SPONSORS
DESCRIPTION network in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Times Publishing Group is one of the premier media groups in
THE BRITISH BOOK AWARD FOR EXPORT (<£10M)
OVERVIEW With no travel or book fairs, bookshops closed and massive disruption to freight and distribution, could have ground to a halt in 2020. Instead, these four small and medium- sized independents— publishers, a general trade name and a niche specialist—rolled up their sleeves and found new ways to serve their customers and shift their books.
CANONGATE Canongate had a record-breaking year in exports, selling to nearly 100 countries. The snowballing success of Matt Haig (left) had much to do with that, while Maaza Mengiste’s Booker-shortlisted The Shadow King and Nick Cave’s Stranger Than Kindness were among the other contributors. There was double-digit growth in Australia and New Zealand, driven by excellent publicity and marketing, but even more impressive were the numbers across Europe, especially Germany. Canongate excelled on the logistical side too, adjusting scheduling and printing locally when needed in order to maintain supply amid chaos in distribution. One part- ner said: “The Canongate presentation is always a highlight of our sales conference—invariably a ‘rabbit out of the hat’ moment. It’s a joy to work with a team that understands our market so well.”
JOHN BEAUFOY PUBLISHING Oxford-based indie non-fiction publisher John Beaufoy, short- listed here for the second time in three years, was initially very vulnerable to the pandemic. With most travel brought to an end and bookshops closed, orders of its books for and about countries in the Asia-Pacific region dried up virtually overnight. But it responded to the crisis with a spirit and resolve that is typical of small, specialist indies, taking its export sales meetings and book events online. Its distribution and rep partners also adjusted, keeping books flowing into shops when they were able to open. Exports eventually held up very well, with revenue increasing in Australia and New Zealand thanks to excellent promotional work around one of the authors of its Naturalists’ Guides series, includ- ing an endorsement from New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern.
LAST YEAR’S WINNER
NOSY CROW Last year’s winner was an even greater international force in 2020, growing export sales by well over 50% despite a drastic reduction in the volume of travel done by its energetic team. The excellent relationships Nosy Crow has built with overseas customers over its first decade in business paid dividends, and it was constantly alert and responsive to their needs as their vari- ous markets went in and out of lockdowns. A revamped website, newsletter, and Instagram and WeChat activity all helped to cement connections, as did the investment in more video and other digital assets, and flip-book catalogues, to help customers visualise its books. Exports to China, South Korea and many other Asian territories rocketed, and it was particularly pleased with sales in territories that it has only recently brought in-house.
SWEET CHERRY Sweet Cherry, shortlisted for Children’s Publisher and Small Press of the Year alongside being in the running for this award, more than doubled its export sales in 2020. It signed a new distribution deal with Penguin Random House for 17 African countries, and another with Alkem to extend its presence in south-east Asia. There was exponential growth in China and Hong Kong, driven largely by sales of accessible editions of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes books to fans of the TV series there. Through its combination of educational and entertainment content, Sweet Cherry has also been encouraging English-language learning and reading for pleasure around the world. “It’s a privilege to be able to work with such an innovative and entrepreneurial company,” said one of its partners.
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BOOKER SHORTLISTEE WAS AN EXPORT SUCCESS FOR INDIE CANONGATE
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