News from InTrans Book Service, Inc. – September 2014 – Volume 5, Number 6

Dear NAJIT Blog Readers,

This week we’d like to share with you a special message from Mr. Freek Lankhof.  Freek,  thank you for all you’ve done throughout the years to strengthen our profession. – Kevin  (You can read more about Freek in our June 6th, 2014 post “ Freek Lankhof: Our Favorite Bookseller!” by Jennifer De La Cruz,)

It is with a heavy heart that I’m writing this, which may very well be my last, newsletter. So far this year it has become clear that InTrans Book Service can no longer generate enough business to justify its existence. Sales have consistently lacked the level needed to stay profitable. I have therefore decided to close down InTrans Book Service as per December 31, 2014. As of September 1, I will no longer import books but try to sell the current inventory at reduced prices. For said period I will continue to carry titles that are available in the United States and that are listed as available on my web site www.intransbooks.com. In the coming weeks I will start marking those tiles that are no longer in stock, those titles that are available will be listed with their quantity and sale price.

It was my plan to once more attend the Annual ATA Conference in Chicago to personally say good bye and offer you good deals but had no choice but to decide against it due to the high cost of participation. My last road trip will be to the CFI in Los Angeles on Columbus Day Weekend.

Many times I feared and thought about when the moment would come that I would have to say goodbye to all my customers and business friends. I always thought it would be tomorrow instead of today. And then suddenly it is today. The change in the business climate has speeded up my decision to throw in the towel. My mainstay, the travel to all the translator/interpreter events where I was able to offer you my product, has become too costly and made it impossible to compete with on-line vendors offering same product at often much lower prices, and very often even lower than my cost. It is easy to complain about this trend, one should look for alternatives to remain competitive but I no longer see those alternatives and will leave the search to others.

So this is the end of the ride. It was a wonderful one and has kept me out of trouble for over 25 years. I thank you for allowing me to serve you throughout all these years as the bookseller catering solely to your profession, one that is so dear to my heart. You have given me the opportunity to do what I like most: helping you become better translators and interpreters. No greater pleasure could I have gotten out of doing a job! I wish you all good luck and lots of success in your careers.

With warm regards,

Freek Lankhof

Lankhof@intransbooks.com