Sourcebooks, which announced last summer that for selling to independent bookstores it was moving from using commission reps to a new internal team of field sales and telesales reps, has assembled a team that is being led by Courtney Payne, director of independent retail sales. (For information about each of them, see below.)
Dominique Raccah, publisher and CEO of Sourcebooks, commented, "At Sourcebooks, we recognize that independent bookstores are the lifeblood of our industry. Their creativity, advocacy, and passion are unmatched. Having a team dedicated exclusively to our bookselling partners means we can work more closely than ever to help them thrive and share the books that inspire and delight their communities."
Paula Amendolara, senior v-p of sales, added, "As we continue to grow exponentially each year, we knew it was time to invest in a dedicated sales team for our indie bookstore partners. We've put together a great group of sales team members and we're so excited that they'll be connecting more directly with booksellers."
Payne said, "This selling season is about more than just selling books. It's about continuing to build authentic partnerships with booksellers, understanding their challenges and opportunities, and collaborating on creative solutions. Independent bookstores are so much more than retail spaces--they're vibrant, dynamic hubs for readers, and we're honored to support them."
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| New rep Kimi Loughlin made her first sales call, to Buttonwood Books and Toys in Cohasset, Mass, the first bookstore she worked at. Pictured: Loughlin (l.) with buyer Kristine Jelstrom-Hamill. | |
The new indie sales team includes:
Kimi Loughlin, indie sales manager for New England. She most recently managed bulk and school sales at the Silver Unicorn Bookstore in Acton, Mass.
Emily Gilbow, indie sales manager for the Mid-Atlantic region. Gilbow got her start in the book industry at age 16 working at Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, Calif., and most recently was children's director and book buyer at House of Books, Kent, Conn.
Mickey Tirado, indie sales manager for the South. Tirado most recently was at Penguin Random House, where he was an international sales manager for Latin America and managed Spanish-language sales in the U.S., which included working with independent bookstores across the country.
Suzanne Marx, indie sales manager for the Midwest. Marx was formerly at Hachette, where she began as a field sales rep for independent bookstores, then spent many years managing national accounts.
Cortney Yee, indie sales manager for the Southwest. She began her career in the book industry as a bookseller at Changing Hands Bookstore in Arizona, where she was most recently the children's book buyer and an event host.
Jordan Standridge, indie sales manager for the Pacific Northwest. Standridge was most recently the retail sales and marketing manager at Charlesbridge Publishing and earlier was the kids lead at Powell's Books, Portland, Ore., for many years.
Cara Nesi, senior inside sales manager for the Mid-Atlantic and New England. She started her publishing career at Simon & Schuster as a telemarketing account manager and an indie and education specialist. More recently, she was the children's field and educational sales manager at Hachette Book Group.
Sophie Juhlin, inside sales manager for the Midwest and the South. She was most recently assistant director of admissions at the Shimer Great Books School at North Central College. Earlier she worked for seven years at Read Between the Lynes, Woodstock, Ill., and a few simultaneously at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville, Ill.
Anna-Lisa Sandstrum, inside sales manager for the Pacific Northwest and Southwest. She most recently worked at Microcosm Publishing and earlier was at Chronicle Books for 12 years, working with indies and school and library wholesalers.