Name: John D’Esposito
Employer: Independent Publishers Group (IPG)
States in your territory: Alabama (AL), Arkansas (AR), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Mississippi (MS), North Carolina (NC), South Carolina (SC), Tennessee (TN), and Virginia (VA).
Number of years as a rep: This is my first year as a rep. It has been an eye-opening experience as I’ve now looked into the world of independent booksellers and their effect on communities and the consumption of all types of literature.
Best part about being a rep: Working closely with the dedicated independent bookstore employees, seeing the enthusiasm and passion the publishing industry shares, better understanding the customer base in each region, and having a small influence on how and where great literature finds its home.
What were you doing before you became a rep? Most recently I worked for HarperCollins in New York as a Foreign Rights Associate, where I sold translation rights into over thirty-five territories for four major HarperCollins imprints. Before that, I worked as a Literary Scout for Mary Anne Thompson Associates and as a Foreign Rights Assistant at Trident Media Group.
What's the coolest thing/a great idea you've seen at one of your stores? Drag Queen Storytime and/or a book delivery service (like ordering a pizza, but books!).
Do you see Edelweiss reviews from booksellers? Occasionally! However, I’d love to see more and begin interacting more frequently using this great industry wide resource we share.
Do you follow any stores especially closely on social media? What are they doing right? I think if you have an active social media presence, you’re already ahead of the game. There are so many people out there looking for a sense of community and to share enthusiasm towards their interests. Reviewing books and kicking off discussions on social media can be a great way to interact with your customers. Also incentivizing them with special social media promotions can be a great way to increase your audience and promote events.
What can a bookseller do to make a sales call more effective? Being forthright about how much time you can devote to the call and your personal preferences. Some accounts enjoy discussing IPG’s list title by title, others only like going over the highlights. Some prefer to submit an order and only expect a small additional list of suggestions, while others prefer a curated list based off past orders and conversations. As a rep, I’m always happy to direct our call in the direction you’d prefer! Whatever is easiest and most effective for you.
Most memorable thing that’s happened during a sales call? Mid call our building was struck by lightning, all of the power went out in the building, and a small fire started close by. Being evacuated in the midst of a huge rainstorm was a sales call I certainly won’t forget. It may sound like a ‘dog ate my homework’ moment, but I promise I didn’t hang up – the power went out!
What’s one thing you wish bookstores would do, or do more often? Take a chance on more fiction. There are so many great voices out there – from smaller and independent publishers – that deserve to be given a chance to sell, to have a prominent spot on the shelf, and find an audience.
Favorite book you’re currently promoting: Into Captivity They Will Go by Noah Milligan (adult), How to be Remy Cameron by Julian Winters (YA), and A Friendship Yarn by Lisa Moser (children’s).
What three things should a bookstore have when they come to meet with you at your booth at the #SIBA19 Discovery Show? Unfortunately, I will not be attending SIBA this year – it coincidentally falls on the week of my wedding! However, my colleague Aaron Howe will be there. I think it's always helpful to have a business card, time to get to know each other and hear more about IPG’s amazing list, and a sense of adventure – it can be fun to pick up a title you may not have normally sought out.
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Name: Abby Fennewald
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