Dick Higgins (who passed away almost ten years ago) pointed out that a small press differs from a small independent publisher in that it usually follows the editorial vision of its founder and is a way of achieving that founder's vision of some kind.

It does not attempt, as a small independent publisher would, to publish the best manu_script_s which come its way in order to make a profit.

Rather it publishes the most appropriate works for the achievement of the vision of the editor in order to bring that vision to the public yet, hopefully, to make at least enough profit to cover one's losses.

Higgins wrote that "Small presses are the research and creative part of the larger world of publishing, and that is why the public as a whole needs them. Otherwise the whole field of our culture can only stagnate."

Pretty cool.