Featherstone 
Beyond Bookshops: Bulk Sales, Gifting and Alternative Distribution
Direct link to podcast episode here or read on for background!
There’s always something to learn from other authors whether they be working in fiction or non-fiction, and in this episode of the Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast, we sit down with Andrew Griffiths, Australia’s #1 small business author with 17 (and counting!) titles under his pen.
(Yes, that’s Andrew Griffiths the business author, not to be confused with Andy Griffiths of the Treehouse series kidlit fame!)
I first met Andrew sometime around 2010 when the government sponsored him to speak in the regions to small business owners off the back of his book The Me Myth.
His 2020 book, Someone Has to Be The Most Expensive, Why Not Make it You, changed my attitude about the true value I offer the authors and clients I work with. Then a few years ago I interviewed him for Look-It’s Your Book! and we’ve been catching up ever since as judges of the Australian Business Book Awards.
Andrew has delivered over 1,000 presentations globally, published both traditionally and as an indie author, and has long championed using books not just as content, but as strategic tools. His newest book, The Business of Being an Author, makes the case that a book can be infrastructure for a long-lived business — not just a product you launch and hope for the best.
What We Cover in This Episode
Choosing Your Publishing Path
Andrew has published both traditionally and independently, and his thinking on when to choose each path is refreshingly clear. It comes down to control, timing, and what the book is meant to do — not just prestige or perceived legitimacy.
Premium Production and What It Signals
His book Someone Has to Be the Most Expensive — Why Not Make it You was produced with deliberate premium choices, including red inner covers. Andrew breaks down what those choices signal to buyers and clients, and why under-producing a book can quietly undermine your authority.
Strategic Gifting: Giving Books Away on Purpose
Andrew explains his thinking on when a book’s job is to open doors rather than generate per-copy revenue — and the mindset shift authors need to make to see gifting as a smart business move rather than a loss.
Bulk Sales and Alternative Distribution
A channel many authors overlook entirely. Andrew discusses why bulk sales are central to his distribution strategy, what kinds of books lend themselves to it, and how to get started. Andrew also extends this to other authors, he buys bulk copies of my books to give to his clients too!
Long-Term Thinking About What a Book Can Do
One of the most valuable parts of this conversation is Andrew’s perspective on the five-to-ten year view. How do you make your books work for you long after the launch excitement fades? It’s a question too few authors ask early enough.
Listen Now
The Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast is available on all major podcast platforms. It’s in the top podcasts globally and listened to by authors in 63 countries. I love being able to bring you guests from Australia and around the world — thanks for being part of the podcast family.
Find out more about Andrew Griffiths and his books here