Dear CTBF Exhibitors and Partners

Finally the month of the Cape Town Book Fair (CTBF) has arrived and we are working hard on the final preparations for a fair that will cater for the needs of the trade and the public. With exciting innovations such as the Professional Programme we are geared up to make sure that this is truly a fair “Where Books Mean Business”. For international visitors to the CTBF we will be welcoming you to a country that is abuzz at having successfully staged the World Cup 2010 and we know that you will enjoy your stay in Cape Town, while making valuable contacts at a truly African fair. We encourage all exhibitors and trade visitors to ensure that they have filled in all the forms and sent through information needed by the CTBF team by now, and if there are outstanding forms that they send them in as soon as possible. Our Professional Day Programme is up on our website, and we look forward to presenting the programme of author events and literary discussions next week.

Warm regards
Claudia Kaiser
Director Cape Town Book Fair

The build-up for shell scheme stands takes place on the 29th of July. Exhibitors have access to the Cape Town International (CTICC) Convention Centre from 8am. Please read your exhibitor’s guide carefully to make sure your stand is compliant.

Exhibitors and trade visitors can buy parking tickets for the duration of the book fair from the concierge at the CTICC on the 29th of July; the rate is R40 per day.

For those exhibitors who do not have access to credit card facilities WAP Point offers a service to exhibitors where you can rent credit card facilities for the duration of the CTBF. Go to www.wappoint.co.za for more information.

On the Trade Day, as part of the Professional Programme, the CTBF will offer matchmaking session to introduce publishers to potential buyers of their products (libraries, book shops, book distributors and institutional buyers). Register for the matchmaking session by going to www.capetownbookfair.co.za/programme/matchmaking and we will set up a meeting schedule that will allow for a maximum of five to 10 minute meetings in one room so that you can identify who you might wish to enter into negotiations during the CTBF. The deadline for the return of forms is 19 July to Katharina Ewald on fax +27 21 418 594 or email katharina@capetownbookfair.co.za

On the 30 July the first Trade Day will be held at the Cape Town Book Fair. It will be packed with opportunities to network with trade, publishers, book buyers, librarians and others in the book profession from around the world. The programme has been crafted so that there is something for everyone. Go to www.capetownbookfair.co.za/trade-visitors/registration/forms . Please send your registration forms to the CTBF by no later than 19 July.

Join us on the CTBF Facebook page to see what people are talking about and for links to interesting stories. You can also view TBWA’s innovative ambient marketing video that was made to publicise the fair.

Author Quote: “The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them.” – Mark Twain

The Cape Town Book Fair (CTBF) is just around the corner, and booksellers - both the small, independent outlets as well as the larger book chains - are almost ready to stop watching soccer and start reading and selling books again! But for ardent lovers of books, not even The Soccer World Cup was enough to tear them away from their literary pages. So it is for Ann Donald, prolific reader and owner of Kalk Bay Books, who says she’s found more time to read than usual during this busy sporting season.

With the CTBF set to open its doors to tens of thousands of visitors on 31 July, Ann is pleased that this well-organised event, which hones peoples’ interest back towards the pleasures of reading, is set to take centre stage in the Mother City. Click here to read more Click here to read more