Next ABA Booksellers Forum in Ann Arbor

On February 6, 2003, the American Booksellers Association, in conjunction with the Great Lakes Booksellers Association (GLBA), will be holding a Booksellers Forum at Weber's Inn in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The day will kick off with a seminar, "Budget and Monitoring Workshop: Watching the Bottom Line," led by ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz, from 8: 30 a.m. - 11: 30 a.m. At the seminar, booksellers will be presented with a series of Excel worksheets that will allow them to integrate into their operations a system of financial controls, which will enable them to predict bookstore performance and then to measure outcomes against those predictions.

The ABA Booksellers Forum will follow the workshop and will run from 11:45 a.m. -1:30 p.m. ABA Booksellers Forums are designed to provide ABA member booksellers with an opportunity to meet and to talk with ABA Board members and senior staff. Participants will have the chance to express their opinions -- as well as to provide input as the association develops new priorities and directions. Over the years, these forums have provided very constructive input from members and have been indispensable in shaping future programs and initiatives of the association. Expected to attend are ABA Board member Karl Pohrt of Shaman Drum Bookshop in Ann Arbor, ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz, and ABA COO Oren Teicher.

After the forum, from 1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., ABA will provide a sneak preview of the new 2003 ABACUS data for all stores that have already submitted their information -- or that will be providing information at the preview. Last year, ABA reintroduced the ABACUS industry study, a proven financial research tool for independent booksellers that offers a wide range of bookselling-specific financial breakdowns and analyses. The new ABACUS has been highly praised by booksellers for its flexibility and ease of use. (See http://news.bookweb.org/read/918 for related story.)

At the ABACUS preview, stores will have the ability to view their store's performance compared to various segments of the independent sector. These sessions are only open to those booksellers who have already submitted their numbers to the ABACUS survey or to those stores that bring their information with them as a ticket of admission. The form to provide bookstore data is located on BookWeb.org at http://www.bookweb.org/read/5786. Bookstore data is held in the strictest of confidence and will ultimately provide booksellers with a wealth of information about comparative bookstore operations.

Ann Arbor Booksellers Forum:

Thursday, February 6
Weber's Inn
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103
(734) 769-2500

Budget & Monitoring Workshop: Watching the Bottom Line -- 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Booksellers Forum -- 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (Lunch provided.)

ABACUS Sneak Preview (ABACUS participants only) -- 1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

To RSVP, contact Kristen Gilligan at ABA via e-mail at kristen@BookWeb.org or by phone at (800) 637-0037, ext. 1286; or contact GLBA by phone at (800) 745-2460 or via e-mail at glba@books_glba.org.