How to Get Your Book on a Barnes & Noble Shelf

Jill Lendahl
Aug 20
3 min read

Getting your book into Barnes & Noble (B&N) stores is possible—and I'm not talking about sneaking your book into the store and slyly placing it on a shelf. That's probably not the best idea! Here’s a step-by-step guide—How to Get Your Book on a Barnes & Noble Shelf—tailored to indie authors or small publishers:

1. Get Your Book Professionally Published

Before approaching B&N, your book should meet traditional retail standards:

ISBN: Each version (hardcover, paperback, ebook) needs its own ISBN.
Barcode: Make sure your physical book has a scannable barcode with the price.
High-Quality Design: Cover design and interior layout must be professional.
Editing: Your book should be professionally edited.

2. Make It Available Through an Approved Distributor

B&N usually only orders from recognized distributors:

IngramSpark is the most important one. Make sure your book is available in the Ingram catalog with:
- A standard discount (typically 55%)
- Returnable status (most bookstores require this)

3. Have a Marketing and Sales Plan

B&N wants books that will sell. Prepare:

A strong author platform (website, social media, email list)
Local or national media coverage or reviews
Evidence of previous sales (Amazon, local shops, etc.)

4. Pitch to Local Stores First

Visit or contact local B&N store managers:

Bring a press kit (cover letter, book info, reviews, author bio)
Offer to do a book signing or event
Be friendly, professional, and prepared

5. Apply for National Distribution

If your book has momentum, you can apply for national B&N placement:

Submit through B&N’s small press or self-published book submission portal:
- B&N Press Submission Page
Or pitch directly to B&N’s corporate buyers with:
- Book details (title, ISBN, price, distribution info)
- Your marketing/sales plan
- Sales history and reviews

6. Facing the Challenge of Getting Your Book into Barnes & Noble When Using Amazon KDP

If you're printing your book through Amazon KDP, getting it into Barnes & Noble physical stores can be difficult. While KDP is excellent for Amazon sales, it's not ideal for bookstore distribution, especially with large retailers like B&N.

The Challenge

Barnes & Noble and many independent bookstores typically avoid stocking books printed through Amazon. This is due to a few reasons:

Amazon is a direct competitor to B&N.
Books distributed through KDP’s expanded distribution don’t come from Ingram, which is B&N’s preferred supplier.
KDP-printed books are often non-returnable, which is a key requirement for most bookstores.

The Solution: Use IngramSpark for Print Distribution

To get your book into Barnes & Noble stores, it should be available through IngramSpark, which distributes to B&N and thousands of other retailers.

To increase your chances:

Publish your print version through IngramSpark.
Set the wholesale discount to 55%.
Make the book returnable.
Use your own ISBN (not the free one from KDP).
Ensure professional-level formatting, editing, and cover design.

Dual Distribution Strategy

Many authors use both Amazon KDP and IngramSpark.

Use Amazon KDP for Amazon sales. It’s faster and offers higher royalties.
Use IngramSpark for distribution to bookstores, libraries, and educational markets.

Just make sure you use the same ISBN across both platforms if you're publishing the same edition.

Getting into Physical B&N Stores

Even if your book is in Ingram's catalog, B&N won’t automatically stock it. Here’s how to approach it:

Start with your local B&N store. Managers have some discretion and may carry your book if it’s locally relevant.
Offer to do an event or book signing.
Prepare a professional press kit with your book’s info, author bio, reviews, and marketing plan.
If you’ve had strong sales, consider submitting to B&N’s small press or corporate buyers through their official submission portal.

Summary