ABA to Go to the NAIBAhood

On Thursday, April 20, American Booksellers Association staff will be at the Holiday Inn Carrier Circle in Syracuse, New York, for a Booksellers Forum and Education Program in conjunction with the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association's NAIBAhood Gathering. The forum and education program includes lunch and is free to all ABA and NAIBA members -- bookstore owners and staff.

The event, to run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., begins with a presentation by BookSense.com Director Len Vlahos of ABA's popular "The 2% Solution" seminar, which focuses on the drivers of bookstore profitability and how they can be used to move a business to greater profitability. Specific suggestions and ideas about how a bookseller can work on sales, gross margin, total compensation, and occupancy expenses will be provided.

Rob Stahl, the general book manager for the Colgate Bookstore in Hamilton, new York, who is hosting the event on behalf of NAIBA, told BTW, "We're very appreciative of ABA for offering educational programming [and] we think 'The 2% Solution' will appeal to most of our members across the board.... We're looking forward to a good turnout."

At the ABA Booksellers Forum, beginning at 12:15 p.m., ABA COO Oren Teicher and Vlahos will provide attendees with an update on association programs and initiatives. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions of ABA staff and to share ideas and suggestions. Also in attendance from ABA will be Marketing Director Jill Perlstein and Kristen Gilligan, associate director of programming and constituent groups liaison. The format of the forum encourages the discussion of regional as well as national issues affecting independent booksellers. Over the years, these forums have provided ABA with very constructive member input that has been indispensable in shaping future programs and initiatives.

To help ABA make arrangements for the forum program, booksellers who are planning to attend are asked to contact Margaret Petrie at margaret@bookweb.org or (800) 637-0037, ext. 6614.

Earlier in the month, on Sunday, April 9, NAIBA will hold a NAIBAhood Gathering focusing on "Emerging Leaders," from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Bridge Street Bookshop in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, which opened on July 1, 2005. The event will be hosted by Suzanne Kelly, owner of Bridge Street Bookshop, and is aimed at booksellers who have opened or taken over a bookstore in the past five years, as well as the professional staff from any store who see their future in bookselling."

At the event, which is free of charge, NAIBA encourages booksellers "to share and learn from each others' accomplishments, missteps, and vision, and help shape the future of bookselling."

NAIBA is raffling off a complimentary hotel room for its 2006 tradeshow (September 16 and 17 at the Valley Forge Convention Center) at each NAIBAhood gathering.

Booksellers interested in attending the Phoenixville program should RSVP to NAIBA at (877) 866-2422 or info@naiba.com.