Something New - Lulu, Shopify, and Lulu xPress

Hey everyone!
We've got some pretty cool news.
Some of you have likely noticed that I often will hint that we listen to the concerns you all have and that we have things in the pipeline to begin addressing those concerns, yet nothing new has come out of Lulu in a long time.
Well, the next few weeks are when all that changes.
First, officially launching on February 15th, our new book printing engine located at https://xpress.lulu.com.
Lulu xPress is a simplified and much improved form of the traditional Lulu Wizard. Basically, we stripped the process down to the absolute bare bones and started over. This is the first iteration and you'll notice there is no shop or retail distribution.
At the moment, the xPress site is still very basic, but it serves as a first look at our new book builder, along with an improved pricing model that will eventually filter out to Lulu proper, and expanded options - we're up over 3,000 combinations now.
That's not even the coolest part!
Later this month, we'll be releasing the first of our eCommerce integrations for Shopify. Other eCommerce options like WooCommerce and the like will follow.
What we've got here is a App using the Lulu xPress framework that allows anyone with a Shopify store to create a book, upload their files just like they would on Lulu, and sell direct using our network.
All of this is built with our API for printing - run through our Developer API. We're redesigning our entire book creation system so each piece can function as an independent API, giving authors and entrepreneurs options about how they create and sell their books.
The xPress site is up and running now, and I'll update this thread later in the month once Shopify is live. For now, I'm happy to answer any questions and will gladly relay any feedback to our developers.
We've got some pretty cool news.
Some of you have likely noticed that I often will hint that we listen to the concerns you all have and that we have things in the pipeline to begin addressing those concerns, yet nothing new has come out of Lulu in a long time.
Well, the next few weeks are when all that changes.
First, officially launching on February 15th, our new book printing engine located at https://xpress.lulu.com.
Lulu xPress is a simplified and much improved form of the traditional Lulu Wizard. Basically, we stripped the process down to the absolute bare bones and started over. This is the first iteration and you'll notice there is no shop or retail distribution.
At the moment, the xPress site is still very basic, but it serves as a first look at our new book builder, along with an improved pricing model that will eventually filter out to Lulu proper, and expanded options - we're up over 3,000 combinations now.
That's not even the coolest part!
Later this month, we'll be releasing the first of our eCommerce integrations for Shopify. Other eCommerce options like WooCommerce and the like will follow.
What we've got here is a App using the Lulu xPress framework that allows anyone with a Shopify store to create a book, upload their files just like they would on Lulu, and sell direct using our network.
All of this is built with our API for printing - run through our Developer API. We're redesigning our entire book creation system so each piece can function as an independent API, giving authors and entrepreneurs options about how they create and sell their books.
The xPress site is up and running now, and I'll update this thread later in the month once Shopify is live. For now, I'm happy to answer any questions and will gladly relay any feedback to our developers.
Comments
http://www.lulu.com/shop/li-jung-yuen/kung-fu-scholar-methods-internal-strikes-in-100-days/paperback/product-23908600.html
Reflections of a Christian Kung Fu Master
http://www.lulu.com/shop/li-jung-yuen/kung-fu-scholar-methods-internal-strikes-in-100-days/paperback/product-23908600.html
Reflections of a Christian Kung Fu Master
The main benefit of Shopify or any eCommerce is 1) you sell direct on your own website. If you've established your author brand, you probably have folks coming to your website. An eCommerce tool keeps them with you, rather than sending them to a retailer like Amazon or Lulu. Which leads to 2) you set and keep all revenue. As TJN points out, Shopify does have a fee to use them, but because you only pay cost for printing, the return per sale is going to be higher.
The web is increasingly polarized with people and companies either selling direct through their own store fronts or relying on retails (Amazon). This is our attempt to start offering the option to do both. We also noticed there are literally zero print-on-demand book options on Shopify but are hundreds of bookstores already using Shopify to sell. So we're aiming to provide a service those bookstores might need.
At the moment, using Shopify is entirely done on the users end. Our App just allows anyone with a Shopify store to plug in to our print API. In the future (I'm told later this year) we'll release a distribution API which should open up all of our distribution options in an a la carte way - so you can pick and choose how you want distribution to work on a book by book basis.
In the long run, we're hoping to replace the book creation tool, but the basic functionality of Lulu should not change in any major ways. You'll still be able to upload and publish, add an ISBN, distribute, sell through our store, sell direct with an eCommerce store, or self-purchase and sell by hand.
Or do all of the above at once.
Thanks to you and Master Wilcox for essentially answering questions I'd had but not expressed yet.
R.F.G. Cameron a.k.a. Sphinx
My work can be found at:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/antiqua_sphingehttps://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00DDZJOT2
https://antiquasphinge.wixsite.com/bookshttp://www.lulu.com/shop/li-jung-yuen/kung-fu-scholar-methods-internal-strikes-in-100-days/paperback/product-23908600.html
Reflections of a Christian Kung Fu Master
Aside from that, we'll redesign the order of creating.
Current
New
The 'new' structure isn't 100% worked out, but it allows us to better display available options and filter the information the book needs for correct metadata.
We also have a "Inside Look" tool during the Review step so you can see how the book will look once printed, with bleed and safety margins visible. That tool is already working with xPress, so you can see an example of it there.
http://www.lulu.com/shop/li-jung-yuen/kung-fu-scholar-methods-internal-strikes-in-100-days/paperback/product-23908600.html
Reflections of a Christian Kung Fu Master
Primarily we'll be using xPress to power the Shopify App and gather feedback to keep working on a new and improved book wizard.
http://www.lulu.com/shop/li-jung-yuen/kung-fu-scholar-methods-internal-strikes-in-100-days/paperback/product-23908600.html
Reflections of a Christian Kung Fu Master
On my budget (appx. kaput) I either have to wait to see how the WooCommerce option will work or just do what I've been doing.
R.F.G. Cameron a.k.a. Sphinx
My work can be found at:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/antiqua_sphingehttps://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00DDZJOT2
https://antiquasphinge.wixsite.com/bookshttp://www.lulu.com/shop/li-jung-yuen/kung-fu-scholar-methods-internal-strikes-in-100-days/paperback/product-23908600.html
Reflections of a Christian Kung Fu Master
The WooCommerce / WordPress thing would tend to make it more feasible. Far easier to come up with $48 to $96 a year than $29 per month.
If the new wizard doesn't require me to set up the ironing board every time I do a cover I'll be happy, hard getting those things flat and I've always hated ironing.
R.F.G. Cameron a.k.a. Sphinx
My work can be found at:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/antiqua_sphingehttps://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00DDZJOT2
https://antiquasphinge.wixsite.com/bookshttp://www.lulu.com/shop/li-jung-yuen/kung-fu-scholar-methods-internal-strikes-in-100-days/paperback/product-23908600.html
Reflections of a Christian Kung Fu Master
One thing that we should see is better and more specific error reporting, so you'll know exactly why we didn't accept a file and (hopefully) have less trouble correcting it.
I'm really hoping that someone will come back six months from now and tell us that they are selling lots of books using Shopify and their website. Sometimes it seems that there will be too many stores and not enough customers.
http://www.lulu.com/shop/li-jung-yuen/kung-fu-scholar-methods-internal-strikes-in-100-days/paperback/product-23908600.html
Reflections of a Christian Kung Fu Master
The Wife wants to see some ROI.
R.F.G. Cameron a.k.a. Sphinx
My work can be found at:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/antiqua_sphingehttps://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00DDZJOT2
https://antiquasphinge.wixsite.com/bookshttp://www.lulu.com/shop/li-jung-yuen/kung-fu-scholar-methods-internal-strikes-in-100-days/paperback/product-23908600.html
Reflections of a Christian Kung Fu Master
http://www.lulu.com/shop/li-jung-yuen/kung-fu-scholar-methods-internal-strikes-in-100-days/paperback/product-23908600.html
Reflections of a Christian Kung Fu Master
JesusNinja, $29 is nothing compared to other eCommerce sites. And, you can import your store into FB.
The website I used to have cost me around $15 a month, and all I could practically use it for was to redirect people to Amazon, etc. I assume $29 is a year? not a month?
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/kevinlomas
First, officially launching on February 15th, our new book printing engine located at https://xpress.lulu.com.
This does seem to be a standalone site. But does it mean that Lulu now own POD machines? Or is it just an alternative to this site?
Lulu xPress is a simplified and much improved form of the traditional Lulu Wizard. Basically, we stripped the process down to the absolute bare bones and started over.
Is that a good idea? The Tools on Lulu are quite basic as it is.
This is the first iteration and you'll notice there is no shop or retail distribution.
That's an aspect of this site that many people love.
At the moment, the xPress site is still very basic, but it serves as a first look at our new book builder,
I have not looked at it, yet. Can our Lulu log in details be used or does another account have to be opened? But many have been waiting for/ promised, a better book builder here, so why has it not been placed here on Lulu?
along with an improved pricing model that will eventually filter out to Lulu proper, and expanded options - we're up over 3,000 combinations now.
That is amazing. How come you did not develop them here, on Create?
That's not even the coolest part!
Later this month, we'll be releasing the first of our eCommerce integrations for Shopify. Other eCommerce options like WooCommerce and the like will follow.
That's sounds interesting, but unlike Amazon, I have never heard of it. How many potential customers know it exists? I have never heard it advertised or mentioned.
What we've got here is a App using the Lulu xPress framework that allows anyone with a Shopify store to create a book, upload their files just like they would on Lulu, and sell direct using our network.
All of this is built with our API for printing - run through our Developer API. We're redesigning our entire book creation system so each piece can function as an independent API, giving authors and entrepreneurs options about how they create and sell their books.
Does this not just sound like Lulu.com is now splitting up in to many sites? And one that even charges for its use. It's Lulu.com that I would have liked to see changes made to.
The xPress site is up and running now, and I'll update this thread later in the month once Shopify is live. For now, I'm happy to answer any questions and will gladly relay any feedback to our developers.
OK, I have just logged in to xPress, and only a PDF can be uploaded for interior files. That will upset some people.
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/kevinlomas
xPress is just a stripped down version of the new wizard. If you want to see the book preview tool and new(ish) cover tool, you can try it out. Any print ready file from Lulu should work in xPress.
It's is very similar to Amazon's tools. And there's no harm in that.
Primarily we'll be using xPress to power the Shopify App and gather feedback to keep working on a new and improved book wizard.
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/kevinlomas
If you need an assist you can PM, I'll likely have some time free after next week. Something about replacing a toilet, among other duties.
Ah, the Wix 'free' thing is a bit deceptive as the 'free' website versions won't show on a web search and you get the WIX SEO [Search Engine Optimizer] only if you upgrade to a premium paid plan.
For the moment the Wixsite was good for helping me remember how I used to do things back when I was System Support / Database Yodeler.
I'll be checking on a few of the WordPress hosts to see if I can find one where I'm not coughing up a $250 furball, but that will likely be late next week at the earliest.
R.F.G. Cameron a.k.a. Sphinx
My work can be found at:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/antiqua_sphingehttps://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00DDZJOT2
https://antiquasphinge.wixsite.com/bookshttp://www.lulu.com/shop/li-jung-yuen/kung-fu-scholar-methods-internal-strikes-in-100-days/paperback/product-23908600.html
Reflections of a Christian Kung Fu Master
I'll keep you posted if I find a host service that's semi-affordable for a tight budget.
R.F.G. Cameron a.k.a. Sphinx
My work can be found at:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/antiqua_sphingehttps://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00DDZJOT2
https://antiquasphinge.wixsite.com/books