The Bookseller.com

11th March 2010

Philip Jones is the deputy editor of The Bookseller. He will blog with links and comment about the book business.

Frankfurt in quotes

20.10.08

Here are some of the quotes we gathered as we trawled the stands this year: do please add your own perspective using the comments box below.

Anthony Forbes Watson, managing director at Pan Macmillan
It's definitely not as busy as it has been in some years - but I don't think it's been as busy for three years. The primary function of the fair is networking and they are still doing that. The rise of London Book Fair has affected people's perception of Frankfurt. Frankfurt used to be the place where books were bought and sold, but that's not so much now.
People avoid doing deals at Frankfurt as people want to mull it over. The key things that are supposed to be getting done are being done. But the feeling that's missing is excitement.

David Young, c.e.o. of Hachette Book Group US
It's been quiet.  There has been markedly fewer people judging from the time it takes to get a drink at the bar. We've brought the same amount of people as usual, 20. I've come here to catch up with some of my colleagues from around the world and from that point of view it's been as good as ever.

Helen Fraser, m.d. Penguin
It has been very busy, there's been nowhere to sit down at our stand. We've had the best fair for rights sales, I don't think we've ever done so many deals. You wouldn't know that on the outside the financial world was falling apart. People are still very interested in doing business and they want the books. It is the kind of attitude where people think 'Oh well the book fair goes on.' It reflects the fact that people think of all the industries, books will continue to cope.

David Watchus, publisher of AA Publishing
People are doing what they planned to do. We have been full with meetings. There's a lot of positive stuff at the moment.

Helen Anjomshoaa, rights and publishing services manager at Bradt
It's been quite quiet, yesterday was dead. We've got a few things in the pipeline. We're beginning to expand on rights and have had international meetings with Russia and Italy.

Patrick Mahoney, sales director EMEA, Lonely Planet
Everyone is quite bullish. Very few European customers have talked about a downturn. There is obvious reason for caution in the current economic climate but our sales are up and we have seen a tremendous bounce back.

Siobhan Kenny, communications director, HarperCollins
It has definitely been the case that there isn't one thing that everyone is talking about, which always keeps it interesting. The fair has been quite encouraging, despite what we see on TV about the economic climate, there is a similar amount of people to normal, wanting to do the same amount of business. It is a good sign of what is to come in the next few years. No-one is too gloomy.

Will Atkinson, Faber sales director and IPG chairman
Overall it seems slightly quieter and sales have been solid rather than spectacular. But Faber have had two or three good little break throughs. Generally in this economic climate specialist publishers and books come to the fore, because people will always want to buy those types of books.

Sonny Leong, IPG honorary president
Difficult economic markets seem to put independents in a stronger position, because they've always been cautious in how they invest, so they have a pretty solid base to work from. You certainly couldn't accuse the publishing industry of talking us into a recession, everyone is very positive.