Berner Haupt Verlag is Publisher of the Year 2017
The Swiss Book Trade Prize for "the publisher and bookstore of the year" was awarded to Haupt Verlag from Bern and Buchhandlung zur Rose from St. Gallen on Monday evening at the Volkshaus in Zurich.
The prizes of 5000 Swiss francs each are donated by the Swiss Book Center. Buchhandlung zur Rose and Haupt Verlag emerged as the winners of the vote among three nominated businesses each. Readers of the industry magazine "Schweizer Buchhandel" as well as supporters and customers of the nominees voted. Around 5,000 people took part.
The expert jury - composed of publishing representatives, the previous year's winners and the editorial team of the Swiss book trade - nominated the bookstores Bookshop to the Rose (St. Gallen), the Bookstore Lüthy (Solothurn) and the bookstore Blurb (Weinfelden). According to the press release, all three convince with a selected assortment, coherent concepts, a wealth of ideas and a high level of service awareness.
The company that emerged as the winner from the vote Bookshop to the Rose was praised by the jury as an example of a bookstore that can be successful even in a difficult economic environment; Leonie Schwendimann's team scores with competence, commitment, charm and charisma.
In terms of publishers, there were two non-fiction publishers and one fiction publisher to choose from. They stood out with their specific and carefully crafted programs. In addition to Haupt Verlag, the nominees included the publishing house of Here and now (Baden) and the Dörlemann publishing house (Zurich).
The winner of the vote was the Haupt Publishing House has, according to the jury, consistently built on its strengths in recent years, made no lateral moves and positioned itself as a publishing house. Despite its 100-year history, the family-owned company is anything but traditional, but an innovative trend-setter in Bern's Länggass district.
The Swiss Book Trade Prize has been awarded for the eighth time this year. The prize recognizes outstanding professional achievements and aims to show, both inside and outside the book industry, that even in economically difficult times, it is possible to work successfully with a great deal of commitment, creativity and perseverance. The award is endowed with 5000 Swiss francs each and is financed by the Swiss Book Center in Hägendorf. The winners from the three nominated businesses each are chosen by readers of the industry magazine and newsletter "Schweizer Buchhandel" in an online vote. Supporters and customers who are informed by the nominees can also take part.
