A Month of Firsts for NYC and Boston Emerging Leaders

The Emerging Leaders Project -- a group of booksellers and industry professionals working together to identify the next generation of industry leaders -- has had a couple of firsts this month. On March 18, ELP's New York City chapter held its first-ever ELNO-BO: Emerging Leaders Night Out -- Booksellers Only!; and on March 26, the New England contingent of Emerging Leaders held its first Boston-area meeting.

ELNO-BO: Emerging Leaders Night Out -- Booksellers Only! at Three Lives Bookstore in Greenwich Village drew approximately 15 booksellers, who are part of the "next generation" of bookselling (described as "usually 40ish and under"), from the greater New York City area, who met to share pizza, beer, and ideas.

"There was a lot of enthusiasm," said Jessica Stockton, events coordinator of McNally Robinson Booksellers and one of the group's leaders. "We discussed lots of possibilities for ways that New York City bookstores could work together, including developing a database of area stores' locations, specialties, and even names of in-store experts in certain fields; working on some joint PR efforts in local media; and potentially arranging for a city-wide 'Treasure Hunt' through independent bookstores sometime this fall."

Stockton reported that attending booksellers, who had a broad range of experience, were very interested in continuing to develop the Emerging Leaders Project, and she was "optimistic about the potential for forming a community of New York City independent bookstores, and this was a great step in that direction."

Stockton also noted that the group's organizers were in the process of planning an Emerging Leaders reception at BookExpo America.

For more information, visit www.emergingleadersnewyork.blogspot.com or contact emergingleadersnyc@gmail.com.

Thirty-five booksellers and publishing industry professionals met at the Middlesex Lounge in Central Square for the first meeting of the New England Emerging Leaders. The meeting "went fabulously," said organizer Megan Sullivan of Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, Massachusetts. "I was struck by how energetic the crowd was to meet one another. It was really gratifying that we got such a good turnout."

The featured speaker was Tim Huggins, former owner of Newtonville Books, who covered the joys and challenges of running a bookstore, said Sullivan. "He stressed the importance of having a solid business plan before embarking on opening up a new store, as well as how crucial it can be to work with the surrounding community and make sure local stores are well supported."

Sullivan has extended an invitation to New England booksellers and publishing personnel under the age of 40 to attend the next ELP area meeting on Monday May 21, where one of the topics will be BookExpo America. She has also created a blog, where people can post questions and discussions about any topic in the meanwhile.

Booksellers with questions about the New England chapter of ELP should e-mail Sullivan at msullivan@harvard.com.