Page 17 - November-December Together

TOGETHER NOVEMBER – DECEMBER 2021
Scamp Publishing

Friends Neil Batty and Andrew Wormleighton launch a new PUBLISHING
publishing company.

When Lion Sales Services became Potters House’s chosen partner to
represent their book sales back in 2017, the business paths of Neil Batty and
Andrew Wormleighton crossed again for the first time since the summer of
2001 when Neil, after seven happy years, left Lion Publishing (and Andrew,
his then boss) to launch Potters House.

Fast forward to 2020, and after one of those ‘let’s drop this into the
conversation and see where it leads’ type of chats, the seed was sown for
the launch of a brand-new publishing company. Neil’s retail and distribution
experience, gained through eight years of owning a Christian shop in
Broomhill, Sheffield, and subsequently Potters House, along with Andrew
and his team’s knowledge of the publishing industry seemed a perfect fit.
For a new publisher, getting distribution and sales can be a challenge but
with those pieces of the jigsaw already in place, the new business just
needed books!
Why Scamp? In the summer of 2020 Andrew was exploring a possible new
name for the LSS business and happened to write down the initials of the
sales team (Suzy, Clive, Andrew, Mark, Phil). It wasn’t used for that purpose,
but when this opportunity came along it felt right to use it. Andrew’s brother,
who owns a branding agency, then developed the mischievous, but loyal and
likeable dog character who is now the company’s logo.
Over thirty years ago, Andrew
worked with David and Annette
of ADP when they were at Lion
Publishing, and they had been in
regular conversation again since ISBN 9781838453428/Scamp Publishing
2017. Their expertise and help Anyone but Bear is the first in the series of Picture Book Parables, and is a
have made it possible to quickly charming retelling of the Good Samaritan, pitched in a way that works as an
bring new books to the market, excellent gift for those outside of the Christian community. Future stories will
and autumn 2021 sees the release feature unicorns, dragons and dinosaurs which might make some Together
of the first seven titles including readers slightly uncomfortable, says Andrew, but being scampish our aim is
Anyone but Bear, written by LSS’s to engage readers at their point of interest with a good story that also teaches
very talented Suzy Senior and something about faith. Other autumn titles include a new children’s Bible and
dedicated to Clive Parker who a family Bible; the same book but with two very different covers. Twenty titles
went to glory last December. are currently planned for the first year.
ISBN 9781838453435/Scamp Publishing
Mischievous, but loyal and likeable is how the new company would like to
be seen, just like any pet dog! Mischievous in both the way they do business
and the books they publish. We own key parts of the supply chain, says Neil,
so we can look at different ways of doing business. If it looks interesting,
we want to explore it, and Scamp intends to publish titles specifically for the
general trade too.
Loyalty to customers and colleagues is key. While there is little doubt that the
traditional face of retail is changing, Scamp wants to actively partner with
stores who are, after all, well placed to fulfil the mission element that was so
important to Lion Publishing who gave Andrew and Neil their start in the trade.
It remains to be seen just how likeable Scamp becomes, says Neil, but the
whole team are determined to make it easy for retailers to decide by doing
their very best to support and encourage their ministries.
For more information contact scamp@scamp-publishing.com or
ISBN 9781838453480/ ISBN 9781838453404/ any of the team at LSS or Potters House.
Scamp Publishing Scamp Publishing

‘ a charming retelling of the Good Samaritan, pitched in a way that works as an excellent
gift for those outside of the Christian community.’
17
17