Blurb, Inc.

Blurb is an American self-publishing platform that allows users to create, self-publish, promote, share, and sell their own print and ebooks. It also offers software for laying out books.

Blurb Inc.
TypePrivate
IndustrySelf-publishing
FoundedIncorporated 2005
HeadquartersSan Francisco, California, US
Key people
Rix Kramlich
(CEO)
Eileen Gittins
(founder & chairman)
ProductsBookWright, Blurb plug-in for Adobe InDesign, Blurb iOS app, BookSmart, Blurb PDF Uploader, Blurb book module in Adobe Lightroom Classic
Number of employees
120
Websitewww.blurb.com

History

The company was founded in 2005 by Eileen Gittins[1] and funded by Canaan Partners and Anthem Venture Partners. Blurb's headquarters are in San Francisco, California. Since its inception, Blurb has delivered more than 14 million books.

Time magazine named Blurb one of 2006's "50 Coolest Web Sites".[2]

The company generates nearly $100 million[3] in revenues per year.

Blurb announced a partnership with Amazon[4] in April 2014. The deal allows Blurb-designed books to be sold and distributed on the Amazon platform. The partnership enables self publishing on the platform with a 15% cut on Blurb books.[5] Amazon agreed to the fee to access Blurb's authors.

In May 2014 Blurb acquired MagCloud,[6] a self-publishing platform for magazines, under a licensing agreement from HP. In the deal, Blurb has taken over the company's technology and operations. Blurb was acquired by their print fulfillment partner Reischling Press, Inc. (RPI) for an undisclosed amount in August 2020.[7]

Services

Blurb's book-making tools include BookWright (a downloadable tool), BookSmart), Blurb's PDF Uploader, the Blurb iOS app, and Blurb's plug-in for Adobe InDesign which allows book makers to design and upload their book's PDF files from within InDesign itself. Adobe's Lightroom Classic has a built-in Book module that Lightroom users can use to create and upload their books directly to Blurb for printing or for creation in ebook form.

Blurb authors can promote and share their books (including ebooks) using Blurb's free on-line marketing tools. They can also set their price and sell their books and ebooks in Blurb's online bookstore. The platform's print-on-demand technology enables authors to print just as many books are ordered. In addition, it offers seven book sizes, hardcover and softcover options, and a range of papers and end sheets. Blurb e-books are fixed format, enabling them to retain the same image and text placement when viewed on the Apple iPad as in the printed book version.

Awards
  • In April 2008, Blurb was nominated for A 2008 Webby Award.[8]
  • In August 2010, Blurb was announced as 2010 AOP Open Award Winner.[9]
  • Blurb was an Inc. 500 No. 1 media company in 2010.[10]

References
  1. "9 Realisations on Anxiety, Persistence, Challenges & More". May 12, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  2. "Web Search and Services". Time. August 3, 2006. Archived from the original on August 19, 2006. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  3. "All Entrepreneurs Need to Tell These 6 Stories". Inc. June 3, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  4. Burgett, Gannon (April 22, 2014). "Blurb Announces Partnership with Amazon to Simplify Self-Publishing Photo Books". PetaPixel. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  5. "Blurb strikes unique 15% deal with Amazon". Archived from the original on November 11, 2014. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
  6. Griffith, Erin (May 6, 2014). "Blurb acquires HP's MagCloud, aims to dominate long-tail publishing". Fortune. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  7. Pageau, Gary (August 3, 2020). "RPI acquires Blurb". The Dead Pixels Society. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  8. 12th Annual Webby Awards Nominees & Winners Archived April 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  9. "2010 Open Award Winners are Announced & Exhibition is Launched". Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  10. "America's Fastest-Growing Media Company". Inc. September 1, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
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