BookExpo

On September 9, BookExpo America (BEA) issued an invitation to the book industry to submit proposals regarding authors and other speakers to participate in special events and education programs at next year's show. BEA 2004 will be held from Wednesday, June 2, to Sunday, June 6, at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.

Response to a special e-mail sent to ABA bookstore members on September 9 announcing reservation information for the Hotel ABA/Chicago, the exclusive host hotel for ABA bookseller members at BookExpo America 2004 (BEA), has been very positive, and rooms are now being reserved on a first come, first served basis.

Building on the success of the Hotel California, which was the exclusive host hotel for ABA bookseller members at this year's BookExpo America (BEA) in Los Angeles, ABA has announced plans for a Hotel ABA/Chicago at BEA 2004.

Few marketing experts would argue with the notion that all businesses, regardless of size, should have a presence on the Internet. However, an issue that does cause debate among Internet experts is exactly how to turn a Web site into a profit center. On May 29, at BookExpo America in Los Angeles, BookSense.com Director Len Vlahos tackled this key question with the help of panelist Luanne Kreutzer of St. Helens Bookshop in St. Helens, Oregon.

On Thursday, May 29, approximately one hundred booksellers attended ABA's Marketing Workshop, held during BookExpo America in Los Angeles. The session, moderated by Michael Hoynes, ABA's marketing officer, focused on strategies and tactics that independent booksellers can use to gain a greater share of current customers' business and to introduce new customers to the unique values of independent bookstores.

Village Books in Bellingham, WA Used books and remainders play a key role in the independent booksellers' ongoing quest for increased margin.

By Neal Coonerty Neal Coonerty, owner of Bookshop Santa Cruz The following is the text of a presentation made by Neal Coonerty, owner of Bookshop Santa Cruz, as part of ABA's all-day educational programming on Thursday, May 29, at BookExpo America.

On Wednesday, June 18, the American Booksellers Association sent an e-mail to all members who had pre-registered for this year's BookExpo America, members of the ABA Board of Directors and Booksellers Advisory Council, and attendees at ABA's all-day education program on Thursday, May 29, at BEA, to seek their input in an effort to improve ABA programming at future shows.

For this year's BookExpo America, BEA management, together with ABA, reserved the overwhelming majority of the Radisson Wilshire Plaza's rooms at a great rate, thereby making the "Hotel California" (as it was dubbed) the exclusive hotel for independent booksellers attending the Los Angeles convention. And, much as it was with the eponymous Eagles' song, the Hotel California was a smash hit.