This year, Unsworth had a stand at Olympia as part of our continued commitment to the publishing supply chain, and it turned out to be one of our most engaging fairs yet. Our team, Martin, Mitch, and Dylan, spent three days meeting existing clients, sparking new conversations, and showcasing the tools and expertise we've built to help publishers move books more efficiently and sustainably.

Catching Up with Clients

A large part of what makes the London Book Fair valuable for us is the chance to sit down with people we already work with. Face-to-face time is irreplaceable, and this year was no exception. Across the three days, we reconnected with clients from across the publishing world, from independent houses to large trade publishers, hearing first-hand about the challenges they're navigating and how our work together is making a difference.

Those conversations shape what we do. Hearing directly about shifting lead times, new route pressures, and the ongoing push to reduce environmental impact gives us the context we need to keep our service relevant.

Showcasing the Book Calculator

One topic that generated real interest on the stand was our Book Calculator, a free tool available exclusively to Unsworth clients that brings a new level of transparency to the environmental impact of publishing logistics.

The Book Calculator allows publishers to track CO₂ emissions down to individual ISBN level. That means rather than working with broad estimates across a title list or a shipment, clients can see the carbon footprint of a specific book, accounting for its format, weight, origin, and the route it travels to reach readers. For publishers with sustainability commitments (and increasingly, that's most of them), this kind of granularity is a significant step forward.

The response at the fair was encouraging. Many publishers are under pressure to report on their supply chain emissions with greater precision, and the Book Calculator offers a practical, ready-to-use solution that doesn't require a new system or a lengthy integration. Being a free tool for existing clients made it an easy conversation to have.

Spin the Wheel (and a Very Lucky Winner)

Of course, not everything at a book fair needs to be serious. Dylan was kept busy running our spin-the-wheel giveaway, which proved to be a reliable crowd-puller throughout the event.

Visitors to the stand had the chance to win a selection of prizes, notebooks, plantable bookmarks, and pens, with every spin. The plantable bookmarks in particular drew plenty of comments; a small but fitting touch for an industry that cares about both books and the environment.

The standout moment came with our grand prize draw: a dinner for two in London. We're delighted to congratulate Sandra Fuller from Penguin Random House, who walked away as our lucky winner!

Looking Ahead

The London Book Fair reminded us why showing up in person still matters. Publishing is a relationship-driven industry, and the conversations we had, whether about sustainability reporting, supply chain resilience, or simply catching up over coffee, reinforced the partnerships that sit at the heart of what we do.

A big thank you to everyone who came to see us. We're already looking forward to next year.

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