In this final episode of the year, we present a converstaion between Mark and Sandy Grant. Sandy reflects on his (and therefore Hardie Grant's) origin story, the influence and impact of his partner Fiona, the changing publishing landscape and today's trends and realities.

There is so much happening in bookselling world, we thought we would bring you your very own news bulletin, done the friendly Bookseller's Podcast way.

Booksellers Nina (Verso Books), Lynne (Torquay Books), Heather (Fairfield Books) and Charlotte (Ink Bookshop) freewheel about behaviours seen in our bookshops and the industry and pontificate about how best to manage these.

Mark and Jaye chat with Mark Fletcher, Founder of Tower Systems & Managing Director, newsXpress.

The conversation, ostensibly about Tower Systems (software POS provider) meandered into thoughts about the retail space, AI & AI agentics, the morphing newsagent, search engines, optimising online sales, the creative process and much much more.

Jaye speaks with three individuals who have found alternate ways to support the book industry.

Come and get to know (better): Kaye Wright (Leading Edge, NSW), Jill Langhammer (Literary Listings, Vic) and Jane Sullivan (Birds of a Feather, Queensland).

We have been very keen for awhile now to speak to a French Bookseller and Mark has finally had the chance to do so. We learn, directly from the horse's mouth, the pros and cons of being a bookseller in a country with over 3,500 independent bookshops (300 in Paris alone).

Mark has a fireside chat with David Gaunt from Gleebooks. Turn the volume up, find somewhere quiet and listen to this mesmerising conversation from 2 doyens of our industry.

Continuing the theme of chatting with new bookshop owners, Jaye sought out:

Alison Arnold from LadyHawke Bookshop. Ivanhoe

Lien Giang from Pictures and Pages, Coburg

Bella from Head and Tales Bookshop, Barwon Heads.

who generously shared their starting pains but all of whom are committed to being in this game for the long haul.

Mark Rubbo chews the fat with Alex Caminer who shares he & his partner Chi's vision & ambition for the newly acquired Alternative Bookshop in Bellingen NSW. With the tagline 'for Nature Lovers & Deep Thinkers', the new owners are determined to keep the titles of the books they sell consistent with their ethos of self and global discovery.

Ever wondered how EDI, Pac-stream, title page and the publishers all talk to your bookshop via your POS system? Didn't even know they did? Well, fasten your seatbelts and lets find out together.

To kick off Season 3 we have gone straight into the weeds. The Bookseller's Podcast speak to Matt Lupica, General Manager of the Book Barn in Rosebud and Belgrave, Victoria who is also a trainer for users of circlesoft POS.

This episode is also relevant to non-circle users.