--- source_url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Publishers_Group?utm_source=openai" title: Independent Publishers Group - Wikipedia mirrored_at: 2026-08-09T03:01:42.319Z host: en.wikipedia.org cited_in_42a: true mirror_canonical: "https://index.42a.ai/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Publishers_Group__q__utm_source_openai" --- > **Original source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Publishers_Group?utm_source=openai From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Independent Publishers Group Status Active Founded 1971 Country of origin United States Headquarters location Chicago, Illinois Distribution Worldwide Official website [www.ipgbook.com](https://www.ipgbook.com/) **Independent Publishers Group** (**IPG**) is a worldwide [distributor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distribution_\(business\) "Distribution (business)") for independent general, academic, and professional publishers,[\[1\]](#cite_note-1) founded in 1971 to exclusively [market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing "Marketing") titles from independent client [publishers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publishing "Publishing") to the international book trade. As per other book wholesalers and distributors, IPG combines its client publishers’ books into a single list, comparable to the larger publishing houses. IPG’s distribution services to publishers include [warehousing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warehouse "Warehouse"), bill collecting, and sales to the book trade. IPG currently represents about 1,000[\[2\]](#cite_note-2) publishers. They are based in [Chicago, Illinois](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago,_Illinois "Chicago, Illinois"). IPG distributes publishers based in [Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia "Australia"), the [United Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom "United Kingdom"), [Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada "Canada"), [France](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France "France"), [Ireland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland "Ireland"), [Switzerland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland "Switzerland"), [New Zealand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand "New Zealand"), [Israel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel "Israel"), and others.[\[3\]](#cite_note-3) ## Merger with Chicago Review Press \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independent_Publishers_Group&action=edit§ion=1 "Edit section: Merger with Chicago Review Press")\] In 1987, IPG was acquired by [Chicago Review Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Review_Press "Chicago Review Press") (CRP) an independent publisher founded at about the same time as IPG. ## Acquisition of other book distributors \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independent_Publishers_Group&action=edit§ion=2 "Edit section: Acquisition of other book distributors")\] IPG acquired Paul & Company, an 11-year-old distributor of university presses, in 2001. IPG now sells directly to universities. In 2006, IPG acquired Trafalgar Square Publishing, founded in 1973, which is the distributor of more than 100 publishers from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, China, and Germany, representing more than 20,000 titles. Its roster includes [HarperCollins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HarperCollins "HarperCollins"), [Pan Macmillan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Macmillan "Pan Macmillan"), and [Penguin Random House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penguin_Random_House "Penguin Random House") from the UK and [Allen and Unwin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_and_Unwin "Allen and Unwin") and Penguin Random House from Australia; these publishers’ titles are not always issued in US editions. In 2018, IPG acquired International Specialized Book Services (ISBS), an academic book distributor.[\[4\]](#cite_note-4) In August 2018, IPG acquired the book distributor, [Midpoint Trade Books](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midpoint_Trade_Books "Midpoint Trade Books"). Speaking to Publishers Weekly, IPG's CEO, Joe Matthews said that the publishing industry "is consolidating because distribution rewards scale, requires expensive technology, and demands high-level access to customers."[\[5\]](#cite_note-5)[\[6\]](#cite_note-6) ## Bankruptcy in the UK \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independent_Publishers_Group&action=edit§ion=3 "Edit section: Bankruptcy in the UK")\] In October 2021 IPG acquired [United Independent Distributors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Independent_Distributors?action=edit&redlink=1 "United Independent Distributors (page does not exist)") (UID), the UK's second largest book distributor which was facing financial and operational challenges. IPG invested millions in UID and its subsidiary companies Marston Book Services, Orca Book Services and Eurospan, but without Joe Matthews providing convincing targets for the acquisition and investment or guaranteeing a reliable service.[\[7\]](#cite_note-7) On July 25, 2024, IPG announced that UID and its subsidiaries Marston, Orca and Eurospan had gone into administration, leaving publisher clients unpaid, struggling to access all their stock and with no communication from IPG.[\[8\]](#cite_note-8) ## Represented publishers \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Independent_Publishers_Group&action=edit§ion=4 "Edit section: Represented publishers")\] - _[John Blake Publishing Ltd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Blake_Publishing_Ltd "John Blake Publishing Ltd")_, founded in 1991[\[9\]](#cite_note-blake.co.uk-About-9)[\[10\]](#cite_note-10) - _[hidden europe publications](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidden_europe_publications?action=edit&redlink=1 "Hidden europe publications (page does not exist)")_, founded in 2004. - _[Verso](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verso "Verso")_, founded as New Left Books in 1970. - [List of book distributors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_book_distributors "List of book distributors") - [Chicago Review Press](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Review_Press "Chicago Review Press") 1. [↑](#cite_ref-1) Hartman, Elizabeth (May 11, 2018). ["Book Expo 2018"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bea/article/76872-bookexpo-2018-around-the-booths.html). _Publishers Weekly_. Retrieved November 15, 2018. 2. [↑](#cite_ref-2) ["Publishers | Independent Publishers Group"](http://www.ipgbook.com/publishers-pages-32.php). 3. [↑](#cite_ref-3) ["The History of IPG"](https://www.ipgbook.com/history-pages-65.php). _IPG Book_. May 11, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2018. 4. [↑](#cite_ref-4) ["IPG Acquires ISBS"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/industry-deals/article/76510-ipg-acquires-isbs.html). _PublishersWeekly.com_. Retrieved July 8, 2018. 5. [↑](#cite_ref-5) Kirch, Claire (September 4, 2018). ["IPG Acquires Midpoint Trade Books"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/industry-deals/article/77902-ipg-acquires-midpoint-trade-books.html). _Publishers Weekly_. Retrieved November 15, 2018. 6. [↑](#cite_ref-6) ["IPG Buys Midpoint Trade Books"](https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=3326). _Shelf Awareness_. September 4, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2018. 7. [↑](#cite_ref-7) ["Publishers despair at late payments from Marston Book Services amid IPG systems changes"](https://www.thebookseller.com/news/publishers-despair-at-late-payments-from-marston-book-services-amid-ipg-systems-changes). _www.thebookseller.com_. Retrieved August 13, 2024. 8. [↑](#cite_ref-8) ["UID, Marston, Orca, and Eurospan File for Bankruptcy"](https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/international-book-news/article/95594-uid-marston-orca-and-eurospan-file-for-bankruptcy.html). _PublishersWeekly.com_. Retrieved August 13, 2024. 9. [↑](#cite_ref-blake.co.uk-About_9-0) ["About Blake Publishing"](https://web.archive.org/web/20010308091618/http://www.blake.co.uk/acatalog/Blake_Catalogue_About_Blake_Publishing_76.html). _Blake Publishing_. Archived from [the original](http://www.blake.co.uk/acatalog/Blake_Catalogue_About_Blake_Publishing_76.html) on March 8, 2001. Retrieved April 9, 2022. 10. [↑](#cite_ref-10) ["John Blake"](https://www.ipgbook.com/john-blake-publisher-MBL.php). _Independent Publishers Group_. Retrieved April 9, 2022. - [Official website](http://www.ipgbook.com/)