For the first time since the fair was launched the organisers of the annual Cape Town Book Fair, have introduced a matchmaking session, where pre-registered participants have been offered two hours side-meeting to mingle and exchange ideas in the book industry ranging from the writer, editor, publisher, distributor, library, bookseller all the way to the reader. The session has proved beneficial as it has been closely coordinated with 15 minutes of one-to-one conversations before changing and finding another prospective business partner. By the end of the session, one has a clear idea of what it entails to have a finished product and how many key players are involved in the whole industry as well as who among the professionals, would they further a relationship with after the fair.
"We had to come up with this important session because from the previous fairs, we got voices of discontent that the fair was very much geared towards the reader as the convention centre was always teeming with families bringing their children to grab a book and read, especially on Saturday and Sunday. While this is in itself a welcome practice and we are encouraging it, people like you - authors, publishers and distributors who would have spent monies on booths, were probably short-changed because you man your stall all the time and do not get to know what the other one in the same trade as you might assist with or how you can assist her. We will continue improving because the fair must offer an opportunity also from a business point of view, otherwise, gradually, you the participants might not find it helpful and stop coming," explained Sadika Ahmed, sales and exhibition manager of 2010 Cape Town Book Fair.
