The Bookseller's Podcast

Mark and Jaye chat with Jason Steger fresh off his 14 year role as Literary Editor of The Age.

The Booksellers Podcast has gone global in this episode featuring Mark's conversation with Jan from The English Bookshop in Sweden. Both booksellers have the distinction of their bookshops being accoladed with the International Excellence Award for Bookstores by the London Book Fair.

In a wide ranging discourse, what stands out is Jan's deep passion and respect for his role as indie bookshop owner.

Jaye & Mark talk books as they have coffee but spill tea.

We say this every time, but this might be our best episode yet.

Feauturing Kate Horton (Farrells Bookshop, Mornington Peninsula, Vic), Tim Jarvis (Fullers Bookshop; Hobart) and Joe Rubbo (Readings, Melbourne), we chat with this new generation of bookshop owners and leaders as to the process which got them where they are.

More than usual we are very grateful to these guests for sharing their very personal stories with such warmth and candor.

This episode is dedicated to Alee Liang (1936 - 2024), Jaye's mum, who was the Bookseller's Podcast Number 1 fan.

This is the pointy end of owning a bookshop. Whether you are thinking of selling your business, and even if you are not, Mark speaks to Michael Kerr of Kerr Capital and asks all those questions we often wonder.

- how much is my bookshop worth?

- should stock be in the asking price?

- when do I tell staff?

- are there alternatives to selling?

- what if my successor is a staff or family member?

- how do I improve future saleability?

Kerr Capital specialise in helping owners increase the value plus make their business easier to sell. This episode will have you thinking more deeply into getting your business on track for a long term better outcome.

Jaye and Mark had the immense pleasure and privilege of chatting with best-selling authors Ann Patchett and Lauren Groff who also have the distinction of being indie bookshop owners in the USA. Both conversations were by turns inspirational and jaw-dropping.

This episode features the best of us - Children's Bookselling.

We would like to thank

for their time and generosity.

Before that though, Jaye has a rant.

In this single topic episode - fixed pricing - Mark Rubbo explores the concept of limited fixed pricing on new releases with Pulitzer prize winning journalist and Indie Bookshop owner, Raymond Bonner.

Mark waxes lyrical about his recent experience with the Jaipur (India) Literary Festival. We also hear origin stories from Sally Tabner (Bookoccino), Dan Jordan (Roaring Stories) & Bronwyn Druce (Red Kangaroo, NT). Tales of floods and moves and how to run a bookshop cafe abound. And of course we talk books.

Mark and Jaye chat with Matthew O'Brien, Operations Director of United Books Distributors (UBD), the country's pre-eminent book distribution warehouse. Covering some mind-boggling facts and stats, what it boils down to is that there are some very passionate experts making sure that those books get to our bookshops not only accurately and in a timely manner but also in pristine condition. How can pallets and forklifts and automation be so fascinating? Listen and find out more!