The Best Meetings, Ever


Josie Leavitt - June 29, 2010

Now that summer is here, I can indulge in one of my favorite parts of being a book buyer: breakfast meetings at the Inn at Shelburne Farms, which is open seasonally from May to October. There are few places as beautiful as this 1,400 acre working farm, which used to be Vanderbilt-Webb estate, set on the shores of Lake Champlain. The drive from the gatehouse to the main house takes about eight minutes that just get prettier and prettier.
Past the fields’ Brown Swiss cows whose milk makes the award-winning Shelburne Farms cheddar cheese, I round the corner and there before me is Lake Champlain, waves gently lapping the shore. I am always running late for my breakfast meetings, so I take the view in quickly. I bound to the outside table where one of my sales reps is usually waiting. The view, and this is not overstating, is breathtaking.
Breakfast is usually delicious with farm fresh eggs and bacon, coffee and juice. I love these meetings, not just for the food, but for a chance to talk with my sales reps in a more relaxed setting. I get to know them as people: what are their hobbies, what are they reading, what are their summer vacation plans. Sharing a meal is wonderful way to get to know someone. There are always children running in the grass by the Inn and it’s just idyllic.
After breakfast we retire to Adirondack chairs on the lawn and make the order. I look at samples while sipping coffee in the sun. I order more under these conditions. Being outside, feeling the warmth of sun, somehow makes me feel hopeful, therefore more optimistic about book orders. I’m more willing to take chances and get more copies of titles I feel strongly about, or take a risk on an oddball book that could go either way. So I feel like this is a win/win for me and the rep.
It’s a lucky coincidence that the fall/winter buying season starts in the summer, so I can have meetings throughout the season at this lovely place.

6 thoughts on “The Best Meetings, Ever

  1. Alan Silberberg

    Josie – what a perfect picture you paint. I’ll have to check out Shelburne on my next trip down from Montreal. I wonder how hard it is to leave those Adirondack chairs after settling in for the view.
    Alan

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  2. Heather Lyon

    Jealous. Jealous. Green with envy. I have been assigned only telephone sales reps by all the major pubs, who are all lovely people, but I sit at my usual metal and formica desk with my usual view of the parking lot while I “meet” with them. I’m lucky if I get catalogs. Sigh.

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  3. Holly Brough

    Thanks for the nice blog, Josie. Wish I could come up with more reasons to have Farm-related business meetings up at the Inn.
    (Maybe I’ll see you when I pick up the book you’re holding for me at The Flying Pig.)

    Reply
  4. jane

    Josie – I met you 2 summers ago in that exact situation. Our mutual friend Susie had taken me to Shelburne Farms for brunch and while walking the grounds we ran into you in the Adirondack chairs.
    Idyllic – you bet! and I can attest that Josie does actually do work in that setting! You are a lucky, lucky girl. 😉

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  6. Jewell Stoddard

    I’m afraid that I would buy any book my rep showed me in that setting where my optimism would soar. We buy from the Remainder Room that is a constant reminder of the publishing and buying mistakes that someone has made.

    Reply

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