Despite our best efforts to track inventory, we ran out of copies of “The Anarchist’s Workbench” and “Kitchen Think” in our Indiana warehouse.
We’ve ordered more copies from the printer, but it will be about five weeks before we are back in stock on both titles.
In the meantime, you can still buy these titles from our retailers and support some family businesses that we like.
I apologize we have had problems keeping books in stock in recent days. These shortages are not a crass marketing ploy to goose demand by limiting supply.
Lost Art Press has grown a lot in the last two years, and we are still trying to figure out how many copies to order with each press run. We need to find the (new) sweet spot. Why not order 20,000 copies of each book instead of 4,000? Among the many reasons: It ties up money we could be using on other projects and it costs money to store extra inventory in a climate-controlled environment.
Thanks for your patience with us as we grow.
— Christopher Schwarz
With the quality of the books you sell, it’s worth the wait.
Not a bad problem to have!
I was just wondering when the very first title with the LAP imprint came out. I want to guess Moxon, 2007?
Yup!
Crap. I didn’t frame it in the form of a question.
When was your first blog post here, and on the popwood site?
Like was mentioned, the quality of the books (physically and contextually) are worth waiting for new printings.
I’m just about done with Kitchen Think and have really liked what Nancy has produced. As we’re wanting to make major changes to our kitchen, it’s been a great idea generator.
Does this affect copies purchased in August? I paid for mine on 8/24. Did you not print enough copies of the books already purchased?
I just received my physical copy of Anarchist’s Workbench. This is a precious book. The content is excellent. I’d read the free version and printed a few chapters. The book itself is perfect. It fits in my hand like a Lie-Nielsen’s 60 1/2 Low Angle Block Plane. It oozes quality and begs to be read, reread in my shop and in my bed! Apologies to Dr Seuss! This will be a true classic that defines the genre. It’s a business model that disrupts traditional models as only an Anarchist can! Once again, thank you.
Great book and a great problem to have. Glad I pre-ordered. I was just revisiting the book last night, giving my wife an anxiety attack with all the ways I wanted to up-end our kitchen. There’s great inspiration to be found in this book.
It’s probably frustrating for you, but we are still here. Good on you, and keep going! Received my workbench book a couple days ago, but in the process of moving and setting up shop, so I haven’t gotten into it yet, but I’m excited! Successfully moved my ruobo and kd Nicholson.
Did all the pre-orders, at least, ship?
According to the warehouse, yes. We don’t have any back orders.
Publishing hard-copy books for sale is a manufacturing business. Millions have been spent in manufacturing on software intended to manage and control the costs of carrying inventory. Those costs come directly out of profits. It turns out that the ability to control inventory ultimately goes back to the ability to predict and forecast the amounts and timing of eventual sales demand for the products. Forecasting is notoriously difficult to do, especially when it comes to predicting the future. This is the dilemma of all manufacturing businesses.
Like Chris, said, you can get copies at their retailers. During the previous shortage I got my copy of Nancy’s book at Tools For Working Wood. https://toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/AQ-1229. I love her book but, then again, I’m an unashamed Nancy groupie.
Amazing! My copy of the Anarchist’s Workbench just arrived in today’s mail. Thanks for the bookmark, I can always use another bookmark!
I received 2 Anarchist’s Workbench books today. I am so excited. One is for me, the other is for my nephew. So excited.
🎉🥳👊 Congratulations!! May demand continue to outstrip the supply of all you are building and making. Of which books are only one (important) sign. Consider it a hearty thumbs up from the universe!
Great to hear you sold out of a book that you gave away on the internet for free. You really put your (lack of) money where your mouth is, and somehow it’s paying off. Maybe the world doesn’t totally suck.
I just got my copy in the mail today. I feel so privileged. One of the Anarchist Elite..?
My copy arrived today. I plan on disobeying you even more now.
is it viable to do a pre-order period between when the book is done and when the quantity of copies are decided so that you can inform your initial order size with that?
Nope. We have to decide the press run before we can open up pre-publication orders. We usually get the numbers pretty right. But our recent growth has made us work harder.