BIC is delighted to be attending London Book Fair 2024
Stand 1B68

We’re delighted to be attending London Book Fair this year, which sees us hosting and speaking at 2 events again. We’re also giving our members free and exclusive access to 2 of our consultants at the fair.

Want to pop by the BIC stand to say hello and have a chat? You can find us on stand 1B68.

Read on for more information – we look forward to seeing you there!
• BIC’s Building a Better Business Session: Books Across Borders (Focus Theatre)
• BIC Session: Removing Barriers for Recycling (LBF Sustainability Lounge)
• Meet with the BIC Consultants

An Audience-Panel Discussion

• Time:  11.45 – 13.45
• Location: Focus Theatre, Olympia 
• Format: Panel discussion and Q&A – (30 mins for Q&A)
• Tickets/Registration: No need to register for this event – it’s open to all LBF attendees. Just turn up on the day.

Event description

In this combined panel and audience discussion we’ll explore one of the most challenging but impactful topics for our industry: Books Across Borders. In this session we’ll share key highlights and takeaways from BIC’s vitally important new industry-wide project of the same name. This is all about the import and export of books to and from the UK and Island of Ireland to key international markets. With our expert industry panel, we’ll consider the complexities of international trade and offer our audience insights into how BIC is identifying and capturing essential best practice to make supply chain professionals’ lives easier, whether you are involved in publishing, printing, and binding, data aggregation, sales, shipping, or distribution. Attend this session to find out how you can help your organisation navigate the often-confusing requirements of international trade and help create a more resilient supply chain.

Panel:

James Alvis, Account Director, CPI Group (UK) Ltd

10 years as an Account Director at CPI Group (UK) Ltd and 24 years working in sales in the UK book printing industry. My role at CPI involves working with publishers on their domestic and global print strategy, helping to deliver total cost saving across the supply chain.
At CPI, Global Print Solutions (GPS) is a key strategy to help with cross border trading, as well as increasing speed to market, reducing transportation costs and helping with sustainability initiatives.

Matthew Hogg, Commercial Director, Macmillan Distribution (MDL)

Matthew is the Commercial Director of Macmillan Distribution (MDL), responsible for the services provided to its distributed Macmillan Group and Third-Party publishers and their customers as well as the management of carriers, freight forwarders, EDI partners and other service providers.

Matthew has worked in the publishing supply chain in various roles for over 28 years and for much of this time has been involved in the activities of BIC as a member of its Operations Board, Physical Supply Chain committee, the SCEA Accreditation panel and as an active participant in numerous working groups, most recently including the Industry Returns Initiative review and Books Across Borders Best Practice.

A champion of best practice and automation with our physical supply chain, with the support of the wider business, Matthew has ensured Macmillan’s continued engagement with best practices and the standards promoted and defined by BIC and its members and supported the promotion of these standards to other organisations.

Susan Kelly, Operations Director, Publiship

Publiship is an independent freight forwarder and logistics provider, specialising in offering bespoke solutions to the Publishing and Printing sector. With a client base ranging from large multinationals, to small independents our service is designed to work within our clients requirements and is tailored to individual needs.

Originally a business working on Import and Exports solutions, in 1995 Publiship developed systems allowing the Publishing sector to take control of their Global freight requirements. Moving “Books Across Borders” for the last 34 years Sue has been instrumental in working closely with Publishers and Printers to assess their needs, investigate their supply chain and put tailored systems in place.

Sue is also responsible for the ESG operation of the business which has been an important part of the business ethics for the ten years, holdiing an Ecovardis Silver award since 2016.

Sue is the Vice-Chair for the Liverpool Region of BIFA, (British International Freight Association), BIFA works on behalf of the freight industry and has been an invaluable resource during Brexit and the changes to the customs requirements offering continuous development opportunities and advice for its members.
Sue has enjoyed working with the teams at BIC providing advice, solutions and information on various issues over several years to the members. Sue is currently an active member of the BIC Physical Supply Chain Committee, Books across Borders, and Principles of Offsetting work groups.

Stephen Long, Independent Book Supply Chain Consultant

Stephen Long is an independent Book Supply Chain Consultant. His key areas of expertise include:

• A clear understanding of the complexities of the book supply chain
• A familiarity with metadata and ecommerce standards and best practice
• A confidence in harnessing and driving supply chain efficiencies 

Stephen is currently managing Book Industry Communication’s Books Across Borders Project, having successfully led and delivered previous BIC projects on Ordering Best Practice, the Industry Returns Initiative and the Digital Audiobook Supply Chain.   

Stephen’s passion for the supply chain underpins over 35 years’ experience in the book industry. Previous roles have included developing, testing and implementing an estate wide EPoS system at Waterstones, simplifying and automating Waterstones Finance Operations relationships with its suppliers and focusing on commercial supply chain opportunities at Nielsen Book.

Karina Urquhart, Executive Director, BIC

Karina is the Executive Director of BIC and has held this position since February 2012. She has worked in the book industry for over 30 years including 5 years with Dorling Kindersley followed by 12 years at Penguin UK where she held several supply chain and operational roles, latterly as the Digital & Metadata Supply Chain Manager. She has a wealth of operational and data experience in both physical and digital supply chains; previous roles include customer operations, stock management and international sales/rights. In June 2020, Karina was instrumental in the creation of the International Green Book Supply Chain Alliance, partnering with BISG in the US, and BookNet Canada. Representing BIC, Karina also sits on the EDItEUR Board and the International Steering Committee for Thema.

Bree Wright, Head of International Sales Operations, Penguin Random House UK

I joined Random House in 2011 into International Sales after 8 years at Waterstones and 2 years at a small UK publisher. After merging with Penguin my role became operational and since then I have managed the varied logistical and supply chain challenges of International Sales Operations for both PRH Group Companies and Export customers, moving to head up the team in 2022.

LBF Sustainability Lounge – Climate Change and the Circular Economy

• Date: Wednesday 13th March 2024 
• Time:  15.00 – 15.30
• Location: London Book Fair Sustainability Lounge, Olympia 
• Format: Presentation followed by questions 
• Tickets/Registration: No need to register for this event – it’s open to all LBF attendees. Just turn up on the day.

BIC Session: Removing Barriers for Recycling

Following on from last year’s presentation which explored BIC’s Designed for Recycling Project (Part 1: Life Cycle Assessment) this year we will be sharing practical examples, tips, and research from Part 2 of the same project – which sees a deep and detailed dive into all areas from initial design to the finished manufactured book. Attendees will hear how the practical application of the findings from this project can help with removing the barriers to recycling books and in so doing, help with ensuring books become a greater part of the circular economy.

Speaker:

Simon Crump, Environmental Consultant for BIC

Simon Crump has been in publishing for nearly 30 years, and during this time he has seen many changes in the industry from an Academic Publisher’s perspective. Simon has been working as the environmental consultant for BIC for the last two years. So far, he has delivered three projects for BIC the Environmental Accreditation and Standards map and Designed for Recycling, Part 1 Life Cycle Assessment and Part 2 Initial Design to Manufactured Book. He is currently working on Designed for Recycling, Part 3 Manufactured Book to End-of-Life, Principles of Offsetting and Sustainability and Environmental Data Reporting.

Simon is also the General Manager Books for the BPIF (British Printing Industries Federation). He also has his own consultancy company and works for Maverick Publishing Specialists.

Meet with BIC Consultants at London Book Fair 2024: Exclusively for BIC members only 

It’s an exciting time for the book industry. As the UK and Ireland’s supply chain organisation, BIC is there for its members, developing a more sustainable and responsible supply chain environment through standards and best practice. This year we are delighted to be offering one-to-one meetings exclusively for our members with our BIC Consultants. 

Two of our BIC Consultants will be available for pre-booked 30-minute sessions with BIC members. Whether you want to discuss one of our current strategic projects, a recently completed initiative that has got the industry talking, or you want to help shape future book industry standards and best practice, BIC members are invited to get in touch to book a meeting.

Stephen Long has 35 years’ experience in the book industry. He has a passion for the supply chain. It’s never boring. It’s always exciting. Stephen’s key areas of expertise include: 

• A clear understanding of the complexities of the book supply chain
• A familiarity with metadata and ecommerce standards and best practice
• A confidence in harnessing and driving supply chain efficiencies

Key BIC projects that Stephen has worked on include: 

• Ordering Best Practice
• Industry Returns Initiative Review
• Digital Audiobook Best Practice

Simon Crump has 30 years’ experience in publishing. He has a passion for beautifully printed and produced books. This is now coupled with Simon’s interest in sustainability and the environment. Simon’s key areas of expertise include:

• A detailed knowledge of book production and printing
• A familiarity with the current environmental and sustainability developments and requirements
• A willingness to collaborate with people and organisations across the supply chain to make things better

Key BIC projects that Simon has worked on include: 

• Environmental Accreditation Badges
• Designed for Recycling
• Environmental and Sustainable Data Reporting
• Principles of Offsetting

Book a meeting with a BIC Consultant today
To book an email with Stephen email: info@bic.org.uk
To book a meeting with Simon email: simon.crump@bic.org.uk

Not a BIC member?

If your organisation is not yet a BIC member, why not book an appointment with BIC’s Executive Director, Karina Urquhart to learn more about the benefits of BIC membership via info@bic.org.uk.