A variety of book retailers -- particularly independent booksellers -- have been contacting wholesalers and are beginning to order in somewhat larger quantities, wholesalers have told PW. However, the wholesalers also emphasize that it is too early to gauge completely the fallout from the announced purchase of Ingram by Barnes &Noble.

"There has been a reaction from booksellers," said Jim Ulsamer, president of Baker &Taylor. "We've gotten everything from retailers wanting to expand credit lines and moving us up in the cascade to some just expressing an interest. At the same time, we have been getting orders."

B&T, the second largest wholesaler and the only other national one, has been increasing its breadth and depth of inventory, stocking some 400,000 titles. "Our primary goal is maintaining a high level of service and managing an orderly transition for any booksellers who want to diversify their source of books," Ulsamer added.

Sam Speigel, v-p of Partners Book Distributing, Holt, Mich., said the company, which also operates Partners/West in the Pacific Northwest, is "beginning to see a little action from booksellers. We're making everyone aware that we're out there." At the Booksource, St. Louis, Mo., "we've had a lot of contact with different people and lots of discussions," said president Sandy Jaffe.For its part, the American Wholesale Booksellers Association issued a statement saying that members "report positive sales increases" following the announcement of the B&N purchase of Ingram.

For many wholesalers, B&N has been the largest or one of their largest customers in the past few years. The company has sought to assure wholesalers that it will not yank all business from them. B&N chief operating officer Alan Kahn told PW that there will always be some volume that will need to be picked up by other local wholesalers.

'It Ain't Over Yet'

Customers and wholesalers are still digesting the news -- and some wholesalers believe there will be more significant changes to come. Jaffe said, "A vast majority of people are not making rash decisions. We're all trying to figure out what's best and important for our companies."

Speigel called the situation a kind of "culture shock. Part of the problem is so many people have been dependent on Ingram for so many years." He called the purchase part of "a series of complex moves" and added, "The potential is here for a profound change in the book industry. This is not like a publisher buying another publisher."

Ulsamer had a similar view, saying that going back to the Bertelsmann purchase of half of barnesandnoble.com in October, "the balance of power has shifted. And I don't believe this is the end of the changes. There may be some more changes -- possibly some alliances, consolidations and the emergence of new players. I don't think it's over yet."

Speaking of potential purchases, Ulsamer indicated that despite rumors and speculation, B&T has not had talks with Amazon.com about being acquired by the online bookseller.