Wow. A Saab Pride book?
A few people have suggested in comments that I put together a book comprising the Saab Pride of Ownership entries.
At first I was thinking “will there be a market for it that’d make it worth the effort?”
Then I thought “will there be enough pictures of sufficient quality to publish a book?”
And then I thought about it some more….
——
I’m very keen on the idea.
I think it’d be absolutely awesome to have a range of stories and pictures from owners, showing the diverse nature of their cars, thoughts and locations.
Right now I’m not sure we’ve got the photographic stock to pull it off.
BUT…
There’s a lot of people who haven’t entered because I did the boneheaded thing of running this competition during the northern winter. We’ve still got some great stuff, but there could be a whole lot more if people have the chance to create images in the spring and summer.
So we can definitely generate enough content.
Then there’s the market.
I’m sure people with images in the book would want a copy. I’m sure that some other readers would love to have a copy as well. I’d love to say “If you supply a photo that gets into the book and get a copy free” but that just won’t be possible without finance from Saab, which you can look up at notgonnahappen.com
But the other potential market for this might be as a coffee table book for dealerships.
Saab dealers reading this - would you find it of interest to buy a book to have there in your facility that shows a whole bunch of well-loved and cared for Saabs in great locations with stories by dedicated owners?
I think that’d make an impression.
——
There’s a number of self-publishing operations that do reasonable prices on quality printing in limited runs. So this is definitely possible.
What do you all think?
I’m excited by this….
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What kind of price range are you talking about here? If it’s the $30 range, I think it’s a shoe-in. Once you get up over about $45 (see: close to $50), then it will start to taper off unless there’s some really nice content to back it up.
I would gladly purchase a book like this, but I wouldn’t pay much more than US$100.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who is a bit upset that the competition is during the nordic winter. It makes it quite difficult to take good pictures because the cars get dirty the second after you’ve finished washing them, and there is little daylight, and snowtires are usually equally sexy as a stock Toyota.
Brilliant Idea, If i was still at the showroom i would definately get one, or two actully, one for the showroom and the other to give to the clients so they can do some homework before their purchase. I think it would make them feel like they are aquiring something special (which they are). I would still buy two anyways, one for me and one to give to the showroom. As ubermich suggested, $30 is a fair price, probably even $40, but more would be pushing it. I love the idea though.
Don’t worry Swade, you’re not the only one who’s not “tuned-in” to the seasons. Saab is releasing their exclusive world-class all-wheel-drive system AFTER the northern winter (where I’d guess 95% of all Saabs are sold) just as people are swapping their snow tires for summer tires! Talk about bone-headed!
i think it would be GREAT for a dealer to have a few of these sitting out for prospective buyers to thumb through…..
this could easily get very big (and expensive) but why stop there? maybe you could take it a step further and work with PR/marketing @ Saab to put together a small mini-book that they could hand out to test drivers at dealers worldwide.
they could be printed along with their annual brochures to bring price down and quality up.
now what about those copyright issues and image usage releases….
Yeah, we could take care of the copyright stuff, I’m sure. There won’t be any money in it for me, I’d be collating and edting for nothing.
I’d have to look into small-run print cost, but I’d guess $30 to $50 at least, plus postage.
Sounds like an outstanding idea to me. I’d be in for the $30 - $50 USD range. I’m still working on getting a few nice pride pictures myself…but living in SoCal I can’t really blame it on the weather
You might not have the photo stock, but from what i’ve seen
thus far, you have incredible photo quality!
Winter shots can be amazing, too, peoples!
Perhaps various Saab parts/gear sights (i.e. Abbott/ Elkparts/ Group 9/ State of Nine/ etc.)
would happily support and carry a book of this magnitude?
I’d pay $30 to $40 for something like that. Sounds like a great idea, that is, once you get more of the “northerners” on board with their cars (myself included).
Also, if you’re looking into printing in the US, I have a connection and could check on pricing if needed.
How about a calendar in addition to (or in lieu of) the book idea? You’d need less photos probably and might be cheaper.
ih8mud.com, a popular Land Cruiser forum, puts one together that is pretty sharp.
Swade - it’s a wonderful idea, one that I think every new Saab owner should receive in the mail!
You can print books relatively cheap using an online publisher, with a relatively small print run. I think people can even order one when they want to so you wouldn’t have to worry about distribution.
Swade,
I can help to do the prepress work, (the photos need lot of retouching, you will need a desing and layout) of course, free of charge, and even I can try to organize the production.
I think the combination of quality photos with the interesting stories of owners is a great idea. I’d buy one for sure.
So long as I can get a photo of my car in there I’d be happy
Joemama,
you can’t be sure what is the quality of the online prints… usually they use some digital reproduction and it has various quality depending on the devices and the workflow.
Kodak has a really nice service for taking digital images and text and publishing a book. My brother-in-law created a book from pictures taken on our summer vacation and gave it to me for christmas. It blew me away. I was shocked that Kodak has such a service. Its a real bound book and everything.
Folks,
This book is a great idea. It worth to think about a unique and quality production which can be done only if the design, prepress and quality check is in the hands of the publisher.
If you just give the photos and text to some online services the possibilites are limited and you can not now the quality. They work with templates and they are mostly prepared for the general requirements of family photos, party picures, holiday collections.
This kind of book is an another category.
I’m a designer working in prepress and printing 15 years ago.
I would be happy if I can do anything for this book, and I recommend to insist to the unique, professional and quality print and design.
“Saab is releasing their exclusive world-class all-wheel-drive system AFTER the northern winter (where I’d guess 95% of all Saabs are sold) just as people are swapping their snow tires for summer tires!”
Saab is fond of ill-timed introductions. See the 2004 convertible intro just in time for winter, the AWD 9-2X released in June ‘05, and the 9-7X just in time for U.S. gas prices to prevent most from considering a body-on-frame-SUV.
With regards to the book, some of these photos have definitely been coffee table book caliber, and from what I know there has not been a book published of it’s kind. I would be in up to $70 or so.
I’m in agreement with just about everybody above. But, if you start taking new photo submissions for this, I think you should also take submissions for favorite Saab stories to put in another section of the book, or maybe to finish each chapter. Many people like me have some old personal Saab stories, but no photos to go with the stories.
Swade, I’m totaly with you on this. Just one thing from me, the cheaper you can keep it the more you will sell, $30-50 is a good price. imho.
Perhaps TS sponsors and others would be interested to advertise in the book to keep the price down.
I’m in! There have been some great photos from around the world. Agree w/ Robin M on the price range.
I’ll fwd this to our (one) Saab dealer for input too. I think it would be a great way to introduce prospective buyers to the loyal Saab community, especially if they see local owners’ cars in there.
This would be a legitimate reason for a PayPal link on the front page. Registered donators could get the first run publication for a % off! if we all chip in for production costs, this could be spectacular. I’d buy it. 2 if I’m in it!
i hear good things about the book publishing site - http://www.blurb.com/home/1/
Think of the posibilities for presents, birthdays, christmas etc. A great idea and I would definitely want a copy.
Swade keep up the good work, my first read every morning.
I would by a copy for sure! And if it is summer or so next year and we may hand in other pictures I will send photos of my car as well, but as it is winter here in Switzerland as well all cars are dirty, the wheather is bad and the winter tires do not look that great as the Aero-wheels do…
Ivan - I agree with what you are saying. I’ve been in the print industry for years myself.
I wasn’t referring to an online publisher like Snapfish or Apple books. I meant a professional online service that does traditional printing who cuts out the middle man and sells directly to the buyer. It also saves you from having a contract with a publishing house.
You send them high-res PDFs, not simple jpegs where the print quality comes back in 150 dpi.
Joemama,
Ok, maybe you are right. Actually, I don’t have many experiences with the online traditional prints.
Anyway, I have learned that usually the safest way is if I do everything or I control the whole process personally.
For instance, I like to have the sample of the paper in my hand to feel it, and I usually need a proof print before starting the production, so I used to be in the factory when they start the printing.
I’m affraid the online printing has no such kind of opportunity.
Blix:
That’s what I talked about.
Maybe the quality is ok, but they use standardized templates. You can’t creat something really unique and custom.
There is no informations about what prepress and printing technology they are using, what is the quality of the paper, etc.
I would definitely buy one!
ivan - i’d definitely prefer something better, but that’s if no one bothers to sponsor or if people don’t want to spend that much. ideally, what you were suggesting sounds best. i’d be up for that.
I would buy one aswell, with or without my entry in it. But if I’d be so lucky to be in it I hope the name of my entry would be different than the Pride Of Ownership title, wink, wink, Swade.
Happy New Year everybody.
Ivan - it sounds you are quite a experienced in print publication, and a perfectionist, which is wonderful.
I think Swade is probably more concerned with a book getting produced at a reasonable price and having good content.
Hopefully that can happen.
I think Swade will come up w/ a great book title, and if he’s on the fence, will
put the options out to us for a vote.
Since it’s a global love for Saabs, i think
the title should indicate that.
Titles like: “The Spirit of Saab” ($250 on Amazon!!!), and
“Saab 9-5: a Personal Story” are already
taken, which is ok, since this POO project
is so much larger.
If i may take a stab at a title:
“Saab Love: Enthusiasm from Tasmania to Trollhattan”
That Amazon search also shows that there’s a clear lack of selections when it comes to a “coffee table” book. What do i want in a coffee table book? A large book w/ big glossy pages containing stunning photos and stunning short stories.
I have to say every POO entry i’ve seen has been stunning. The most stunning story has to be the LA SAABer who’s car
was shot on the highway (YIKES)!!!
If i may have another stab at
a title:
“Saab Pride: From Tasmania to Trollhattan”
Thanks everyone for your support of the idea. I agree we’ve had some excellent shots so far and many of them are bookworthy. Hopefully they’re in a high enough resolution.
About titles, my initial thought was to just call it Saab Pride, but maybe we can open up suggestions closer to the time.
This project could have a six month window. Most parts of the world should see a bit of sunny weather between now and then. But I do like the cold looking pictures from this POO competition too, and some are so natual. Another reason to keep the car shining and the camera in the glove box. Great work from everybody.
I will buy a copy. Great idea!!!
J.
I do like your last book title, I was however referring to the title that Swade gave to my individual entry. As if I had a certain fixation. I showed the “rear” of my 9-5 wagon. I like the newer “rears” as well, and I must say of all the wagons out there (BMW, AUDI, VW, Mercedes, Volvo, etc), Saab has the best design, hands down. I like the new 9-3 wagons, but they resemble the V50’s from Volvo to much. Well, at least they are both Swedish, so I guess that makes it a little bit okay.
I’d buy one but as my wife only gives me £5 a week pocket money it would take me several weeks to save that kind of money! I could always wait and ask Santa for it this year…… all I got last year was a race and driving experience in something called a DB9 and a R8 .. whatever they are ha ha ba humbug!
So Gary, I recon if you put 50p away each week you will have enough saved by the time it’s published. And we could go half on the postage, lol.
It’s a fab idea, I’d certainly be up for one
Will give me a chance to take some really quality shots as I’m not happy with the ones I’ve taken for the POO. I need a bigger tripod to take night shots as the exposure length brings in too much blur for a perfect night shot.
Might try and find a decent tripod over the weekend and take some more shots
Ring up another sale here!
Saab pride of ownership would be good name. We have a few customers here who im sure would LOVE to share the stories they have with their own Saabs. I as well would be able to contribute later on.
-K
oh and our dealer would buy one.
Yes please, as the englishman would say……great idea, and why not let all the Saab clubs around the world know, you certainly also get some more pics and support.
I think it should be a book where all Saab’s have equal right to be in the book, from 92 to the latest new models.
And the $50 price range is OK, if there will be enough pages AND good pics together with fascinating stories.
GREEN LIGHT, GO ON !!!!!