Sharjah Booksellers Conference 2023 Concludes With Key Strategies For Future Of Bookselling

The 4th International Booksellers Conference in Sharjah concluded successfully, inspiring attendees with fresh strategies for the evolving bookselling industry. Over two days, more than 750 participants from 92 countries, including booksellers and publishers, gathered to exchange knowledge and collaborate. Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the event highlighted the vital role of booksellers as cultural intermediaries while addressing industry challenges and opportunities.

Day two featured a mix of keynote speeches, workshops, and discussions led by global thought leaders. Michael Busch, Managing Partner of Thalia Bücher GmbH, delivered a keynote address on transforming traditional bookselling into an omni-channel model. He emphasised that believing in something ensures its eventual realisation. Busch noted that solutions often emerge by examining broader contexts.

Federico Lang introduced the Global Book Crawl initiative during the conference. This project aims to create a worldwide network of independent bookstores for collaboration and cross-promotion. Lang urged a shift in perception about indie bookstores, stating their strength lies in community bonds. The inaugural Global Book Crawl is set for April 26, 2025, aligning with Independent Bookstore Day in the U.S., involving stores across six continents.

Nadia Wassef's session was another highlight. As co-founder of Egypt’s Diwan bookstore chain, her talk resonated with regional attendees. She shared her journey of establishing a bookstore that serves as both a retail space and cultural hub. Her insights inspired many participants to view bookstores as community centres rather than just commercial entities.

The conference included workshops and roundtable sessions offering practical tools for booksellers to thrive amid digital advancements. Topics covered audiobooks, e-commerce platforms, AI integration, data analytics, and social media use for discoverability and community building. These sessions fostered collaboration among participants who shared experiences and brainstormed solutions to common challenges like diversifying offerings.

Mansour Al Hassani from SBA commented on the conference's success: "Guided by our Chairperson Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi’s leadership, SBA is committed to building a globally connected bookselling industry." He added that the conference facilitates connections crucial for future sector initiatives while reinforcing Sharjah's status as a knowledge capital.

Industry Growth and Literacy Efforts

Busch highlighted Thalia’s diverse revenue streams from stationary sales (28%), e-commerce (31%), e-books (34%), and audiobooks (9%). He stressed strong partnerships between publishers and booksellers are essential. The industry has seen steady growth of 2% annually over the past decade. Thalia is also committed to improving literacy worldwide through child literacy programs in South America.

The company supports projects in Brazil, Peru, and Columbia where literacy rates have risen significantly within a year due to these efforts. Busch recognised the global south as an emerging market with exciting potential for growth in literacy initiatives.

The conference underscored its mission by proving booksellers' indispensable role as cultural custodians connecting authors with readers. It also addressed future industry challenges while reinforcing Sharjah's position as a global knowledge hub.

With inputs from WAM