, which help independent authors and publishers reach more readers.

Matt Benham, Category Lead for Media and Books, Amazon Australia, said: “We are continuously growing the delivery experience for Australian customers and our new Print on Demand facility means that we will be able to get millions of paperback titles to customers faster than ever before.

“We are also excited about the benefits Print on Demand brings to the thousands of Australian self-published authors who have been keenly waiting for the launch of an Australian facility.”

Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Amazon’s self-publishing service, enables authors to publish in both print and digital formats, retain their copyright, get to market fast, distribute globally and earn royalties.

Alongside better access to Australian readers through faster delivery of paperback copies of their work, KDP authors benefit from faster access to proof and author copies.

Christopher Cartwright, one of the thousands of Australian authors who are self-publishing via Kindle Direct Publishing said: “The arrival of Amazon’s paperback printing facility in Australia is a huge milestone for Aussie self-published authors like me.

“Customers in Australia will now be able to buy a print copy of any of my books and have it delivered to them much quicker than before so I look forward to seeing what this will do for my sales on Amazon.com.au.”

About Amazon Australia

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company, Earth’s Best Employer, and Earth’s Safest Place to Work.