INDIVIDUAL BOOKSELLER OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY: HARPERCOLLINS
WINNER: REBECCA MACALISTER BLACKWELL’S, OXFORD
A bookshop as large and iconic as Blackwell’s flagship in Oxford needs an exceptional leader—and in 2016 manager Rebecca MacAlister proved herself one of the very best in the business. A leader by example, she is mostly to be found on the shop floor rather than her office, inspiring her team and talking to customers. Her initiatives since joining from Waterstones four years ago have included a restructure to make better use of staff time, incentives for her best performers and small but significant improvements in store layout. As well as overseeing some 300 events a year, MacAlister has set up the shop’s first ever Children’s Book Festival—but above all she has instilled a relentless focus on customer service. The result has been improved sales and margins in successive years, and the consolidation of the shop’s reputation as one of the very best in the country. As many of her team at Blackwell’s attest, she is
a real booksellers’ bookseller. “Rebecca is a truly inspirational manager . . . full of enthusiasm and passion for bookselling while having the strategic thinking and leadership skills to implement both short and long-term plans,” said one of her loyal colleagues. “People demand a lot from a bookshop like Blackwell’s on Broad Street, but Rebecca makes sure it exceeds expectations just about every time,” judges said. “She has turned it into a vibrant, modern shop with so much going on.”
KEY STRENGTHS
◆ REVOLUTIONISED IMAGE AND PERFORMANCE OF ONE OF THE UK’S HIGHEST-PROFILE BOOKSHOPS ◆ STEERS OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE AND A LIVELY EVENTS PROGRAMME ◆ LOYAL SUPPORT FROM HER LARGE TEAM. “A STUNNING LEADER”, SAYS ONE COLLEAGUE ◆ JO HEYGATE HIGHLY COMMENDED FOR REINVIGORATING PAGES OF HACKNEY
07. BRITISH BOOK AWARDS - WINNERS 2017 THE SHORTLIST
HIGHLY COMMENDED: JO HEYGATE, PAGES OF HACKNEY Like Rebecca MacAlister, Jo Heygate honed her bookselling skills at Waterstones, and has increased sales at Pages of Hackney by a third since joining. She has proved herself a fine manager, excellent events manager and instinctive handseller, of translated fiction in particular. “She’s clearly made a great impact on her shop and champions books she believes in,” judges said.
CAT ANDERSON, THE EDINBURGH BOOKSHOP A children’s specialist who turns reluctant readers into book lovers.
BILLY HOWORTH, CARNFORTH BOOKSHOP Made manager of his Lancashire independent just two years after joining, thanks to a sharp focus on the local market.
RUPERT JACQUES, WH SMITH HARRODS Co-ordinates exceptional customer service and sales of premium titles in the unique Harrods setting.
RACHEL MURPHY, WATERSTONES WINCHESTER Manager from the age of just 24, she has breathed fresh life into a neglected shop.
STEVEN WALSH, GOSH! COMICS Has brought comics and graphic novels to new audiences since joining the London specialist five years ago.
With a heritage stretching back nearly 200 years, HarperCollins is one of the world’s foremost book publishers, with a catalogue ranging from cutting-edge contemporary fiction to award-winning apps and everything in between.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
