Miguel Sanz, newsstand proprietor: “Buying a book is not just about clicking” | Culture | EUROtoday

Miguel Sanz (Burgos, 33 years outdated) spends 12 hours a day on the road, on the foot of his kiosk. People greet him on a regular basis and Sanz is aware of their names, faces, particulars of their lives and, in fact, their predominant newspaper. Some come to return belief cash, Sanz does not even bear in mind. Neighborhood life at risk of extinction, like newsstands. Despite the turbulence within the sector, this one, at Ortega y Gasset 45, close to the Plaza del Marqués de Salamanca, Madrid, appears to be going properly.

Sanz took the switch 10 years in the past, when he was a pupil of Political Science and History. “I wanted to get to work,” he says. For two years now, his kiosk has been totally different by organizing signings with authors comparable to Andrés Trapiello, David Uclés, Manuela Carmena, Aida Dos Santos, Esperanza Aguirre, Benjamín G. Rosado, Vicente G. Olaya, Juan Manuel de Prada, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, and so forth. On the sixteenth—Sanz could be very blissful—Manuel Vicent comes: “He is a very beloved author.”

Ask. Do it’s important to be a bit of loopy to enter a kiosk?

Answer. A bit… They have been lowering lately, however I’ve at all times had a vocation for the written phrase, newspapers, magazines and I at all times noticed hope. Otherwise, I would not have taken it. Very good Javier! [saluda a un cliente, abogado, que compra EL PAÍS y dice “que sepas que tenemos un quiosquero estupendo”]

P. This kiosk could be very leafy.

R. Fundamentally I’ve opted for books, by signatures with authors. Readers wish to have the dedication, however I additionally intend to generate conversations. I wish to convey individuals who write for newspapers in order that there are synergies between readers of the press and books. Also to younger authors, who shouldn’t have as a lot projection.

P. It has many different issues: umbrellas, toys, sweet, even baggage!

R. The playing cards, I promote loads of playing cards, particularly soccer playing cards. Stories for youngsters… Umbrellas promote fairly properly on wet days when, exactly, I’ve to place away the books. A couple of years in the past we lived very comfortably with newspapers and magazines, right now now we have to diversify. Very good! [saluda a dos clientas que aparecen].

P. Now some very fashionable kiosks are showing, with cute espresso, very unique design magazines, little or no press…

R. They are very respectable choices. Some within the heart solely promote souvenirs, Each one has their very own method: now we have to pay an annual payment to the City Council, and we are attempting, by the affiliation, to be exonerated, as in a pandemic: tradition wants assist. And I’ve opted for tradition, at the very least in 80% of the merchandise.

P. Who did you begin the signings with?

R. I began with a buddy, Francisco Cánovas, president of the Historical Sciences part of the Ateneo de Madrid, biographer of Ramón y Cajal, Chaves Nogales or Galdós. [“¡Muy buenas, Elisa!”, saluda a otra clienta]. It turned out very properly. Juan Manuel de Prada signed quite a bit, 100 books in two hours, additionally as a result of individuals took the 2 volumes of his novel. David Uclés was the one who signed essentially the most in only one hour, about 70. There are authors who inform me that they signal greater than at festivals and bookstores. This is a cultured neighborhood, proper Isabel? [le dice a una clienta, que asiente y se ríe].

P. Do booksellers have a factor for you?

R. Wow, now we have an excellent relationship. Those from the Pérgamo bookstore, which is close by, have generally helped me with copies. The basic irritation is with the sale of books on Amazon. I’m glad that a number of prospects who used to purchase on Amazon now purchase right here. Buying a e book is not only about clicking, however about speaking and constructing belief.

P. Excellent.

R. It is about social interplay, giving life to the neighborhood, making it a gathering level. [“Está fenomenal para dar vida”, dice una nueva clienta, que empuja a una mujer en silla de ruedas: siempre se lleva revistas de historia]. On Sunday mornings the opposite outlets are closed, there may be much less rush and obligations, and right here now we have the signatures.

P. What function does the newsagent have within the neighborhood?

R. There are those that inform me private issues, as a result of they know that they don’t seem to be going to get out of right here. We additionally fulfill a signaling perform, giving instructions to this avenue, to that physician. A neighborhood neighborhood community is shaped, there are those that ask if one other buddy has stopped by or how they’re. A degree of reference: individuals meet and we chat.

P. The studying on paper decreases and I see that those that cease are usually not precisely cherubs. Are you fearful?

R. I imagine that paper newspapers won’t ever die. It is essentially the most appropriate format for studying. In digital, a lot much less time is devoted to leisurely studying. Good reviews, good articles, good data will at all times be demanded by the general public, on paper. Maybe I’m too optimistic.

P. Let’s hope he is proper.

R. The Internet is right here to remain, however I feel that this bubble of spending so many hours in entrance of the display goes to go down. The paper e book has remained.

P. When this interview is printed you’ll be a part of the merchandise you promote. Will you attempt to place extra copies?

R. Modestly, I hope to promote 200 or 300 [ríe]. I spend many hours on the road and find yourself assembly many individuals, I hope they’re .

P. If he sells that a lot we must interview him extra usually.

R. Whenever you need! I’m a fan of newspapers…