At the 2024 Sharjah International Booksellers Conference, held April 27–28 in the United Arab Emirates, publishing consultant and former Kinokuniya Bookstores senior director Kenny Chan set the tone for the event. "We are living in a world of unprecedented change," Chan said, noting the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, global political uncertainty, and the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. "There's never been a more important time for books and bookselling. I believe we will not only survive—but thrive in the future."
Chan highlighted the conference's packed agenda, featuring keynote speeches, educational workshops for sharing best practices, and networking opportunities to foster business relationships. "I speak on behalf of everybody in this room when I say thank you for all that has been done to make this event possible," Chan stated. "It's incredibly special when book trade professionals gather together like this."
This was being the third time the conference has been held and it attracted more than 550 booksellers and publishing professionals from 76 countries. The two-day meeting primarily drew booksellers from the global South—India was well represented, as were the Gulf States and the continent of Africa.
Sharjah Book Authority chairperson Bodour Al Qasimi's keynote addressed the importance of collaboration in the global publishing industry. "In a world characterized by rapid technological shifts, changing consumer preferences, intense competition and economic pressures, being interconnected and open to collaboration is more vital than ever," Al Qasimi said. "Only by working together and supporting one another can we secure a prosperous future for our industry."
Al Qasimi, who previously served as president of the International Publishers Association, highlighted how the conference brings together diverse professionals from Africa, the Arab region, Asia, South America, and Europe. "This diversity propels us forward, igniting innovation and fostering growth," she said. "Instead of fearing AI, we must embrace it and make the most of its potential to propel us forward."
Recognizing that challenges vary across regions, Al Qasimi nonetheless stressed that "our diversity remains our true strength." She encouraged attendees to engage with colleagues from other markets, listen to unique perspectives, and learn from varied experiences.
The multi-day conference, featuring workshops, networking events and an exhibitor showcase, aims to be "educational, interactive, interesting and useful," Chan said in closing.
The keynote talk was an interview with Andrea Giunti, executive vice president of the Giunti al Punto bookstores, Italy’s largest chain—with 267 stores— and Giunti Editore S.P.A., among Italy’s largest publishing houses.
Giunti noted that while large "superstore" bookshops were effective in the past, Giunti is now focusing on small to medium-sized neighborhood stores. "Today, if someone wants a specific book, they'll just order it from Amazon," he said. "We focus on bringing books to where people are, whether shopping malls, city centers, train stations or airports."
This approach has allowed Giunti to open 15-20 new stores per year across Italy. The company has a strong presence in southern Italy compared to competitors who concentrate more in the wealthier north. "Sometimes we open in an area with no bookstore at all," Giunti said. "It works really well, and can spur other openings nearby."
When asked about cultivating employee expertise, Giunti emphasized the importance of kindness. "We really want our people to be kind to customers," he said. "It doesn't cost anything and brings great returns. It's the best investment for a bookselling company."
Giunti also touched on the company's loyalty program, a challenge in the Italian fixed book price environment that limits discounts. "We focus more on experiences, events, and the educational side," he explained.
The conversation turned to Giunti's stunning new "Libreria Giunti al Punto" bookstore inside the historic Odeon Cinema in Florence. By day it operates as a bookshop, transforming into a cinema in the evenings. "It was a bet, bringing together two things people think aren't thriving - bookstores and cinemas," Giunti said. "But print is still 80% of sales. We had to turn people away on opening weekend. They come to work in the bookstore like it's a Starbucks."
Giunti sees bookselling as a "responsibility" to bring culture to consumers. "If we sell them a boring book, they might stop reading," he said. "It's a big responsibility, as we know the percentage of readers is connected to a country's GDP. Books can change lives."
The engaging dialogue showcased Giunti's innovative approaches to bookselling, from store location strategy to experiential retail, demonstrating how creative thinking can invigorate the industry. As Giunti put it: "We just want people to see books and be close to them. That's how you grow interest in reading."
Other keynote talks included sessions with prominent Emirati businesswoman Raja Al Gurg, author director of the Easa Sale Al Gurg Group; Emile Tyan, owner of Beirut’s Librairie Antoine in Beirut; and with Nadia Wassef, owner of the Diwan bookstore chain in Egypt.
The remainder of the two days offered a roundtable format featuring booksellers leading conversations on topics ranging from curation to marketing to working with literary festivals.
Three Americans led roundtables: Jessica Stockton-Bagnulo, owner of Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn, discussed bookstore partnerships; Brooke O’Donnell, managing director of IPG, spoke about working with a U.S. distributor; and this reporter ran a conversation about unorthodox book events.
“I’m impressed with the number of people who are interested in finding out how to work with the U.S. market,” O’Donnell said, noting that IPG's drew a range of participants, including booksellers and publishers who wanted to sell Arabic-language books to diaspora populations in the United States.
Stockton-Bagnulo, who was visiting the U.A.E. for the first time, said she was “impressed” with the scope and organization of the event, saying it reminded her of some of the best bookselling events in the U.S. “We have so much to learn from each other,” she said.
