A friend of mine has the idea of developing these (maybe 40 - 50 or so recipe cards in a gift box), and has asked if I think mainstream publishers may potentially be interested. He is an unusual blend of the artistic and commercial, and if anyone could make this type of thing work, I'd imagine it would be him.
However, in answer to his specific question, I haven't a clue.
Anyone have any tips or ideas?

Dafydd

The recipe cards I remember were the ones that came free in weekly or monthly magazines and build up into a collection.

As far as making them up into gift boxes is concerned, that may be the sort of thing he can do himself (via his local printers) and sell them at craft fairs and farmers markets. Also he could approach the door to door organic vegetable/fish/butchers salesmen and see if they would like recipes tailored to their produce.

As for whether a publisher would be interested, the best thing would be to do some mock ups and a covering letter/proposal and send them out to those non-fiction publishers that specialise in cookery books.
It is a fiercely competative market, so anything that can give him and edge (eg. a spot of market research showing potential customers) would be an advantage.
If he gets turned down by the publishers, it will most likely be because hundreds of other people have had the same idea. But that doesn't mean he can't make a go of it himself.


- NaomiM

Yes, craft fairs and farmers' markets, or if he lives in a trendy-ish area that has such things, how about local cafes and delicatessens or organic groceries?