The following is an overview of Moon Willow’s business plan that I think is important to share with new clients.
Plan Summary
Vision
Moon Willow Press currently offers editorial services and e-book publishing, and in the future will become a small, independent publisher of fictional novels, poetry chapbooks, and non-fiction paper titles. The non-fiction side of the press will focus on publications for the general public as well as scientific and academic communities. These publications will relate environmental issues, including climate change, species extinctions and endangerment, world agricultural dynamics, sustainable development and energy, ecosystem changes, invasive species and disease, new areas of research, exploration and discovery, and preservation of natural resources.
A few years down the road, I hope that we publish a solid but reasonably small number of quality books per year as well as proceed with continued editorial services. One vision I have is of expanding the business into a family business.
Mission
The world is changing, and we will change along with it, either by choice or circumstance. Publishers can help dramatically by making critical choices in using the right fiber in publishing. Using recycled fiber and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC-certified) paper helps to drastically reduce the quantity of greenhouse grasses, water, and trees used in publishing while taking only renewable resources. It is Moon Willow’s mission to follow the green press initiative model as well as to publish not only entertaining and quality reading, but also to promote books that help people of all ages understand and begin to solve problems relating to our natural world. The green model also includes publishing e-books and using print-on-demand services.
Values
Moon Willow Press’s values are twofold: a commitment to publishing quality works and to use an environmentally friendly model in the process of doing so.
Plans
- First month (completed): Register business name, acquire domain, build website, network and advertise, apply for GST/PST numbers, hire a logo artist, and file for sole proprietor license (September/October, 2009)
- First six months (completed): Officially launch site in January 2010, market site and build client base for editorial services; make printing and supplier choices based on green press initiative model; incorporate new logo on site and in advertising; develop merchant tools for services and products on site
- First twelve months: Generate income from freelance editorial services and acquire first paper book client; publish e-book titles – March 2010 – March 2011
- Second year (3rd-4th quarter 2010): Begin press projects
- Third year (2011): publish first paper title
- Long-term goals: Paper book titles reaching up to 10 titles a year, concentrating on non-fiction, with about up to 30% fiction/poetry; increased e-book sales
