ABA Forum Program Heads to Ann Arbor and Green Bay

The American Booksellers Association will travel to the Midwest and Great Lakes regions on Friday, April 19, and Saturday, April 20, respectively, to host two of its 11 Spring Forum programs [1]. Each event will feature an open forum discussion of industry issues and the ABA education session “The 10 Things You Must Do Now!” plus additional programming.

ABA’s Spring Forum programs are free and open to all booksellers — ABA members and non-members alike.

Friday, April 19: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Join ABA CEO Oren Teicher and Senior Program Officer Joy Dallanegra-Sanger for ABA’s Spring Forum, presented in conjunction with the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association [2], at Nicola’s Books [3].

Here’s the schedule:

• 10:30 a.m. – Noon: “The Top 10 Things You Must Do Now!”
  This education session presents creative things that booksellers can do to make their stores more successful and profitable in 2013. These best practices were culled from hundreds of ideas submitted by ABA member stores, and each has proven a great success. Topics include marketing/promotion, finances, store operations, human resources, inventory, ambiance, customer service, and more.
   
• Noon – 2:00 p.m.: ABA Booksellers Forum over lunch
  ABA’s CEO will lead an open forum discussion of industry issues. Booksellers are encouraged to come with questions and comments.
   
• 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Kobo eReader Training
  This training session, presented by representatives from Kobo, will focus on the features and uses of Kobo’s eReader lineup. The program is aimed at frontline booksellers, owners, and managers who want to spend more time answering customer questions and promoting devices.
   
• 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Reception sponsored by Random House for author Mardi Jo Link (Bootstrapper: From Broke to Badass on a Northern Michigan Farm, Knopf)

For planning purposes, booksellers who will be attending are asked to RSVP to GLIBA Executive Director Deb Leonard [4] no later than Monday, April 15.

Nicola’s Books is located at 2513 Jackson Road in Ann Arbor.

Green Bay, Wisconsin: Saturday, April 20

Join ABA CEO Oren Teicher and Senior Program Officer Joy Dallanegra-Sanger for ABA’s Spring Forum, presented in conjunction with the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association [5], at The Reader’s Loft [6].

Here’s the schedule:

• 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: “The Top 10 Things You Must Do Now!”
  This education session presents creative things that booksellers can do to make their stores more successful and profitable in 2013. These best practices were culled from hundreds of ideas submitted by ABA member stores, and each has proven a great success. Topics include marketing/promotion, finances, store operations, human resources, inventory, ambiance, customer service, and more.
   
• 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.: ABA Booksellers Forum over lunch
  ABA’s CEO will lead an open forum discussion of industry issues. Booksellers are encouraged to come with questions and comments.
  
  2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Sales Rep Presentations, sponsored by MIBA.

For planning purposes, booksellers who will be attending are asked to RSVP to ABA Member Relationship Manager Nathan Halter [7] no later than Monday, April 15.

The Reader’s Loft is located at 2069 Central Court in Green Bay.