News - Regional

The 2002 Northern California Independent Booksellers Association (NCIBA) Trade Show was held at the Oakland Convention Center in Oakland, California, from October 4 - 6. Hut Landon, executive director for NCIBA, told BTW that the mood at this year's show was upbeat, and, overall, there was a slight increase in attendance -- even on Sunday, when the Giants, A's, and 49ers were all vying for Bay Area attention.

With an emphasis on the regional and the practical, the Great Lakes Booksellers Association (GLBA) 2002 Fall Trade Show was held on September 27 - 29 at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Michigan. Both the new venue and new special events more than lived up to organizers' and attendees' expectations. Jim Dana, executive director of GLBA, described the show as full of energy: "There was a really warm response [to the new venue] and high satisfaction.

The 2002 Upper Midwest Booksellers Association (UMBA) Trade Show was held at the RiverCentre complex in St. Paul, Minnesota, from September 27-29. Susan Walker, executive director for UMBA, told Bookselling This Week that, overall, the show went very well. She was particularly excited that the new UMBA show schedule seemed to work successfully. "We felt that the new things we tried in our schedule received a good reception from attendees, "Walker said, and then added: "But it's more important what people attending the show thought, not me!"

The 2002 Southern California Booksellers Association (SCBA) Annual Authors Feast and Fall Seminars will be held Saturday, October 26, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Pasadena, California. The day will include a full agenda of educational workshops and seminars and will be capped by the 10th Annual Authors Feast.

The 2002 SEBA Fall Trade Show brought over 1,000 booksellers, exhibitors, authors, and others in the industry to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for three days of professional development, networking, exhibit aisle marathons, author interaction, and even a busman's holiday to a South Florida bookselling landmark.

On Thursday, September 12, the California Board of Equalization (BOE) issued a Memorandum Opinion stating that Barnesandnoble.com was obligated to pay California back use taxes for a period of four-plus months -- from November 15, 1999, to March 31, 2000. BOE ruled that, because the bricks-and-mortar Barnes & Noble stores were offering customers coupons that discounted purchases made at its online store, Barnesandnoble.com had established a physical presence, or nexus, in the state of California.

The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA) held its fall trade show from September 13 - 15 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. Booksellers who spoke to BTW said that this year's show was very upbeat. Said Thom Chambliss, executive director for PNBA, "The show was well received. From a management standpoint, this year's show went smoothly."

The New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA) Fall Trade Show will be held on Sunday and Monday, October 13 - 14, at the Philadelphia Marriott. "Build a Better Bookstore" is the theme of this year's show, and a full day of educational programming on Sunday will help booksellers do just that. In addition, on Monday, more than 350 publishers will be represented on the trade show floor, which is open from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

In a new hotel facility, and with a new executive director, the Mid-South Independent Booksellers Association (MSIBA) held its fall trade show in New Orleans from September 5 - 8. By all reports, the show was a great success and an opportunity for booksellers from the far-flung corners of this large regional association (in square miles) to learn, network, and recharge their enthusiasm for the coming year.

The Southeast Booksellers Association (SEBA) has a solution for those who can't make it to this year's regional -- attend its trade show via the Internet. SEBA recently announced that it is launching a Virtual Trade Show in conjunction with this year's regional show, which is being held September 20 - 22 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.