My Job in 5: Suzanne Kennedy

1) Describe your role.

I manage a cracking team of three marketers and am currently recruiting for a Marketing Manager. I oversee their campaign work, head up the season planning, budget tightly, liaise with our US distributors, key accounts and reps and input into acquisition meetings and product decisions. I love it!

2) What do you like best about your role?

The variety and the people – no day is ever the same. The job is both reactive and proactive and intensively planned with much speedy firefighting. The Floris Books team are highly motivated, professional and passionate, all wanting to do the best by our authors and illustrators and their readers.

3) Which new projects or titles are you working on at the moment?

On my desk today are marketing materials for our new partnership with Historic Environment Scotland, drafts of AIs, a direct mailing and finalising LBF details. We’re launching the fabulous Guardians of the Wild Unicorns this week and starting work on an autumn lead Victoria Williamson’s Boy with the Butterfly Mind.

4) What skills do you need for your role? 

Prioritisation and the ability to re-prioritise when something unexpected lands in the day. Great communication internally and externally. Recognition of your own weaknesses and playing to the strengths of others. Spotting opportunities when they arise and ferreting them out when they don’t.

5) What advice would you give to those looking to work in the industry

 Know what’s going on in the marketplace. Have a favourite campaign, cover, author, bookshop, short list. Be kind, tenacious, hard working and prepared to network like mad. It's a small industry. Your peers in your first job may well be your peers for your entire career.