Chapter 108: East Distribution and Day Distribution

Anjiu Bookstore, second-floor office.

Akiwara Yuto pushed the door open, said "Good morning" to the inside, and sat on the sofa by himself.

Anjiu Jin Gangyi, who was working, saw him arrive, stood up, and pushed the office chair to place it opposite Akiwara Yuto.

"Satake, go pour two cups of tea."

After Anjiu Jin Gangyi sat down, he said to Satake Maki, who was working at another small table. Hearing this, Satake Maki nodded, got busy, and soon brewed the tea.

Akiwara Yuto took the tea, blew on it, and then said: "President Anjiu, you asked me to come today because the sales data for the first week and the first-day sales data for this week have already come out, right?"

Since the release of *Suspect X*, nearly a whole week has passed.

Anjiu Jin Gangyi nodded, then let Satake Maki take another document and lay it flat on the coffee table in front of the sofa.

"According to statistics from various channels, the sales in the first week were better than we expected, reaching about 4,000-plus copies. And according to yesterday's sales statistics, it is estimated that the sales this week can also reach this number."

Akiwara Yuto looked at the document and fell into deep thought.

Looking at this sales figure, it can sell out the first edition of 30,000 copies in a few months, but if someone helps to push it, the annual sales might not even reach 100,000 copies, or rather, there is not much hope.

He thought for a while and asked: "President Anjiu, are there any book reviewers from newspapers or some journals who have commented and recommended the work?"

Hearing this question, Anjiu Jin Gangyi rubbed the back of his head and said embarrassedly: "Teacher Akiwara, generally speaking, for works published by small publishers like ours, if there is no special reason, it often only attracts the attention of book reviewers when the sales are a bit higher."

Akiwara Yuto pondered and found that it was indeed this principle.

When *ZOO* first started serializing, the weekly sales of *New Novel* actually reached 30,000 copies, but only 1 book reviewer commented, and the layout range was very small.

Now *Suspect X* has weekly sales of only 4,000 copies, which is estimated to be even less able to attract the attention of book reviewers.

Then again, his title of "thriller-type genius" is really cheap, and not many people pay attention to him. However, the outside world might still think that he will continue to serialize in *New Novel*, right?

Forget it, let's wait for the work to ferment slowly. I hope the traffic driving from that detective forum will have some effect.

"Teacher Akiwara?" Seeing Akiwara Yuto silent, Anjiu Jin Gangyi coughed twice, pulling back his attention, "Regarding the channel side of sales, you don't have to worry too much, our channels are still gradually spreading."

"Hmm? What other channels can be spread?"

Anjiu Jin Gangyi replied: "Currently, the market for main sales is mainly Tokyo and its surroundings, but if the sales go high, the distributors will increase the order quantity and spread to other regions."

Akiwara Yuto was a bit confused and asked directly: "Why can't it be spread directly?"

He really didn't understand a bit. Although Tokyo is the most densely populated metropolitan area in Nihon, the markets in other regions shouldn't be left alone like this. After all, the more cities it spreads to, the more sales *Suspect X* will have.

Seeing Akiwara Yuto's confusion, Anjiu Jin Gangyi took paper and pen and explained further.

In order to avoid vicious competition such as price wars in the market, the Nihon government implemented the "Book Resale System," that is, publishers sell books to bookstores through distributors, and then bookstores sell them to readers.

Through these two systems, two behemoth book distributors (distributors) appeared in Nihon, namely Tokyo Publishing Distribution and RB Publishing Distribution.

These two behemoth enterprises monopolized most of the publishing market in Nihon, and there was once a rumor that these two companies controlled 80% of the market circulation of books.

Akiwara Yuto nodded. He had already learned quite a bit through some books before, and quite a few of them were about these two companies.

"President Anjiu, what does this have to do with our spreading channels?"

Anjiu Jin Gangyi shook his head, "Teacher Akiwara, there is a gap between people, and the same is true between publishers and publishers. As a local enterprise in Tokyo, we can also bypass East Distribution and Day Distribution through some relationships and sell books in small batches to local bookstores. But if we want to sell to other regions, we must first say hello to East Distribution and Day Distribution."

Anjiu Jin Gangyi sighed, "Our current partner is Tokyo Distribution. Now for the first edition of 30,000 copies, 18,000 copies have to rely on the other party to distribute."

Akiwara Yuto didn't expect this, but he quickly understood Anjiu's meaning, which was that because of the needs of interests, Anjiu Bookstore also had to listen to the regulations of Tokyo Distribution.

Akiwara Yuto sighed in his heart. It seems that there are quite a few hidden rules in every industry.

However, why could *New Novel* sell directly to bookstores and related institutions in other places back then?

Akiwara Yuto asked this doubt of his to Anjiu Jin Gangyi.

Anjiu Jin Gangyi picked up the teacup and took a sip, then explained: "Teacher Akiwara, there is a gap between people, and the same is true between publishers and publishers. Mantanshe, as one of the four major publishers, naturally has privileges."

"In fact, the industry has always believed that the four major publishers hold quite a few shares within East Distribution and Day Distribution, and even have quite a bit of influence within the boards of directors of the two companies."

Akiwara Yuto was a bit speechless. The power of capital, it seems, should not be underestimated in any world.

Forget it, let's rely on the quality of the book and continue to move forward steadily.

The two chatted about other aspects and ended the conversation.

Just when Akiwara Yuto was about to leave, Satake Maki, who was working on the side, suddenly made a sound, took out a pink bento box, and said to him: "Teacher Akiwara, this is today's bento."

Akiwara Yuto was a bit surprised, finding that he almost forgot about lunch, and replied: "I've always troubled you, thank you."

Satake Maki waved her hand, "Nothing of the sort, I just happened to make my own portion, just made one extra."

Akiwara Yuto nodded with a smile and intended to take the bento box and leave.

But to his surprise, Satake Maki called him to stop, "Teacher Akiwara, can you eat here?"

"Why?" Akiwara Yuto stopped his footsteps.

Satake Maki said a bit embarrassedly, "The bento box at home is not enough, so I trouble you to give the box to me after eating, so I can wash it directly."

She lied, because there were several bento boxes at home. However, she wanted to find a reason to have close contact with the "idol" she had always admired.

"Sorry, I've added trouble to you." Akiwara Yuto followed the flow, looked around, and found another problem: "Where to eat?"

At this time, Anjiu Jin Gangyi stood up, said "I still have something to do," and left the scene in a hurry...

As a married old man, he still knew when to advance and retreat.

Satake, what the president can do for you is only this much!

Satake Maki saw the president leave, said "Sorry, President" in her heart, and guided Akiwara Yuto to the small table she had just worked at, while tidying up things.

Two people sat around a small table and opened the lunch box.

Looking at Akiwara Yuto who was close at hand, a faint blush appeared on Satake Maki's face.

If it could be like this every day, that would be great... ===== CHAPTER 109 =====