Back in April, ReedPOP announced the cancellation of the annual Book Expo and The Book Con, Unbound events. As a longtime attendee, I documented the news HERE for those who missed it. Today, Edelweiss, the leader in book industry technology has announced an event of their own in the Edelweiss Bookfest. Read on.
The Press Release:
Ann Arbor, MI – Edelweiss by Above the Treeline announced the launch of Edelweiss BookFest, a virtual event designed to create a gathering place for all members of the book publishing industry. The pandemic disrupted the normal schedule of events that have typically served book publishers and buyers.
The new online Edelweiss BookFest event will take place June 8-9, 2021. Preliminary education tracks will include: New Title Discovery, Retail Bookselling, Library Best Practices, and a special track on revenue generation in the evolving pandemic period. Edelweiss BookFest will consist of virtual booths for attendees to visit that will enable live conversations, videos, and downloadable tools for sales and marketing.
Edelweiss currently works with over 95% of the book publishing community to provide sales and marketing tools that make books easier to discover, sell, and purchase. The two-day event will be preceded by a series of individual book launches using an expanded Edelweiss platform.
As a neutral third-party between sellers and publishers, Edelweiss sees this as the ideal time to leverage the latest online technologies and virtual experiences to replace cancelled in-person events. Edelweiss will partner with virtual event technology consultants 365 MEDIA to create the ultimate experience for participants and sponsors.
John Rubin, CEO of Edelweiss by Above the Treeline commented, “We repeatedly hear from our customers that there continues to be a need to bring together the market, particularly in such times of uncertainty. Stores are looking for ways to drive sales and survive the pandemic period by reaching the expanding online reader audience. Publishers want new ways to highlight their authors and fuel new and traditional revenue streams for all parties. Edelweiss BookFest will provide a new way to put more books in people’s hands.”
“We have been seeking to partner in a market where our technology solutions for virtual events will have the most impact and help that market thrive. Edelweiss by Above the Treeline is a great example of a company that has built a trusting constituency over several decades through its passion and pure love of the industry. This partnership is a perfect fit for us,” stated RD Whitney, CEO of 365 MEDIA.
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Piercing Ken Thoughts: I won’t lie and say that I wasn’t disappointed in the cancellation of those other in-person events because I usually took a lot home from them in terms of coverage for both the PiercingMetal site and here on “The Chronicles” as well. I’ll be keeping tabs on this new event and while virtual, will hope to reconnect with some of the players that I had met along the path over the last few years. I look forward to seeing everyone in real time once again and now that the vaccine is here perhaps we are on a better trajectory to do so. Of course several of the early year events have been cancelled for the year so let’s see how the summer and fall months prevail and where we are in the world. Closing up I wonder what you readers think about the announcement and if it strikes you as interesting. Chime in down below in the comments section.
Official: http://www.abovethetreeline.com