Booksellers Network
Harper Collins & Booksellers Network Summer Party
Each year, we hold a BA Booksellers Network Summer Gathering.
The event usually takes place at HarperCollins, sponsors of the Booksellers Network, with an afternoon of talk and presentations from booksellers and publishers. The meeting is usually followed by drinks and networking at a local pub.
In 2020, due to Covid, we ran the event on zoom on the 16th September. The event was chaired by Will Smith, Chair of The Booksellers Network / Sam Read Booksellers in Grasmere. We had a record number of attendees tuning in to the event, and we enjoyed pitches and presentations from the HarperCollins team, and also four inspirational booksellers offered their learnings from lockdown: Olivia Kekewich, Edinburgh Bookshop; Rustie Baker, Rossiter Books; Pippa Hennessey, Five Leaves Bookshop, and Ben Moorhouse, Our Bookshop Tring.
To view the event please visit the Presentations section on our Digital Events Page.
It is also available to view on the BA YouTube Channel
Passwords for both can be obtained from Rehana - rehana.nurmahi@booksellers.org.uk
The 2021 event is due to take place on the 14th July 2021. More details to follow.
The Booksellers Network Lockdown Events
Many of our events during the lockdowns took place on The Booksellers Network Facebook group. Here's some of what was happening regularly on the Network:
Bookseller Coffee Mornings
During the first lockdown, we introduced our weekly Zoom Bookseller Coffee Mornings, which we have now revived, meeting at 10.30am each Thursday, and the 1st Thursday of each month following re-opening.This is a relaxed environment for booksellers to come together to chat about how they’re feeling about the current situation, what they are learning as the landscape shifts from week to week, as well as to share ideas going forward. For meeting joining details, see
The Booksellers Network.
Facebook Lives
We have enjoyed several Facebook Live chats from a number of booksellers and speakers. So far talks have included a session on mental wellbeing during the crisis, a look into the workings of wholesalers such as Gardners at this time, thinking about being present online, and more. Speakers also allow time for questions in the comments, and are able to answer and interact with booksellers tuning in live. To see these, join The Booksellers Network.
About The Booksellers Network
The Booksellers Network, in partnership with HarperCollins, is a space for shop floor booksellers to meet online to share ideas, offer mutual support and provide professional development and networking opportunities. The chair of The Booksellers Network is Will Smith, Sam Read Bookseller in Grasmere.
The Booksellers Network has been born out of feedback from shop floor booksellers and will help bring booksellers together from across the UK and Ireland. The Booksellers Network is a closed group on Facebook where most of the activity and networking takes place. We also host a gathering usually in London in the Summer.