ABA to Offer Education at Fall Trade Shows

By Rosemary Hawkins on Thursday, Aug 12, 2010

The fall trade show season is just around the corner, and the American Booksellers Association is busy planning its education offerings to be presented in conjunction with regional programming at the nine events. ABA will also have a booth on the trade show floor at each, where booksellers can learn about membership specials and enter their names for a chance to win a scholarship to ABA's Sixth Annual Winter Institute, to be held January 19 - 21, 2011, just outside of Washington, D.C.

Here's a quick look at what ABA has planned for the first three shows; watch for more information and details about ABA programming at the additional six shows in upcoming editions of Bookselling This Week. Details about regional programming and trade show registration information can be found on the respective regional websites.

New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA): September 21 –22, Trump Marina, Atlantic City, New Jersey

ABA staff at the show will include ABA COO Len Vlahos and Member Relations Manager Kaitlin Pitcher.

  • Buying and Spending Your Way to Success: September 21, 10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
    By understanding and controlling your cost of goods sold, you can grow your gross margin. When you're practicing intelligent buying and have maximized your gross margin, you will be in a better position to spend your dollars with the greatest impact, and the result will be a healthier business. ABA COO Len Vlahos is the presenter of this session focusing on procedures that will help you implement better financial management.
  • Practical Ways to Use IndieCommerce: September 21, 4:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
    Vlahos will moderate a discussion on the updated IndieCommerce product, answer questions, and provide a demonstration.

Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association (MPIBA): September 23 – 25, Marriott Denver Tech Center, Denver, Colorado

ABA staff will include Content Officer Dan Cullen and Member Relations Manager Elizabeth Nichols.

  • Linked by Passion – Growing Sales Through Local Retail Partnerships: September 23, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    By working with other indie businesses in your community, you can grow sales. But how can you convince your indie neighbors that participating in cross promotions or other shared events can strengthen their businesses as well? Come learn from a panel of independent retailers who have successfully created such partnerships.

Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA): September 24 – 26, The Plazas, Daytona, Florida

ABA staff will include ABA CEO Oren Teicher and Senior Customer Service Coordinator for IndieCommerce Scott Nafz.

  • The Value of IndieCommerce & The Retailer Place, September 24, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
    Moderated by Nicki Leone, this panel will feature ABA IndieCommerce's Scott Nafz and Baker & Taylor’s The Retailer Place whiz-master, as well as booksellers who are using these e-commerce products to connect with customers. Questions to be answered include: What are the fees? How is shipping handled? Can the store sell e-books through the site? Offer affiliate programs? Add our own inventory? What about non-book items? What percentage of sales does the store get to keep? Can people request gift-wrapping or a personal note? Can we offer a discount on selected titles? Is there a store events calendar? What if the bookstore already has a website? Get your answers here.

Other fall shows where ABA will be offering programming are:

Watch BTW for details.

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