Lilly Ludwig on the twists and turns that led her to open her own bookshop

When she was nominated for the Börsenblatt Young Excellence Award in 2022, Lilly Ludwig was still working as deputy managing director of the Jakob bookshop in Nuremberg. She has just opened her own bookshop, called Droste & Co., in Meersburg. In the meantime, she has worked as a sales representative for various publishing houses.

To mark the announcement of the nominees for the #yeaward26, we asked the founder how taking part in the competition had affected her professional life and what other young professionals can learn from her experience.

• Looking at your career, the current motto seems to be ‘Back to the Roots’. How did that come about?
  That’s right! I wouldn’t want to have missed out on my experience in publishing, because I’ve learnt a great deal about that side of the industry. However, my strengths lie here in the book trade, and I love the way we work: lots of contact with people, lots of time on my feet, lots of talking about content. That’s why I’ve always kept an eye out for places where a successor was being sought, and in Meersburg the conditions were perfect.
• How would you explain your career detours in a job interview?
  Phew, when it comes to that question, I’m absolutely delighted to finally be self-employed. But I don’t think you should view detours as a bad thing. We gain experience, and then we end up where we belong.
• Four years ago, you were nominated for a #yeaward. How did that affect you, and what impact has the competition had on you since then?
  I was incredibly proud that my beloved industry was showing me such appreciation in return. I got to know all the nominees as incredibly positive and dedicated young people.
• How do you make use of the #yeaward alumni network?
  We meet regularly online and, when possible, in person, and we’re a close-knit support community. We’re genuinely happy for each other’s successes, which is really lovely. Everyone’s always ready to share their experiences, and there’s no gatekeeping amongst us either.
• Which of your learning resources could other young professionals benefit from?
  Trial and error is a legitimate and tried-and-tested learning principle. Your goal should never be a specific position, but rather the feeling of looking forward to Monday on a Sunday, rather than just dragging yourself from one weekend to the next, or from one holiday to the next. You have to be honest with yourself about that.
• Last but not least: Why is it worth visiting Droste & Co.?
  Here in Meersburg, there’s simply a constant holiday atmosphere. There are loads of restaurants, bars and beer gardens with stunning views across Lake Constance. If you enjoy cycling, hiking, sailing or drinking wine, this is the place for you! And hopefully you’ll find something to read here that’s just right for you.

P.S.: Our colleague Petra from Börsenblatt has already paid a visit to the shop. She shares her impressions and details of Lilly’s bookshop’s concept in Börsenblatt.

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