Features Industry Profiles

Get Sidelined with UnBound

Patti Stracher-Lee launches curated assortment of bookish resources

BookExpo 2019 will debut a new “show within a show” at the upcoming 2019 event May 29-31 called UnBound. Led by stationery industry veteran and recently appointed Event Director Patti Stracher-Lee, UnBound, a collection of bookish goods, will present merchandise buyers from independent and chain bookstores, museum stores and specialty retailers a curated range of complementary products to their book business.

Sidelines account for between 30 and 40 percent of bookstore sales today. Meanwhile, more traditional gift, stationery and lifestyle retailers can shop not only sidelines, but the newest titles in book publishing to incorporate into their merchandise mixes.

Transitioning UnBound through to BookCon, BookExpo’s consumer extension on June 1-2, gives these exhibitors an unprecedented opportunity to be in front of a prime demographic for their businesses — women ages 18-35 — to host events, demo, brand reinforce and sell merchandise.

UnBound at BookExpo will present a thoughtful collection of relevant products across 25 categories to drive sales and inspire consumer curiosity. These range from journals, calendars and greeting cards to desk accessories, personal care, candles, science and nature products, toys, games, art materials and artisanal/handmade items.

Patti Stracher-Lee brings great experience and relationships to her role as event director. For 25 years, Stracher-Lee was vice president and show director of the National Stationery Show at George Little Management, now Emerald Expositions. She also held various leadership positions as a board member and former executive director of the Greeting Card Association and served on the founding committee of Gift for Life.

“Addressing B2B market trends and listening to our bookseller customers inspired us to launch UnBound at the most important and widely-attended annual event for the book industry in North America. We’re committed to facilitating new channels of trade among booksellers and lifestyle manufacturers who otherwise might not easily connect. What’s more, I sincerely believe that many of the customers I’ve worked with over the years are ready for a consumer-facing experience and the opportunities that will result from it,” said Stracher-Lee.

“With the addition of UnBound, we are reinforcing our commitment to deliver a new BookExpo experience that provides the opportunities both exhibitors and attendees expect,” added Jennifer Martin, Event Manager, BookExpo. “We are excited to welcome Patti to the BookExpo family and are confident that with her deep industry knowledge, contacts and excellent show management track record, she is the ideal person to direct UnBound.”

A selection of exhibitors on board for BookExpo 2019 include:

• Attic Journals
• Avanti Press
• Blackwing
• Brotherwise Games
• Browntrout
• Calypso Cards
• Chalk of the Town
• Christian Art Gifts
• Deep Water Games
• Denik
• Geo Central
• Graphic Image
• Jordandene
• Looney Labs
• Nakatomi
• Oooh Yeah Socks/Sock-It-Up
• Ozone Socks
• Orange Art
• Retrospect Group
• Silk Road Bazaar
• Taza Chocolate
• Topatoco
• Travel Flips

BookExpo continues to evolve to deliver excellent value and relevant content to attendees and exhibitors. New show additions in 2019 include editor chats, more opportunity for one-on-one meetings with publicists, new stages to feature more authors than ever before, and added media coverage surrounding the event. The upcoming launch of UnBound builds upon BookExpo’s 2019 growth, enhanced by a multi-year joint marketing venture with the New York Rights Fair to continue serving the book industry from rights to retail in NYC going forward.

For more information, please visit bookexpoamerica.com.