{"id":4019,"date":"2021-06-16T08:00:14","date_gmt":"2021-06-16T16:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.tavbooks.com\/?p=4019"},"modified":"2021-06-16T08:00:14","modified_gmt":"2021-06-16T16:00:14","slug":"the-virtual-rbms-showcase-one-booksellers-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.tavbooks.com\/?p=4019","title":{"rendered":"The Virtual RBMS Showcase: One Bookseller\u2019s Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

This past week saw another virtual book fair “hit the e-shelves”, so to speak. After over a year of Covid, we are more than ready to return to normal, in-person book fairs! Here the Master and Commander of Tavistock Books, Vic Zoschak Jr., gives his opinion on the matter of virtual book fairs, the RBMS Booksellers’ Showcase in particular.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"RBMS<\/p>\n

Well, that\u2019s another one in the books. \u00a0“What?\u201d, you ask\u2026 \u00a0 that would be last week’s ABAA-RBMS VBF, held in conjunction with this year\u2019s virtual RBMS conference. \u00a0When in person, the \u2018ABAA Booksellers’ Showcase\u2019, as it is called when held attendant to the real event, the number of exhibitors is usually in the ~ 35 range, primarily due to physical limitations imposed by conference venue, so a positive for the 2021 rendition was the ability to expand the number of exhibitors that could participate, so in this instance I understand that approached 60 [or more?]. \u00a0However, given this expansion, a question then comes to mind, did the size of the [revenue] pie stay the same, such that average sales per exhibitor decreased\u2026?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll never know the answer to that particular question, as others\u2019 sales data is only anecdotal, and in this instance, results shared tended to mirror that of an actual book fair, which is to say,\u00a0mixed<\/i>. \u00a0A few of those that did well are happy to publicly proclaim same. \u00a0Those who have more modest results, more often than not, tend to stay silent. \u00a0Tavistock Books, as well as a few more frank colleagues, reported \u2018soft\u2019 sales, i.e., for us, 5 items sold, which was 10% of our total listings. \u00a0So hardly robust, but nevertheless, we were content to have a presence, keeping our name in front of the librarian community.<\/p>\n

What about VBFs in general? \u00a0My view\u2026 \u00a0there seems to be a number of them every month these days, with Marvin Getman, bless his heart, the primary promoter hosting same. \u00a0But as a result, I see a \u2018devaluation\u2019 taking place, somewhat mirroring the public\u2019s view, and subsequent demise, of physical book fairs that took place over the last 2-3 decades. \u00a0For example, I not only didn\u2019t exhibit at Marvin\u2019s last event, I didn\u2019t shop it.<\/p>\n

All this said, I recognize, this is just one bookseller\u2019s view. \u00a0And this bookseller is nearing the end of his career, so I acknowledge my \u2018aggressiveness\u2019 level in pursuing the VBF trade somewhat less than many others. \u00a0Which is to say, this take of mine on VBFs may, or may not, represent the majority of the trade. \u00a0But these views do represent me, and I\u2019m looking forward to once again having the physical interaction that comes with real events.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, see you in Oakland, February 2022.<\/p>\n

Vic<\/p>\n

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