A Peek at Highlights From the Upcoming MBA and MPIBA Shows

The Midwest (MBA) and Mountains & Plains (MPIBA) booksellers association trade shows, which take place from September 22 - 23 and September 30 - October 2, respectively, will provide members with a full range of educational programming, author events, and networking opportunities. Both will also be implementing some changes to their past formats.

American Booksellers Association staff will be at each regional to present educational programming and to meet with booksellers on the trade show floors, where they’ll be signing up non-members for a special free trial membership. The special offer is open to any regular bookstore that hasn’t been an ABA member in the past two years. The trial runs from the fall until January 31, 2012, and includes all the benefits of membership: an invitation to Winter Institute 7 in New Orleans, access to IndieCommerce and Google eBooks™, IndieBound DIY files and in-store POS, the Book Buyer’s Handbook, and all of the additional members-only resources of ABA.

Key among ABA’s offerings at the shows is a special presentation in conjunction with staff from the U.S. Small Business Administration that will explain how indie booksellers can take advantage of SBA’s services, including how to have the best chance possible of securing loans and lines of credit.

Midwest Booksellers Association: September 22 - 23, in Minneapolis [1]

“We have quite a few changes in store for this year, the most exciting of which is the new venue,” said MBA Executive Director Carrie Obry. The conference will be held at The Depot in downtown Minneapolis, which is an historic train station that has been converted into a hotel and conference center. The show floor is a converted ice rink surrounded by large windows, and the author events will be held in The Depot's Great Hall. “All in all, it's going to be a classy affair,” said Obry.

Unlike the trade show’s past venues, The Depot integrates the meeting rooms, show floor, restaurant, bar, and sleeping rooms in one place, which will be conducive to spending more time with colleagues. “We’re hoping this inspiring location will create a greater feeling of camaraderie and connection,” said Obry. “We want everyone to leave our show feeling like they not only got value out of the exhibit, education, and author events, but also from being able to spend more time with one another.”

MBA will also be officially rebranding itself at the show as the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association, “to better reflect our mission,” she added.

Several authors that “especially represent the power of independent bookselling” will be in attendance for the Midwest Booksellers Choice Awards [2] reception, and this year’s education presenters include some from outside of the realm of bookselling. “I took a nod from Winter Institute,” said Obry, by working to get non-booksellers that have valuable information, such as a gift shop owner who is well-versed in merchandising. “There’s a fresh mix of people involved in the sessions, and I hope this contributes to a lively exchange.”

In addition to ABA’s session in conjunction with the Small Business Administration, ABA Development Officer Mark Nichols will present a session that will update booksellers on the new ABC Group at ABA.

The full trade show schedule is available on the MBA website [1], but here’s a look at ABA programming at the show on Thursday, September 22:

• What can the SBA do for your bookstore?: 9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
  The resources of the U.S. government’s Small Business Administration (SBA) offer a wide range of assistance to new and established booksellers, including loans, loan guarantees, business counseling, and other forms of support. ABA and SBA have established a strategic alliance in order to streamline the delivery of SBA services, improve communications, and help ensure that booksellers seeking working capital have the best chance possible of securing loans and lines of credit. Come to this session, introduced by ABA, and hear directly from SBA representatives about the programs and opportunities for booksellers. There will also be an opportunity to meet one-on-one with SBA staff.

• Introducing the ABC Group at ABA: 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
  Now that ABA and ABC have merged, general trade stores get to enjoy ABC's perspective in growing their children's section. The children's book market is one of the most vibrant and growing categories in bookselling. Hear relevant data from the recent Bowker/PubTrack survey, and learn how you can use your member benefits to better market your store to increase sales.

Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association: September 30 - October 2, in Denver [3]

“This year’s show offers myriad new programs and educational sessions, and it is my personal goal, along with that of the MPIBA Board, to make it the most dynamic, educational, and exciting show we’ve ever had,” said Executive Director Laura Ayrey. “We are determined to provide a forum for our booksellers to discuss current topics trending in our industry as well as offer the opportunity to spend time with some of the brightest authors, reps, publishers, and industry professionals with whom we are lucky enough to work. With both the new programming and the return of popular events such as Pick of The Lists, Authors of Future Releases Breakfast, Author Dinner Banquet for Literacy, Writer’s Conference, and more, this year’s show is not to be missed!

“Some exciting new programs that MPIBA is rolling out,” during the show at the Renaissance Denver Hotel, Ayrey said, are:

• The Bookseller’s Lounge – Friday, September 30, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Ask a Bookseller/Mentoring and One-on-One Vendor Visits with Edelweiss, ABA, SBA; other participants to be announced

• Afternoon Author Tea – This new program gives booksellers a chance to chat with some of the industry’s brightest stars. Each author will join a table for refreshments and open-ended conversation. Three sessions of 20 minutes each, with authors rotating among the bookseller roundtables. The Children’s Tea will take place on Friday, September 30, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Adult Tea will take place on Saturday, October 1, 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

• Sidelines Hallway Show – Saturday, October 1, 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.: Sidelines vendors show off their wares at the entrance to the exhibit hall. This is a great opportunity to stop, peruse, visit, and shop with these vendors

• Publishers: What’s the 411? - Saturday, October 1, 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.: Publishers will design their own topics, formats, and sessions. This is a wonderful new opportunity for publishers to communicate directly to our booksellers regarding any topic that they would like to highlight. There are four slots available in one hour increments.

Representing ABA at the show will be Content Officer Dan Cullen and IndieCommerce Customer Service Representative Valerie Federici. They’ll be in Denver to meet with booksellers in the MPIBA Booksellers Lounge and on the trade show floor and to present a session in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The full trade show schedule is available on the MPIBA website [4]; here are details regarding ABA participation in the show, on Friday, September 30:

• What Can the Small Business Administration do for Your Store?: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
  The resources of the U.S. government’s Small Business Administration (SBA) offer a wide range of assistance to booksellers, including loans, loan guarantees, and business counseling. ABA and SBA have established a strategic alliance in order to streamline the delivery of SBA services, improve communications, and help ensure that booksellers seeking working capital have the best chance possible of securing loans and lines of credit. Hear directly from SBA representatives about programs for booksellers; there will also be an opportunity to meet one-on-one with SBA staff.

• Bookseller’s Lounge: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  Ask a Bookseller/Mentoring and One-on-One Vendor Visits with Edelweiss, ABA, SBA; other participants to be announced.

Chris Finan, president of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression [5], will also be at the show to present a session on Sunday, October 2:

• Book Banning in America: The Fight Continues: 10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
  Booksellers and other trade show attendees are invited to join ABFFE’s president for a discussion of the threat to the free speech rights of kids, which is reflected, in part, in the hundreds of challenges to books in schools and libraries every year. Publishers are under increasing pressure to adopt a book-rating system. And a Wall Street Journal article recently assailed contemporary young adult literature as “a hall of fun-house mirrors, constantly reflecting back hideously distorted portrayals of what life is.”