ABA to Begin 2005 Booksellers Forum Tour in Salt Lake

The American Booksellers Association will kick off its 2005 Winter/Spring Booksellers Forum season and 2005 Education Program on Saturday, January 8, in Salt Lake City. The program, held in conjunction with the Mountains & Plains Booksellers Association (MPBA), will take place from 9:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. at The King's English Bookstore's Fresco Restaurant. All MPBA and ABA member booksellers are invited to attend.

In addition to MPBA- and ABA-sponsored Booksellers Forums, there will be two ABA educational seminars: "Cost of Goods Sold, 101" and an ABACUS Workshop.

The day begins with the "MPBA Booksellers Forum With Coffee & Croissants," from 9:00 a.m. - 10: 00 a.m., featuring the regional's executive director, Lisa Knudsen, and current and past Board members Catherine Weller of Sam Weller's Books, Linda Brummett of BYU Bookstore, and Betsy Burton of The King's English. MPBA members and non-members are invited.

Following the MPBA forum will be "Cost of Goods Sold, 101," from 10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. This seminar for owners, managers, and booksellers is an expansion of the "Gross Margin/Cost of Goods Sold" component of the well-received "Two Percent Solution" seminar offered this past fall during the MPBA trade show. The program includes an examination of what Cost of Goods Sold is, how it fits into and affects a bookstore's operating results, and finally, the best, easiest, and most accurate way to calculate it. An accurate calculation of Costs of Goods Sold is essential if a bookseller is to know whether a store is profitable or not.

After lunch, which will be provided from 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., booksellers will have the opportunity to ask questions, express opinions, and hear from colleagues at the ABA Booksellers Forum. Constructive input provided by members at past forums has been indispensable in shaping the association's programs and initiatives, and this year is expected to be no different. ABA members are encouraged to come and be heard. Moderating the forum will be ABA COO Oren Teicher, who will be joined by ABA Bookseller Advisory Committee member Betsy Burton.

An ABACUS Workshop will follow the forum. Booksellers who bring their fiscal 2004 financial statement will receive one-on-one help in completing the 2005 ABACUS study and will also receive a coupon for $50 off their next ABA dues renewal. The ABACUS study is establishing a standard against which each store's financial results can be measured, providing participants, as well as the bookselling community as a whole, with invaluable information.

For planning purposes, booksellers who wish to attend ABA programming are asked to RSVP to ABA's Kristen Gilligan at kristen@bookweb.org.

For more information about the MPBA forum, visit www.mountainsplains.org, or contact Lisa Knudsen at lisa@mountainsplains.org or (800) 752-0249.

ABA will be returning to the MPBA region (Denver) for a second forum and education program in early April. Look for details, and more on other ABA regional forums, in upcoming editions of BTW.

Here's a recap of the January 8 programming:

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. -- MPBA Booksellers Forum With Coffee & Croissants
10:15 a.m. -11:45 a.m. -- Cost of Goods Sold, 101
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. -- Lunch
12:45 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. -- ABA Booksellers Forum
2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. -- ABACUS Workshop

Fresco Restaurant at The King's English Bookstore
1511 S. 1500 E.
Salt Lake City, UT 84105
Tel: (801) 484-9100
Web: www.kingsenglish.com