American West Publishing Company

In 1993, at age 19, American West Book’s founder Joshua Blake Mettee took a local California publisher’s 23 book titles on consignment and started making cold calls on independent bookstores, museums, and gift shops.

Mettee, who was also a full-time marketing student at Fresno State used his wholesale business as an after-school job, augmenting his income the first couple of years as a night waiter for a catering company.

Today, American West Books is a major, nationwide supplier to warehouse clubs, specialty grocers, and national booksellers. AWB has distribution centers in Central California and Ashland, Virginia.

Source: American West Publishing Company website