Booksellers Forum Tour Heads to Michigan in April

The American Booksellers Association will hold a Booksellers Forum program in conjunction with the Great Lakes Booksellers Association on Wednesday, April 16, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The owners and staff of all ABA and GLBA member stores are encouraged to attend the event, which will be held at Schuler Books & Music at 2660 28th Street SE in Grand Rapids.

The program will feature an education component and an opportunity to discuss concerns and hear the latest news about the association's services and initiatives from ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz and COO Oren Teicher.

Here's a look at the schedule:

• 10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.: Registration and Coffee

• 10:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.: Welcome and Bookstore Tour

• 10:30 a.m. - Noon: ABA's "Booksellers at the Tipping Point: Leveraging Localism and Independence to Promote Your Store" The concepts of localism, independence, and sustainability are gaining traction with consumers. In this session, booksellers will hear how the retail marketplace has evolved to allow these phenomena to take root and grow. They'll also learn how to leverage and exploit these powerful tools to more effectively market and promote their stores.

• Noon - 2:00 p.m.: ABA/GLBA Forum Over Lunch Participants will hear updates on association programs and initiatives, as well as have an opportunity to voice concerns and offer input on the future direction of the association. Owners and store staff are encouraged to attend to gain a broader perspective on how their stores fit into the larger industry, as well as to exchange ideas with their fellow booksellers.

For planning purpose, booksellers who will be attending are asked to RSVP to ABA's Sarah Rettger at sarah@bookweb.org. Questions about the program should also be directed to the same e-mail address.