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If you were given $100 and five minutes in a bookstore, which titles would you pick? Thats the premise of Simon & Schusters upcoming web series, Bookstore Blitzthe publishers latest internet-inspired effort to market its authors. And Bookstore Blitz is just the beginning. In a recent interview with The Cuts Cat Zhang, the flagship imprints new publisher, Sean Manning, shared his plans to modernize Simon & Schuster into a media powerhouse. Other series in the works include an awards showstyle interview program called Read Carpet. Were essentially an entertainment company with books at the center. Every Tuesday, we have a new author whos a cultural tastemaker, Manning said. Why arent we using them? Why are we so dependent on outside media? Theres a well-documented appetite for book-related content online. TikToks book community was responsible for approximately 59 million print book sales in 2024, catapulting previously unknown authors into household names. BookToks older, less zany cousin, BookTube, has also long been used to promote new publications and offer free marketing to authors big and small. Many of the top-selling fiction writers in the U.S. todayincluding Colleen Hoover, Sarah J. Maas, and Rebecca Yarrosowe their success in part to going viral on TikTok. A single video in the apps sensationalized style often outperforms traditional advertising, sending authors straight to the top of bestseller lists. BookToks runaway success has forced publishers into the 21st century, pushing them to grow their presence on other social platforms, especially Instagram and Threads. Manning believes his biggest competition is no longer other publishersits social media. Inspired by brands like Vice, which built a following through YouTube documentaries, and The New Yorker with its podcasts and annual festival, Manning told The Cut he envisions cultivating A24-style brand loyaltyfor books. As for Bookstore Blitz, Manning has big ambitions: My hope is that inevitably the series could be a promotional stop like Chicken Shop Date or Hot Ones.
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E-Commerce
The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. Taking the first step towards a new future for your organization can be a daunting effortbut for professional services organizations, the time is now. With 70% of organizations planning to track office attendance in 2025, the corporate real estate landscape is primed for potential. Leaders must fully capitalize on the seismic shifts in the new standard of in-office work and use their spaces to enhance collaboration, productivity, and company purpose. As law firms, in particular, transition back to in-office work, they face the challenge of balancing privacy with collaborative spaces. While these needs seem at odds, a thoughtful approach that integrates flexibility and a strong workplace experience strategy can help firms create environments that attract and retain top talent. Organic interaction opportunities The most transformative ideas often emerge far beyond the confines of a boardroom or the monotony of a desk. Instead, sparks of ingenuity can stem from shared moments with colleagues, like a quick chat in the hallway or a coffee break. These moments that happen in interstitial spaces tend to be afterthoughts. When utilized well, however, an interstitial space can be every bit as impactful as a breakroom or lounge. A global law firm with a two-floor office space is a perfect example. Thanks to an open design and interconnected staircase, team members can communicate quickly and easily with colleagues from other floors. As in-office work models continue to shift and evolve, leaders must prioritize creating dynamic spaces that foster these organic connections. Otherwise, businesses risk missing out on valuable interactions like knowledge sharing, mentorship, and peer-to-peer professional development. Organizations have plenty of options regardless of office footprint and team size. For instance, one of PDRs energy clients wanted to maximize its office potential and facilitate face-to-face interactions. We worked with them to create specific areas, such as green spaces and cafes, where team members could gather away from their desks. Best of all, the design provided these amenities while simultaneously reducing the footprint, ultimately saving the organization money. Providing these spaces solves for challenges like a lack of mentoring or knowledge sharing, while boosting peoples connection to an organizations purposetwo primary imperatives valued by new generations of leadership. Competitive advantages for employee wellness In todays competitive job market, top talent has abundant options. This means transforming the office into a powerful amenity that offers unique valueone that attracts, engages, and retains the best employees. As noted in Wellhubs 2025 State of Work-Life Wellness report, 88% of employees say that wellness-focused workspaces are crucial to their overall job satisfaction. In fact, firms with WELL-certified offices see higher levels of employee engagement, productivity, and retention. Looking to hospitality design is a strong way leaders can begin to rethink their approach to the workplace. A health-centric mindset is especially valuable for the legal profession, where long hours, intense focus, and strong mental and emotional resilience are essential. The industry’s demands can contribute to stress and burnout, resulting in a high turnover rate.Design elements such as access to daylight or biophilic design have a proven effect on employee productivity and mood, minimizing stress while improving performance. A firms leaders must leverage these insights to create spaces that elevate the work experience and provide an undeniable draw to attract new talent and sustain the energy and motivation of those who already drive the firms success. Space utilization Workplace solutions must be tailored to an organizations culture and work styleswhat works for one industry may not suit another. A functional workspace must align with a companys purpose while maximizing efficiency. With high real estate costs and long-term leases posing risks, underutilized space can lead to significant financial waste. A structured visioning process helps organizations optimize their space. For example, one company balanced energy and focus by dedicating its second floor to quiet areas, meeting rooms, and breakout spaces, complementing its high-energy trade floor. Some law firms are repurposing law libraries into collaborative spaces as research shifts to digital, fostering knowledge sharing and mentorship. Transforming these spaces into meeting or common areas increases opportunities to interact while eliminating single-purpose inefficiencies. Organizations can create environments that support productivity, collaboration, and long-term business success by taking a strategic approach to space planning. Future-focus and flexibility The most impactful workplaces are agile and adaptable, ready to support an organizations mission today, tomorrow, and for years to come. But leaders must navigate and accommodate multiple needs and preferences from several generations. That is easier said than done, as our global corporate law office client discovered. It was critical that every square foot for this firm was used with intention and provided a competitive advantage. This client had the added challenge of fusing two teams and bringing them under the same roof. Modular planning helped them create a blend of personalized and collaborative work areas well-suited for the firms new hybrid work style. Another Band 1-ranked global law firm involved a similar challenge, as its team needed to balance internal meetings with client interactions in a limited space. To address this, the firms conference rooms were designed with adjustable walls, allowing them to expand the space for client meetings while maintaining privacy when needed. Flexibility was key to these projects’ success and will only become more vital. Adapting to ongoing shifts helps businesses attract top talent and strengthen their competitive edge. It’s time to prioritize exceptional experiences As leaders look to the many opportunities ahead, its important to remember that peoples needs, workstyles, and preferences in the workplace will continue evolving. Ongoing discussions and a future-focused approach can ensure an organizatios environment provides competitive advantages that match their peoples desires. Simply put, if organizations do not provide people with the types of experiences they crave, they risk missing out on the best and brightest talent. Or they invest capital in a physical workplace that fails to draw employees into their space. Yet with ample real estate opportunities, this is the perfect time to rethink workplace design. Lauri Goodman Lampson is president and CEO of PDR.
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E-Commerce
The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. The recent L.A. wildfires have been devastating, displacing thousands and leaving behind a stark reminder of how vulnerable our built environment remains. Having lived through the 2018 Woolsey Fire in Malibu, Ive seen firsthand the immense challenges of rebuilding. In my April 2024 TEDx talk, How building a home in four weeks can influence four generations, I explored the emotional and financial toll of losing a homeand why we must rethink how we rebuild. That talk reinforces the importance of protecting all the meanings of home by building (and rebuilding) our homes with mindfulness toward sustainability and resilience against the sure potential of additional weather- and fire-related harms in the future. A new approach to fire-resilient housing Since 2019, Ive focused on applying lessons from past disasters to create homes that can better withstand future wildfires. My company, Azure Homes, uses advanced prefab technology to construct homes that are sustainable and built to have a better chance at surviving a fire. Beyond technology, though, we need a broader shift in how we design and construct homes. My newly published book, From Ashes to Action: A Survivors Guide to Rebuilding After Wildfire, explores practical solutions for homeowners, policymakers, architects, and builders to make communities more fire-resilient. Here are a few key points from the book: What makes a home fire-resistant? By analyzing recent wildfires, we can identify clear patterns in home survivability: Fire-rated siding and decks resist ignition from radiant heat. Double-pane or triple-pane tempered windows withstand extreme heat without shattering. Ember-resistant vents block embers from entering attics and crawl spaces. Class A fire-rated roofs are designed to withstand severe fire exposure, offering the highest level of fire resistance available for roofing materials. In contrast, homes with untreated wood siding, single-pane windows, unprotected vents, and those without class A-rated roofs often ignite quickly. Beyond materials: The role of terrain and weather Fire doesnt just spread through structuresit moves through landscapes. The risk is significantly influenced by: Slope: Fires move faster uphill, preheating vegetation. Wind: Drives embers miles ahead, sparking new ignitions. Urban fuels: Vehicles, fences, and neighboring homes can create unpredictable fire spread. Reducing risk requires a holistic approachdefensible space, smart urban planning, and proactive vegetation management. How homeowners can build for resilience Wildfires will continue to be a reality in California and beyond, but homeowners can take actionable steps to reduce risk: Defensible space: Clear dry vegetation and use fire-resistant landscaping. Stronger building codes: Follow post-2008 fire-resistant construction standards. Fire-smart design: Consider modular, prefabricated, or 3D-printed homes for speed and safety. Emergency-ready communities: Engage in programs like Firewise USA to enhance neighborhood resilience. Policy and innovation must work together With climate change intensifying fire conditions, policymakers must step up. L.A.s recent executive orders have helped fast-track rebuilding, but we need long-term commitments: Faster approvals for fire-resilient construction: Pre-approved designs and modular solutions can cut rebuilding time significantly. Expanded fire-resistant zoning laws: Smarter land-use policies can prevent high-risk development. Incentives for fireproof homes: Lower insurance rates and grants for fire-resistant retrofits can encourage adoption. The future of rebuilding: A smarter, safer approach Recovering from a wildfire isnt just about rebuildingits about rethinking. We have the technology and knowledge to construct homes that can survive these disasters. Prefabricated and 3D-printed homes offer a scalable, cost-effective solution, reducing reliance on labor while increasing resilience. As difficult as this moment is, its also an opportunity. The lessons from these fires must shape how we build the homes of the futurestronger, safer, and ready for whatever comes next. Gene Eidelman is cofounder of Azure Homes.
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E-Commerce
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