I am selling books this week at the CAJE conference, always a great event, always filled with tons of people who LOVE books.
It is a lot of fun helping people find the right book. And seeing people who, for the rest of the year, I work with over the phone.
I'm sure I posted this last year, but here are my observations (and pardon me, if they are totally naive!):
People love to touch books, but they never buy the one they're touching, unless it's the last one.
People leave a mess!
They ask questions about one book, then buy another.
The discount..what's the discount?
People worry more about the bargain box books--they really study it--more than the full price books.
NO ONE has left saying, "I can get this at Amazon!"
After our most exciting author spoke, our booth like we're the Rolling Stones!
So how do you become that most exciting author?
It was really great listening to Ron speak last night.
What I heard:
He is sincere/He believes what he is saying and what he has written/ He has come up with a program that people really want to use. They really love it! They don't have to be sold. It makes sense!/ He knows his audience./ Did I say he is the nicest guy????/He gave me, the sales staff, a program we could develop and market.
Two more days to go. I'm wiped, but it's fun.
Home on Friday!!!