The publishing operations during 2017-2021 represent a mature phase of David Irving's book business, characterized by established relationships with printers, sophisticated inventory management, and international distribution. This period shows Irving maintaining control over all aspects of production while adapting to changing technology and market conditions.
UK and US Operations: Irving maintained both UK and US accounts with Lightning Source, allowing for regional printing and distribution. This dual-account system provided flexibility but also created administrative complexity.
Order Management Challenges: In 2017, Irving experienced significant delays with a nearly $3,000 order, expressing frustration when books arrived late for his US tour. This incident highlighted the tension between Irving's tour schedule demands and Lightning Source's standard production timelines.
Integration with Ingram: Lightning Source's integration with Ingram created login and access issues for Irving, requiring him to re-establish credentials and adapt to new systems.
Large Volume Production: Biddle's handled substantial print runs for titles like "Hitler's War," coordinating direct delivery to Irving's storage facilities.
Coordination with Storage: Biddle's worked directly with Big Yellow Storage in Slough for pallet deliveries, streamlining Irving's inventory management.
Communication Excellence: Irving maintained professional relationships with Biddle's staff, often addressing correspondence to "Dear Nigel" and coordinating complex delivery schedules.
Pallet Management: Large print runs were delivered as pallets directly to storage, with Irving personally managing the consolidation and organization of inventory.
Ground Floor Access: Irving specifically requested ground-floor storage units to accommodate pallet deliveries and enable efficient loading/unloading for order fulfillment.
Inventory Rotation: Irving regularly visited storage to consolidate units, reorganize inventory, and prepare shipments for customers and tours.
Title Diversification: Storage facility contained multiple titles including "Hitler's War," "Goebbels," "Dresden," and other Irving publications.
Print Run Coordination: Irving balanced print run economics with storage capacity, often ordering substantial quantities to achieve better per-unit costs.
Tour Inventory: Irving specifically coordinated print timing with tour schedules, ensuring adequate inventory for in-person sales events.
Direct Sales Platform: The website enabled direct-to-customer sales, bypassing traditional bookstore distribution channels.
International Reach: The platform supported international sales, though shipping costs sometimes exceeded profit margins for distant destinations.
Payment Integration: The website was integrated with iTransact payment processing, though this relationship became increasingly problematic during this period.
BulkMailer System: Irving used sales@irvingbooks.com for bulk email campaigns, managing customer communications and promotional activities.
International Coordination: Email served as the primary communication channel with international distributors, tour organizers, and printing partners.
Proof Review: Irving personally reviewed proofs and coordinated corrections with printers.
Quality Standards: Irving maintained high standards for binding, paper quality, and production values, often expressing dissatisfaction with substandard work.
Distribution Coordination: Irving personally managed the logistics of getting books from printers to storage to customers.
InDesign Usage: Irving utilized Adobe InDesign for book layout and design, maintaining professional production standards.
Digital Proofing: Irving coordinated digital proof reviews with printers, enabling remote collaboration during his US tours.
Order Fulfillment: Kathy managed US order processing and fulfillment, coordinating with Irving's tour schedules and inventory management.
Tour Support: Kathy provided logistical support for Irving's US tours, including coordination of book inventory for speaking events.
Communication Hub: Kathy served as a communication bridge between Irving's UK operations and US customers and events.
Autonomous Processing: Kathy could process certain orders independently, reducing Irving's daily administrative burden.
Local Knowledge: Kathy's US-based perspective helped Irving navigate American publishing and distribution challenges.
Printer Delays: Multiple instances of delayed deliveries affected tour inventory and customer satisfaction.
International Shipping: High international shipping costs limited profitability for overseas sales.
Inventory Timing: Coordinating print runs with tour schedules and storage capacity required careful planning.
System Migrations: Lightning Source's integration with Ingram required Irving to adapt to new login systems and procedures.
Payment Processing: Ongoing issues with iTransact forced Irving to explore alternative payment solutions.
Communication Technology: Irving increasingly relied on email for coordination while maintaining personal oversight of operations.