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UNC Press in Mobile, AL

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SIBA Booth
Sales Director Michael Donatelli modeling the Holy Smoke apron giveaway.
Greetings from Mobile, Alabama! What a weekend-well-spent at the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (commonly referred to as SIBA) 2008 trade show. The University of North Carolina Press received quite a bit of positive feedback for many reasons. EVERYONE we spoke with is anxiously awaiting the arrival of Holy Smoke: The Big Book of North Carolina Barbecue and couldn’t give enough praise for the big book of North Carolina barbecue. And the Holy Smoke Aprons! They were definitely a hit, and who could resist such a great giveaway? Sales Director Michael Donatelli and I could barely keep them out on display!
Holy Smoke was a huge hit at SIBA 2008
Holy Smoke was a huge hit at SIBA 2008

Several booksellers were equally thrilled with our participation in the SIBA catalog. This proved for them to be a great way to inform customers and sell books in a more efficient manner. Michael and I were excited to not only sell Holy Smoke, The Gulf Stream, and The Woodwright’s Guide (among many, many others) to those we already

SIBA Floor
SIBA Floor
work with, but also to open several new accounts with new bookstores eager to get their hands on books we publish. Many booksellers arrived at our booth with an overjoyed “Ah ha! Here you are…we have been looking for you,” which I must say, made me feel like I am with a press that is respected and trusted by independent booksellers. The show saw a great deal of traffic, with doors opening to many eager booksellers.

Our floor displays for The Woodwright’s Guide and Holy Smoke were eye-catching and set our booth apart from the others. Many booksellers were drawn to them, and therefore, the books as well!

Roy Underhill's Woodwright's Guide Floor Display
Roy Underhill's Woodwright's Guide Floor Display

SIBA was my first book show, and I found it extremely exciting to meet others in the publishing world–from booksellers to authors to other fellow publishers–and learn more about a very friendly industry. What was the most popular question of the busy, busy day? Numerous visitors of the UNC Press booth inquired, “Why didn’t you bring some barbecue with you!?” Unfortunately there were no barbecue samples, but that was just about the only complaint that we encountered this weekend. The University of North Carolina Press has resonated with all of the booksellers we spoke with, echoing a respected reputation that I was proud to be a part of. Overall, SIBA was a book show that was a great success–both in selling books and meeting many new friends that we hope to work with in the future.

UNC Press Sales Team!
UNC Press Sales Team!

-Rose

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