Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Raymond Depew. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Raymond, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

It was about 9 years ago and I just published my first book Donbridge: The Ring and Lazarus and I was trying to find ways to sell the book and find my audience. It was tough! Self-Published authors and Independent published authors do have a unique position where they can write, edit, format, illustrate and publish their books on their own, but selling and marketing the book they just created… that is another story. So, what was I going to do? I remembered back to my childhood where I would go to festivals and sell potholders. I remembered about how people liked a story and something unique and so I hit the road and started going to festivals with my books and worked hard promoting to the public. The only problem was, I was limited to what festivals were going to be open, where they would be and since I am in Texas, how hot would it be. So again, I was stuck. Then I met a wonderful woman named Deborah Frontiera who was working with Kroger, a large grocery chain, which happened to be in Texas and helping non-distributed authors hold book signings in the grocery store. I said to myself, this is pretty cool! I can be inside, out of the weather, I can meet people, I do not have to handle cash or payments and my book would scan at the register. So, I began selling my books at Kroger holding book signings in the grocery store. It was at that moment I told Deborah, “Hey if you ever want to hand the reigns of this program over to someone, let me know and I would be happy to do it” she smiled and said she would let me know and from there on I kept selling books in Kroger. That went on for about 3 years. Then in 2018 she reached out to me and said, she was retiring and wanted to know if I was still interested in the program, and I said yes and so I began transitioning the program over to me. Again this was only Texas at the time. But I had plans for the program. Big plans.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Before I moved to Texas in 2012, I lived in New York on a small farm and there I was peppered with stories by my grandmother who could spin quite a yarn. She would tell tales of Hermits, Witches, Ghosts, Medicine Woman, Midwives and Lost Treasure and I was just fascinated by the tales. It was her tales that inspired me to write my Donbridge Series and ultimately involved me in the writing world. I met many writing groups over the years, book societies, well know authors and publishers. When I think back, if I had been one of those kids that ignored my grandmother and her stories, I would not be here doing this interviewed right now about our company. I am proud to say that our program exists because of her influence on me as a child. Today, our program honors my grandmother and her storytelling each year by awarding an author a plaque and cash award which is in her name. The award is called the Evelyn Mae Depew Story Teller of the Year Award.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think the toughest thing that Authors face who are not working with a publishing house is the constant marketing and promotions that they receive from companies. These organizations make promises that they will sell thousands of books for them, that they will be able to get them in front of millions of readers. That said, authors try these ideas because they have no guidance, no direction or are just trying to try anything to get their name out there. Then when these ideas fail, the author becomes jaded by any other idea they see. Then when a company like mine comes along, they think its suspicious, weird, too good to be true etc. The fact is, I am not selling lighting in a bottle, I am not promising success. I am giving authors an opportunity to get in front of customers and sell their books to the public. This is rare in itself and the fact that I am working with a wonderful grocery chain, Kroger, along with their subsidiaries Ralphs, King Soopers, Frys, Fred Meyers and City Market it has proven to be helpful and successful.

People want to trust a business and want to know that when they are investing or joining a program or companies platform that they get what they are paying for. I have found that upfront Customer Service and being responsive has helped to create a great reputation for our business and its something that I pride our company in. If something doesnt work, we make it right. Thats how we role.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I find that reaching out to our clients, calling them on the phone or just sending an email with a hello definitely helps our brand. I do not like to wait for things and so, I strive to make sure that every author gets a response and gets it as fast as possible. I think when clients see that you are responsive and do what you promise, the loyalty eventually galvanizes itself over time making your brand recognized by the public.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.authorsingrocerystores.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093334538865

Image Credits

Photos Taken By Brian Torpie