Biking Coffee Table Books

[joosttx]

I am working on making a picture coffee table book of my cycling photos for 2020. The plan is the donate all the money (not net but all the money) made from the sales to the nonprofit foundation for my kids school district. The issue I am having is that I want to create a hardcover 8x10 landscape book with quality gloss paper. The book will have about 80 pages. The cost to produce it is going to be around $100 per book. I personally don't want to spend more than $1000 on this project so I think I would only sell 10 copies for around $150-$175. Is anyone willing to spend that kind of money on a book like this?


here are some drafts and examples of content.

[Toeclips]

Can you make a calendar, 150 is a lot
FWIW

[kiwisimon]

great idea (and pics) but that price might be a limiter.
Charity or not 150 is a lot for a book.

To get maximum return on your efforts how about a calendar that you can do every year over a 5-10 year period? Calendar production costs a lot less so lower costs and greater utility in the community. A calendar anyone can use, a bike coffee table book maybe not such broad appeal.

You may even be able to sell advertising space on the calendar that goes directly to the charity.

Great exposure that local companies can tender for, or you can do a lottery that a heap of companies donate a said amount to enter and the lucky winner gets naming rights for that year.

Lower initial entry cost as a donation with the chance to get prime exposure in the local community.

good luck.

[jkbrwn]

I wouldn’t buy it, not due to the price, but because it’s too niche (edit: to me). If it was a more iconic riding area like the alps, then yes, I could arguably justify the cost. I have spent that much on coffee table books before.

I have a Rapha book about the Northern Alps and it’s fantastic and was like... £35? Appreciate there’s economies of scale at play but $150 is too much for a book about an area that doesn’t mean anything to me.


Probably not your target audience, though

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by jkbrwn

I wouldn’t buy it, not due to the price, but because it’s too niche. If it was a more iconic riding area like the alps, then yes, I could arguably justify the cost. I have spent that much on coffee table books before.

I have a Rapha book about the Northern Alps and it’s fantastic and was like... £35? Appreciate there’s economies of scale at play but $150 is too much for a book about an area that doesn’t mean anything to me.


Probably not your target audience, though

Marin is the birthplace of mountain biking--hard to say that's not iconic.

[Louis]

I like the calendar idea, especially if you can do it for, say, $30 or less each.

(that figure's somewhat arbitrary, but IMO anything close to $50 seems like a lot for a calendar, even if you get to enjoy it for an entire year and the proceeds go to charity).

[nighthawk]

What about a gofundme type thing where people can donate to the cause but also put in at amounts that get the donor a copy of the book, and/or a calendar? ...and for the VIP level donation a group ride with you on a favorite route?

Maybe a lower tier donation gets a high resolution pic for desktop wallpaper or something. Could even do unframed prints. Lots of options.

Just a thought.

EDIT: The pics are awesome, btw.

[jkbrwn]

Originally Posted by prototoast

Marin is the birthplace of mountain biking--hard to say that's not iconic.

Fair point. I ride road bikes exclusively, so it didn't even cross my mind I am also English, so it just doesn't have much meaning to me.

[KonaSS]

Just one more perspective. Love the project, LOVE the photos, but yes $150 is too much for ME. It may not be if you have a local target audience and you are looking at that group.

But would agree that the combo of high price plus a place I have never ridden and don't have any direct relation to makes it a bridge too far. Good luck with the project!

[joosttx]

Originally Posted by nighthawk

What about a gofundme type thing where people can donate to the cause but also put in at amounts that get the donor a copy of the book, and/or a calendar? ...and for the VIP level donation a group ride with you on a favorite route?

Maybe a lower tier donation gets a high resolution pic for desktop wallpaper or something. Could even do unframed prints. Lots of options.

Just a thought.

EDIT: The pics are awesome, btw.

We do auctions every year so your idea would fit with that. Thank you.

[joosttx]

Originally Posted by KonaSS

Just one more perspective. Love the project, LOVE the photos, but yes $150 is too much for ME. It may not be if you have a local target audience and you are looking at that group.

But would agree that the combo of high price plus a place I have never ridden and don't have any direct relation to makes it a bridge too far. Good luck with the project!

Totally, I have already about 8 people local are who want it. I guess my concern was that there was more demand. So I guess 10 copies at that price would work. Maybe I’ll make 12 or so. That way I get to do it right with really quality materials.

[kiwisimon]

Originally Posted by joosttx

Totally, I have already about 8 people local are who want it. I guess my concern was that there was more demand. So I guess 10 copies at that price would work. Maybe I’ll make 12 or so. That way I get to do it right with really quality materials.

how is this project going?

I've been meaning to ask for a while now.

[joosttx]

Originally Posted by kiwisimon

how is this project going?

I've been meaning to ask for a while now.

It is going well. I sold out of the first publication quickly. I was able to get a deal on the publishing so I was able to drop the price considerably. I been getting quite a few requests for more copies so instead of just ordering them, I am selling the books on the blurb.com website. So far I think sold just north of 40 books (which is 4x what I would planning). I am finishing up the 2019 edition and collecting images for the 2021.

You can buy it here:

https://www.blurb.com/b/10424648-bik...in-county-2020

I actually sold one to a person in Australia.


I don't think anyone from Paceline bought one. Folks "across the hall" have even though I haven't posted there in years.

[kiwisimon]

excellent. Whats the charity again, I don't think it's mentioned on the Blurb page. 2020 has slammed our businesses (both rely on traveling or sports meetings) and 2021 is going to be a long crawl back so I won't be buying the book anytime soon. Maybe in 2022. Great to see your project going well.

BTW is Marin fighting back against Arkansas claiming world MTB capital on its publicity drive?

[joosttx]

Originally Posted by kiwisimon

excellent. Whats the charity again, I don't think it's mentioned on the Blurb page. 2020 has slammed our businesses (both rely on traveling or sports meetings) and 2021 is going to be a long crawl back so I won't be buying the book anytime soon. Maybe in 2022. Great to see your project going well.

BTW is Marin fighting back against Arkansas claiming world MTB capital on its publicity drive?

KIKschools.org. Only 20% (profits) are going to the charity now.