Rahel on preparing for the spring trip

The new year also marks the start of the travel season. Representatives travel across the country to talk to booksellers – in person, at trade fairs, on the phone, or online. They bring with them the new releases for the spring.

VLB-TIX is increasingly becoming the basis for sales talks, as working with publishers' digital previews offers clear advantages. Compared to the printed version, these catalogs are more up-to-date, more sustainable, and can be easily customized.

We asked our colleague Rahel, Key Account Manager for the product range, what it takes to be ready for the upcoming trip and get the most out of using VLB-TIX.

"Fit for the journey” is the name of a current VLB-TIX webinar for bookstores. Why is this format necessary?

Experienced users can refresh their existing knowledge. And those who are just starting to work with VLB-TIX will receive a compact overview of the ordering area and the ordering options in the system. We show how to use previews, filters, and search terms to find what you want to buy and how to turn a wish into an order. This not only makes purchasing easier for booksellers, but also makes preparation and follow-up easier for sales representatives.

My tip: Ask your team what is important to you and what you want to focus on. Investing in a well-structured ordering process in advance not only saves time during an already hectic period of the year, but also allows you to shop in a more targeted manner.

So far, so good. But shouldn't VLB-TIX be self-explanatory?

It is. Anyone who isn't afraid to try something new and wants to get started on their own is welcome to do so. Nothing can go wrong. And our help pages provide detailed explanations of all functions around the clock. I see the webinar as accompanying support and a direct contact opportunity.

The key point is that there is no one right way to successfully purchase through VLB-TIX, but rather flexible processes that can be tailored to the workflow of each individual bookstore. In the webinar, I demonstrate some of these methods and provide practical tips and tricks. There are also best practices for the various options for creating disposition lists.

What does digital purchasing mean for personal conversations with sales representatives?

In my view, it clearly enhances the value of these meetings and also represents a real (sales) opportunity for publishers. This is because it eliminates the time-consuming task of transferring order numbers. Instead, traveling colleagues can once again concentrate on the core of their work: professional exchange, the presentation of promotions, and personal recommendations—ideally in the form of individual previews provided in advance for each individual bookstore.

Do you have any ultimate tips for successful purchasing via VLB-TIX?

Basically, just get started! The transition can be tailored to your needs. For example, start with just one publisher or product group and work closely with your favorite representative. It has also proven useful to start with two people in the bookstore team so that you can support each other.

And if you already order through VLB-TIX and feel that your digital purchasing process could be optimized, I would be happy to provide you with advice and assistance.

• Ricardo über die FIL Guadalajara
  
• Harald über den Einsatz von KI-Agenten
  
• Karolin über Lesefreude zum Verschenken