Expanding Book Distribution with BookVault’s Global POD Services: The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast Featuring Anna Featherstone

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May 14, 2025

In this insightful discussion, Anna Featherstone chats with Alex Smith, a seasoned brand manager at BookVault, known for his expertise in the publishing landscape. They explore BookVault's expansion of print-on-demand services to Australia and the innovative features it offers indie authors. Alex shares tips on avoiding common mistakes with POD, insights into bookbinding methods, and strategies for maximizing sales through diverse platforms. The conversation also highlights trends in the publishing world, sparking excitement for the future of indie authorship.

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ANECDOTE

Alex's Varied Reading Interests

Alex Smith recently got hooked on Michael Wright's historical fiction about WWII and the Holocaust.
His reading interests also include F1, mixing deep and lighter genres for balance.

INSIGHT

BookVault's Global Distribution Model

BookVault operates major hubs in the UK, with partners in the US, Australia, and Canada.
Using local partners helps with efficient fulfillment and global distribution.

INSIGHT

Direct Sales and Bespoke POD Services

BookVault focuses on direct sales through integration with author websites using Shopify, WooCommerce, and Wix.
They offer print-on-demand including luxury features on single copies, enabling indie authors to create special editions affordably.

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Recently, BookVault—a company familiar to many of our U.S. and U.K. listeners—expanded its print-on-demand services to Australia. In this episode, ALLi’s nonfiction advisor Anna Featherstone speaks with Alex Smith, BookVault’s brand manager, to learn what the company offers, how it operates globally, and whether it might be a good fit for authors looking to diversify how they produce and distribute their books.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

What BookVault is, which countries it currently serves, and how it compares to KDP, IngramSpark, and traditional book printers
How special editions work—costs, timelines, trends, and possibilities
The most common mistakes authors make with POD, and how to avoid them
Why BookVault charges a setup fee—and how ALLi members can have it waived
A crash course on bookbinding types: perfect bound, case bound, and saddle stitch
Trends and innovations in indie publishing that have Alex excited about the future

Find more author advice, tips, and tools at our Self-Publishing Author Advice Center, with a huge archive of nearly 2,000 blog posts and a handy search box to find key info on the topic you need. And, if you haven’t already, we invite you to join our organization and become a self-publishing ally.

Sponsors

This podcast is proudly sponsored by Bookvault. Sell high-quality, print-on-demand books directly to readers worldwide and earn maximum royalties selling directly. Automate fulfillment and create stunning special editions with BookvaultBespoke. Visit Bookvault.app today for an instant quote.

This podcast is also sponsored by Gatekeeper Press, the all-inclusive Gold Standard in Publishing, offering authors 100% rights, royalties, satisfaction and worldwide distribution. Gatekeeper Press, Where Authors are Family.

About the Host

Anna Featherstone is ALLi’s nonfiction adviser and an author advocate and mentor. A judge of The Australian Business Book Awards and Australian Society of Travel Writers awards, she’s also the founder of Bold Authors and presents author marketing and self-publishing workshops for organizations, including Byron Writers Festival. Anna has authored books including how-to and memoirs and her book Look-It’s Your Book! about writing, publishing, marketing, and leveraging nonfiction is on the Australian Society of Authors recommended reading list. When she’s not being bookish, Anna’s into bees, beings, and the big issues of our time.

About the Guest

Alex Smith has been with Printondemand Worldwide, the parent company of BookVault, for more than seven years. During that time, he has gained extensive knowledge of the publishing industry. His experience positioned him to take a leading role in redeveloping the BookVault platform. Alex works closely with leading indie publishing entrepreneurs to ensure BookVault continues to deliver the innovative features authors and publishers need.