Gardners to launch US wholesale business

Gardners is launching a wholesale business in the US, just weeks after American wholesaler Ingram announced it was entering the British market.

The Little Group, Gardners’ parent company, announced a US arm will be opening in Florida, providing more than 200,000 British books to US customers.

Gardners said the new operation would enable bookstores "to have a streamlined and efficient way of ordering British books and associated products available to the US market".

The new distribution centre will be based just outside Miami in South Florida. The location was chosen as the Little Group already has a business, All Media Supply, nearby. Around 1,300 employees work in the company’s global books division, which includes Gardners UK, Gardners EU and now Gardners US. There will be 120 employees in the new distribution centre.

Speaking to The Bookseller, sales and marketing director Nigel Wyman said: "We have been looking into a US books operation for many years but with all that has been going on with the pandemic etc this was put on hold. However, with the success of Gardners EU it seemed the right time to launch Gardners US with the learning we have got from that."

He commented: “At Gardners UK and EU and the wider Little Group, we strive to offer customers the very best experience and service they need in this ever-changing landscape. 
"With the support of the Little Group, the creation of Gardners US means our customers will have access to over 200,000 British books from a single source of supply and we are pleased to offer books for any title that we can supply from our Florida based operation. We are very excited to bring this new book wholesale offer to our US customers."

Sitting alongside Gardners UK, Gardners EU and All Media Supply LLC, Gardners US is a separate company working in unison with the other Little Group businesses. It will be open to  existing Gardners UK and All Media Supply customers, with the option for both accounts to run concurrently.

The news comes hot on the heels of Ingram’s announcement it is opening a British arm in Milton Keynes this September. The firm is the largest book distributor and wholesaler in the United States and its move has been seen as a challenge to Gardners, which has dominated the UK market since rival Bertrams collapsed in 2020.

Gardners’ move also comes soon after the Little Group bought Baker & Taylor in an acquisition it said would complement its UK and international business operations.

Retailers seeking further information about Gardners US should contact sales@gardnersus.com.