International Booksellers Conference inspires booksellers to build sustainable and thriving businesses

International Booksellers Conference inspires booksellers to build sustainable and thriving businesses

Sharjah: The concluding day of the International Booksellers Conference promised to be a thought-provoking and informative experience for attendees, and it delivered in droves. With two keynote sessions, a series of empowering workshops, and a chance to engage directly with the world’s biggest publishers in intimate sessions, the conference offered the ultimate insight into the sector and focused on topics that are crucial to the bookselling industry today, retail and sustainability.

The five P’s of retail

The first keynote speaker, Steve Jones, the General Manager of Books Kinokuniya UAE, presented "The Hits, Misses & Learning of 30 Years in Bookselling." With over three decades of experience in the bookselling industry, Steve Jones shared his insights into the evolution of retail, the challenges booksellers face today and possible solutions that he has discovered through his time in the industry.

“To be successful in bookselling, there are five critical elements to consider: product, place, price, promotion, people, and an additional aspect, logistics. Booksellers have to curate high-quality books that appeal to their customers, maintain a clean and comfortable store, provide value for money, promote their business through social media and marketing, and employ knowledgeable and friendly staff who can provide expert advice to customers. What