A Blueprint for sustainable publishing for the 21st century Today's publishing and printing industry is to help publishers successfully navigate the challenges and the opportunities of the 21st century marketplace. Our goal is to improve the competitive position of our clients so that they may realize a 10x, 30x, 100x return on investment. Our services include creating an individualized blueprint that draws on proven business principles and best practices. By following a clear roadmap for success, publishers efficiently execute on a strengthened vision and an enhanced market appeal. Service projects may include: Strategic analysis and blueprint for digital publishing Recommendations for future-proofing content and workflows Enabling a unifying of print and digital strategies Uncovering opportunities to reduce operational costs Increasing collaboration and improved organizational management Driving interoperability and alignment Improving physical and digital supply chain management Achieving increased marketing reach Building social media by engaging readers and communities Growing revenues through just-in-time, on-demand products Identifying potential partners and strategic alliances Greening the company to increase corporate stewardship and reduce the carbon footprint, and improve employee health Our specialties and expertise span the publishing and print value chain, from retail bookselling to wholesale book distribution, from trade to educational and assessment publishing, from business development to product development, from strategic management to supply chain management. We've all seen how quickly changing technologies and innovative competitors can impact results that drive home the need for change and adaptation. Whatever your situation, we can help you get your business out of the slow lane and back in the race. Recommendations "Tim's knowledge of the industry and his insight into our organization and its potential impressed me and my colleagues." Michael Jacobs, President and CEO, Harry N. Abrams, Inc. "Tim has a gift for assessing and mapping current practices, then redrawing and streamlining to guarantee best possible work flow. He presents this information entirely neutrally, and effectively engages the stakeholders/owners. The end result is consensus and ownership of new solutions. Tim is an inspired problem solver who works very effectively to determine budgets for projects and work within those budgets. Tim's expertise extends over a wide range including distribution, supply chain, production, and digital issues." Laurie Brown, Senior Vice President of Sales, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt "Tim is a quick study with a keen grasp of the whole supply chain." John Edwards, President, Edwards Brothers, Inc. "Tim has demonstrated a strong knowledge of the Print & Publishing market... and has the essential business acumen to know how and where to apply process and technology to drive specific financial outcomes." Craig Bauer, Vice President, Strategic Sourcing, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt "A publishing professional with years of experience in all aspects of the process... Tim will make you look good!" Deborah Warren, Founder and President, East/West Agency "Tim's knowledge and understanding of the publishing industry is second to none." Boris Hughes, National Manager, Publishing Solutions, Xerox

Our Publishing Experts TIM COOPER, founder and principal of the Consulting Garage, is a former SVP of Strategy and Business Development for Harcourt Trade Publishers. He also served as VP of Strategic Operations and Director of Inventory and Reprints for Harcourt Trade. Tim also was Director of Manufacturing, Operations, and Supply for Harcourt Education. Prior to Harcourt, Tim worked in book wholesaling as Director of Inventory Management for Baker & Taylor Books, and Director of Buying at Gordon's Books. He started his career as a bookseller and bookstore manager. He has an MA in organizational management, a BA in philosophy, and has attended programs on business strategy and supply chain management at Harvard Business School, MIT/Sloan School of Management, and Saint Louis University/John Cook School of Business. IRA CARRELis a senior supply chain executive with vast experience in publishing, print on demand, manufacturing, and retailing. An excellent negotiator with strategic selling and team-building skills, Ira has a successful history of growing revenue, increasing margins, and decreasing costs. He previously worked as director of print on demand and vendor relations for Barnes & Noble. Ira has a BA from the University of Wisconsin and currently serves as the chair of the Manufacturers Executives Interest Group subcommittee of the Book Industry Study Group. DEBRA COVERT is a highly versatile and experienced senior publishing and supply chain manager with extensive skills in stabilization, collaboration, supplier management, and change management. As the former vice president of publishing operations for Pearson Assessment, Debra led a forty-six-person team, including seven management direct reports, oversaw a $30 million budget, and delivered year-over-year cost savings through continuous process improvement, innovation, vendor consolidation, and rate negotiation. Debra has a BA from the University of Texas at El Paso and has attended executive education programs at Stanford University, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Texas at San Antonio. E. ANDREW PATE has more than twenty years of executive management experience in the book publishing industry, including business and product development, relationship management, marketing, and sales. As a former key executive at Lulu.com, he grew the company's product line and international scope. Earlier in his career, he created Borders' Personal Publishing Program, a branded self-publishing system in stores and on the web, and as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Rutledge Hill Press, he turned the company around to allow for its' sale to Thomas Nelson. He also served as vice president of Lightning Source, contributing to the business practices and sales approaches in place today. Andrew has an MBA from Xavier University and a BA from Vanderbilt University and has spoken at leading industry conferences around the world. Our Independent Consultants TED TREANOR a digital publishing executive and Internet pioneer, is passionate about building a stronger publishing industry and improving the reading experience. He is a speaker, thought leader and innovator in the advantages of unifying print and digital publishing initiatives. He has created several successful products, business divisions, and companies. He has consulted with and formed strategic partnerships with many of the largest companies in the world. He is strong on cost reduction, and skilled in business development and producing new revenue streams. Ted's demonstrated strengths are; outside-facing activities; accurately identifying market opportunities; strategic positioning; strategic relationships; innovation; life-cycle integration. To learn more about how we can help you fine-tune your publishing/printing business, Click here to contact Tim Cooper at the Consulting Garage.