As we mark the first year of the Covid pandemic, Publishers Weekly is pleased to move ahead with its long-time awards for Bookstore and Sales Rep of the Year. “Having come through an especially trying time for retailing in general,” says PW v-p, editorial director Jim Milliot, “we think it is more important than ever to recognize the booksellers and sales reps who kept books front and center over the past year.”
The 2021 PW Award winners will be named in late May and will be featured in a June edition of Publishers Weekly magazine. An awards ceremony will take place at the inaugural U.S. Book Show (May 25–27), a virtual conference presented by Publishers Weekly.
The five 2021 bookstore finalists reflect the changes that have taken place in the ways that bookstores serve their communities and the increasing role of activism in bookselling today. They include two not-for-profit stores, a feminist bookstore, and several multicultural bookstores. One store began as a month-long pop-up, which is about to mark its tenth anniversary; another as an online bookseller.
2021 PW Bookstore of the Year Shortlist
- Charis Books and More (Decatur, Ga.)
- Eso Won Books (Los Angeles)
- MahoganyBooks (Washington, D.C.)
- Seminary Co-op Bookstores (which includes Seminary Co-op and 57th St. Books, Chicago)
- Word Up Community Bookshop/Librería Comunitaria (New York City)
2021 PW Sales Representative of the Year Shortlist
- Toi Crockett (S&S)
- Richard McNeace (Faherty & Associates)
- Jason Rice (Ingram Content Group)
- Gail Whitten (Como Sales)
- Marsha Wood (Ingram Content Group)
