Sandy Balin
Novato
Summary
Results-driven and experienced Sales & Marketing Director with proven history of business development success. Vast experience in meeting and exceeding sales goals and profitability. Special expertise in building and leading top-performing teams, working with organizational partners, and introducing improvement plans for enhanced results. Strong analytic and data skills.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Sales & Marketing Director
New World Library
Novato, CA
01.2023 - Current
- Led sales, marketing, and publicity efforts at 48-year-old independent publisher with 800 books in print and authors such as Eckhart Tolle, Deepak Chopra, Shakti Gawain, Joseph Campbell, and Dan Millman. Managed relationship with distribution partner for all aspects of sales and marketing to the book trade, mass merchants, and academic markets. Managed international sales through various distribution partners. Responsible for all rights sales including foreign rights, audio rights, and sub-rights. Project manager for outside communication and customer & author relations. Decision maker specializing in time management and organizational skills with attention to detail key to success. Member of core management team, tasked with company financial decision making.
Director, Sales, Marketing & Publishing Operations
Synergetic Press
Santa Fe, NM
01.2020 - 01.2023
- Responsible for the success of the sales of Synergetic Press’ 150+ titles in all formats across all channels. Included in the list are titles from co-publishing partners Transform Press and M.A.P.S. Focus on marketing and selling all titles while collaborating with internal teams and external community partners and allies. Management of relationship with domestic and international distributor including 75+ representatives selling to all national and independent accounts, with 6 Sales Conferences per year. Lead a marketing team with a focus on digital marketing, social media and company website. Decision making for print runs and product package specs to ensure profitability. Member of senior management team determining company goals and direction including company budgets and financial sustainability.
Global Sales Director
Barefoot Books
Cambridge, MA
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Led all sales efforts domestically and internationally for 30-year-old mission driven children’s content provider of books, activities, apps, e-books and educational content, focusing on inclusive, diverse publications where all children can find themselves in the story. Planned all aspects of revamping sales to all channels including Book Trade, Gift & Special Markets, Education & Library, Literacy & Non-Profit, International and Foreign Rights. Sold frontlist and backlist titles to all Key Accounts, Independents, Library and Wholesale accounts. Planned domestic and international trade show schedule to engage with all channels and stay up on trends in all markets. Increased sales year over year by 52% across all sales channels.
Global Sales Director
C&T Publishing
Concord, CA
01.2009 - 01.2016
- Lead sales for 38-year-old independent manufacturer/publisher of books and consumer products including Journals, Coloring Books, Tote Bags and Puzzles. Sold 80 new and hundreds of backlist products into new and existing channels including distribution partners, domestic and international. Grew sales into the book trade on average 29% per year. Began e-book program accounting for 14% of net sales. Initiated co-publishing/foreign rights program resulting in the printing of 34 titles for foreign publishers for over $2.3M in revenue. Manage successful team of 6 inside sales and support staff and 120 outside commission reps, selling to all national and independent bookstores and gift stores. Oversaw Product Development team; finding, sourcing, purchasing and selling consumables, gift items and tools. Member of Cash Flow team, determining inventory needs and managing payments. Key member of Executive Management Team and responsible for $5M annual budget. Instrumental in launch of two new imprints. Pivotal role in acquisition of two publishing companies, increasing revenue by 17%.
Sales Director, Special Markets & Subsidiary Rights
Chronicle Books
San Francisco, CA
01.2008 - 01.2009
- Provided leadership and direction for sales and business development in Special Markets and Subsidiary Rights for $180M company, managing a team of 7 and 4 respectively. Sold in-house and distributed products. Domestic accounts included Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Pier 1, Cost Plus World Market, Gap and independent gift stores nationwide. Sold subsidiary rights and translation rights to international publishers including negotiating contracts and terms and managing payments.
Sales & Marketing Director
B*tween Productions
Lexington, MA
01.2005 - 01.2008
- Initial Sales and Marketing Executive for start-up multi-media brand for ‘tween girls (Beacon Street Girls) including books, toys, bags, pillows, jewelry, stationery and body care. Worked to ensure profitability for investor Board of Directors. Grew sales year over year in all channels. Placed entire series into Barnes & Noble, Borders, Books-A-Million, and independent bookstores and non-book items (journals, bags, toys) into Nordstrom, Dillard’s and independent gift stores nationwide. Hired team of inside and outside commission sales reps. Positioned company to be sold to Simon and Schuster in late 2007.
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Intervisual Books
Los Angeles, CA
01.2003 - 01.2005
- Responsible for all sales and marketing functions of $15M Children’s novelty books and gifts, publishing over 100 books per year. Oversaw sales into the book trade (Barnes & Noble, Borders, Books-A-Million), national toy chains (Toys ‘R Us), mass-market accounts (Levy/Readerlink, Target), national specialty retailers and the gift channel. Attended international book shows to sell foreign rights, growing sales by over 200%.
National Sales Manager
Klutz Press/Scholastic
Palo Alto, CA
01.1998 - 01.2003
- Grew sales of award-winning books-plus product line in the book trade market by 10% annually. Managed sales to all national book trade and craft accounts including Barnes & Noble, Borders, Books-A-Million, Toys ‘R Us, and Discovery. Successful implementation of planogramed endcap into Target. Hired and managed 100+ commission book and gift reps nationwide. First branded merchandiser into Barnes & Noble nationwide. Instrumental in launch of two imprints.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Mathematics, College of Engineering & Mathematics
University of Vermont
Burlington, VTSkills
- Sales team building
- Project Management
- Sales Forecasting & Planning
- Sales coaching
- Marketing Outreach
- Pricing strategy
- Sales presentations
- Partnership development
Sales & Marketing | Product Management | Program Leadership | Team Leader
Sales & Marketing | Product Management | Program Leadership | Team Leader
Timeline
Sales & Marketing Director
New World Library
01.2023 - Current
Director, Sales, Marketing & Publishing Operations
Synergetic Press
01.2020 - 01.2023
Global Sales Director
Barefoot Books
01.2017 - 01.2019
Global Sales Director
C&T Publishing
01.2009 - 01.2016
Sales Director, Special Markets & Subsidiary Rights
Chronicle Books
01.2008 - 01.2009
Sales & Marketing Director
B*tween Productions
01.2005 - 01.2008
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Intervisual Books
01.2003 - 01.2005
National Sales Manager
Klutz Press/Scholastic
01.1998 - 01.2003
Bachelor of Science - Mathematics, College of Engineering & Mathematics
University of Vermont