Publishers' representatives: an analysis of an independent commissioned rep agency in the Canadian trade book industry

The goal of this report is to illuminate the role of publishers’ representatives in the Canadian trade book industry. Using Kate Walker & Company Ltd. as a leading example of a commissioned sales rep agency, this report depicts the nature of the relationships that sales representatives have with their publisher clients and their spectrum of retailer, library, and wholesaler customers. To ensure a broad scope, the information presented here is based largely on statements from personnel working for and the activities of Kate Walker & Co. as well as the statements of other sales reps working for different companies and members of the publishing and bookselling communities.