Konkan Marathi Sahitya Sammelan

I visited Konkan Marathi Shitya Smmelan Date: 21^st Nov 2015. Venue: Raja Shivaji Vidyalay. Dadar, Mumbai.

The heart of Mumbai city ‘Dadar’ a place populated with intellectuals live with peace visited yet another aurora of literature. Konkan Sahtya Smmelan (Konkan- Region of Maharashtra state, India, Sahitya Smmelan- Literature Summit).

My sole concern was ‘Visiting Book Stalls’. Nearly 20 publishers from various corners from Maharashtra participated. Here are some positive and negative points I observed.

Positive:

1. Lot of publishers participated
2. They had really great Content,
3. Nearly each one had their Information booklet and  list
4. Books were displayed in easy to access manner
5. Stalls were equipped with billing booklets
6. They knew how to Greet (Only as a reaction)
7. The infrastructure was fine.

Negative: (These points should not be taken at personal level, I have summarized my observations)

1. PASSION there was infinite scarcity to sell their product.
2. Representatives were sticking to their chairs
3. No one was eager enough to Educate their Buyer to buy their products
4. Except one or two none of the publisher had a Right Marketing Offers, Specially for the event.
5. It was more like ‘Book Exhibition’ and not ‘Book Stall’
6. With one or Two exceptions None of the Stall had Professionals Trained for SELLING.
7. No one asked me to give my contact number for future sells or for generating database.
8. Very few had online presence and social media for connecting with potential customers

Literature itself is a fascinating thing and most of the ‘People’ become ‘Buyers’ when a particular book hits the right chord of their ‘heart’ and ‘Pocket’. But it takes lot more to convert a ‘Visitor’ into a ‘Buyer’. I guess importance of this aspect will be soon learned buy them.

Overall what I understood from this is they all were Publishers but not ‘Publishers and Sellers’. Print publications need to learn the competition has already gone beyond imagination and to stay in this business (or rather survive with growth for next 50 years at least) they must acquire other skills which can increase possibilities.

I ask each and every Print Book seller about their inclination towards eBooks. Most of them replied ‘Not thinking in that direction’ Few said ‘No’ politely and to remaining Publishers I was scared to ask as they disappointed me.

But I wish these Publishers who not yet trying to explore the world of eBooks will soon opt for it.

They need inspiration and information too.

To conclude these publishers had lot of jewels Which I wanted to Buy but I could not. I love books and  love these publishers because they took efforts, invested huge amount of hard work, concern, time and money to deliver best books they could.

I see all these publishers as ‘True Friends of Humanity’ their work is a Gift of Humanity to Humans irrespective of their Brand value and they catalog of star authors and bestsellers, I am fortunate that I met you. A mere ‘Thank you’ will not be wise but still I am expressing my Gratitude towards you.

You all made my day