Edward "Ted" Smart, founder of the Book People, a direct-to-consumer bookseller, in 1988, died August 17. He was 83. His son Alex Smart told the Bookseller that the company "revolutionized how books were sold across the U.K." Private equity firm Endless bought out the firm in 2014, and it was formally dissolved in 2022.
Based in Godalming, England, the Book People was launched "from the kitchen table" by Smart and his wife, Nicky, with Seni Glaister, who became CEO, as a mail-order bookseller that also later built a consumer website, the Bookseller wrote. "At its height, its buying power would underwrite publishers' investments in coffee-table books, and many nonfiction writers of that period owe their success to the company," which offered customers deep discounts via direct or workplace marketing, as well as through schools, using branded "Book Buses."
"Ted leaves behind an indelible legacy as a visionary businessman," Alex Smart added. "Together, [Ted and Nicky] built a business model on bringing discounted, high-quality books directly to people in their workplaces.... Beyond his commercial genius, Ted was a man of distinct character, celebrated for his sharp wit, impeccable dress sense, innate ability to make anyone laugh, long lunches in Godalming and unforgettable evening entertaining at the book fairs, notably Frankfurt and Bologna."
Before entering the book trade, Ted Smart was a police inspector in Hong Kong and was injured during the Cultural Revolution riots. He nurtured a passion for photography, documenting the local landscape and eventually publishing his own pictorial books.
Paul Anness, of Anness Publishing, commented: "My company was a supplier to the Book People between 1998 and 2013. During the whole time Ted was an absolute delight to deal with. An immense character: funny, creative, shrewd, kind and decent from start to finish. In 15 years of working with Ted, I have only good memories, and very many of them... In my own experience, and from many others I know, Ted was always incredibly supportive of his suppliers, especially the smaller companies like ours, and he was concerned that they also should do well from the business he did with them. The first thing he would always ask us when we arrived for a meeting was 'how are you doing'--and he was genuinely interested."
Cath Bruzzone of B Small Publishing said she first met Smart when she went to Godalming to try to sell children's activity books: "It was the early days of his business (and mine) and he was out in the sunshine photographing a display of books for their catalogue. I made the huge mistake of turning down his offer for our titles. So, it was years later that we managed to get a meeting with the Book People, now extremely successful, after Seni gave a talk at an IPG conference.
"After that, their orders made a significant difference to our business.... In later years, Seni would concentrate on buying while Ted sat in on the meetings, cracking jokes... although he always had a relevant comment or two about the chosen titles. The Book People parties were legendary..... He was generous, friendly and unforgettable."