SA Booksellers strategic session

The bi-annual strategy planning session of the SA Booksellers Association was this year held at The Bend at Nottingham Road in the KZN Midlands. The first morning of the strategy planning session, facilitated by Riaz Hassim, started off with a very critical self-evaluation of what the Association achieved over the last year and then went on to a SWOT and PEST analysis before the vision and mission were revised.

PEST Analysis is a widely used strategic tool that looks at the Political, Economic, Socio-Cultural and Technological environment in understanding the industry and business. Some of the issues we looked at were:
• Political: Government policies and interferences , VAT on books, political Instability and trade restrictions.
• Economic: Price sensitivity, interest rates and inflation, lack of VAT on digital material
• Socio Cultural: Job uncertainty and unemployment, lack of books in indigenous languages and society’s acceptance of e-books, social media
• Technology: Development of e-books, availability of high speed cheap data, self- publishing, internet trading, etc.

Looking at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats was a very useful and valuable exercise which assisted us in determining the strengths than can be used to optimize opportunities; identify the weaknesses that may hamper growth and be aware of current and future threats. Some of the threats identified during the session:
• Digital books could undermine the retail industry
• Tenderpreneurs provide serious and unfair competition to booksellers
• Corruption and mal-administration
• Open Access Resources
• State publishing
• Foreign imports and non-copyright books
• Centralised procurement
• Labour and customer unrest
• Courier companies and post office could pose a growing threat in the supply of books
• Foreign suppliers such as Amazon

After long and serious debate it was decided the vision of the SA Booksellers
Association is: To be the recognized professional association promoting the interest of booksellers. The accent is on recognised and professional.

The mission is to incorporate the principles of Ubuntu and Batho Pele by:
• Promoting the culture of reading and learning
• Proactively serving the needs of members and assisting them in providing an excellent service to customers
• Adding value to members’ businesses through access to information, communication and skills development
• Broadening representation through attracting members
• Encouraging consistent, ethical, professional and responsible business practices within the industry
• Promoting positive relationships with all stakeholders

In the afternoon the group split up: one group planned the way forward in the supply of LTSM to schools and the other group discussed the threat of Open Education Resources for the retail book trade.

Day two was devoted to the identification of Value Added Services for members and a communication strategy for the Association. A considerable amount of time was spent on looking at the Association’s value-add to its members. Value-add services considered looked at how the association can add value to members’ businesses and in so doing contribute to a viable and sustaining book retail industry.

A range of possible value-add services was formalised and scored according to priority. The Association hopes to deliver on these services so as to ensure that our members do benefit. It can be further said that the Association hopes to provide our members with the essential and invaluable ultimately contribute towards a sustainable and growing book retail industry.

In order for the Association to deliver on the mission statement and achieve the deliverables, the committee had to formulate a communication strategy that would:
• Identify key stakeholders and medium of communication
• Identify channels of communicating key messages to all stakeholders
• Identify specific targeted communication to address industry issues

On day three the key deliverables were prioritised and action plans, timelines and accountability put in place. A formulated strategic plan will be communicated to members detailing:
• Objectives for the Association with measurable and realistic time-lines
• Possible opportunities identified
• A range of value-add services to members and how they will benefit
• A realistic and measurable communication plan in which to achieve deliverables

The SA Booksellers Executive look forward to fulfilling its role in this strategic mandate and trust that we can depend on your support and commitment in ensuring a dynamic and sustainable book retail industry.

It was a tough three days and we spent many hours planning, but there was also time for team building and to enjoy the wonderful facilities of The Bend Lodge in the lovely Midlands Meander of KZN. Who will ever forget Peter Adams and Stephan Erasmus floating down the Mooi River on a tube while the rain came pouring down. Or Mary’s stories about her chicken-and-rabbit farming, Riaz taking Frikkie for a spin in his vintage Porsche S944 or the excitement when Sydwell arrived, accompanied by the full blue light brigade and security guards. Very few of our members knew that Sydwell is the traditional leader of the Amampondomise and entitled to VIP treatment.

Frikkie Nel, National Manager of the SA Booksellers Association runs the office
with the assistance of Samantha Faure