Reflecting on Year One: Soi Books' Inaugural Journey
As we approach the end of our inaugural year at Soi Books, we're gearing up for some reflective moments over the Christmas and New Year break. It's been a big year for us, from the excitement of our kick-off to the launching of titles and the whirlwind of book fair adventures.
Highlights of Year One
1. Producing Titles
Diving head first into producing titles was the only way to build experience and start building our list of titles. With a total of 13 releases under our belt for 2023, we worked hard this year to generate concepts, commission titles, design and layout books, and get some momentum behind the business.
2. Being Global and Remote
From the London Book Fair to the Frankfurt Book Fair to the Jakarta Art Book Fair. We did some flying around and spread our wings. We connected with professionals, enthusiasts, creatives, and more. And despite the key crew being scattered across different locations we’ve made it work. Soi Books remains remote, with studios in London and Brussels, and our MD holding the fort in Dubai.
3. Seeing Our Books in Retail
Seeing our books in shops across the world has made it all worth it. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but knowing we are improving our routes to market means we know better sales as we grow.
The Craft Beer Sticker Book in Tsutaya Daikanyama
Key Learnings
1. Flexibility is Key
In the world of publishing, adaptability is crucial. Our ability to pivot, adjust, and make changes has been crucial in finding the right solutions.
2. Keep Moving
From keeping our stock moving to keeping the ideas flowing and being experimental, we didn’t sit still this year and that helped build momentum.
3. Listen
From key advisors to readers, our audience, and of course the authors. Being able to listen improved ideas and helped us collaborate.
Looking Forward to 2024
Stepping into 2024, the horizon looks promising. With a plethora of titles in the pipeline, Soi Books is set to continue its mission of uncovering all aspects of urban culture to readers around the world. We're optimistic, excited, and ready for the adventures that lie ahead.
