IDG Books Worldwide Plans Customized Distribution Center

Posted on January 22, 1999

IDG Books Worldwide, publishers of the successful ...For Dummies series and other book brands, has reached an agreement with its supplier, Banta Book Group, for Banta to build a 250,000 sq. ft. distribution facility in Harrisonburg, VA. This facility will be adjacent to the existing Banta printing plant and will produce up to 60 per cent of IDGB's books. The facility will be ready to begin shipping by the end of 1999.

"We expect this new alliance will have significant cost benefits in implementing just-in-time inventory strategies and eliminating inbound freight charges for the majority of our product," said John Ball, IDGB Executive Vice President. "This state-of-the-art facility, along with our new web-enabled order processing system, will provide accelerated time to market performance benefiting all of our customers."

Banta Book Group President Ron Musil said, "We are proud to be part of the success story of IDG Books and we are excited to be part of its future as IDGB's sole distribution point for all of its customers. Our new facility will ensure that the manufacturing and distribution needs of IDGB will be met well into the next century."

Last year, IDGB implemented a new computer order management system called OASIS which will be networked with the Banta facility. Designed by Lawson Software, OASIS enables dynamic, real-time tracking of orders, billing and returns and will be jointly used by Banta and IDGB to improve customer service, inventory control and reduced response time.