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The independent market's impact on overall sales is a well-established fact of the publishing industry. Even when sales occur online, discovery happens in person. The collective voice of our booksellers’ promotional efforts can bring a book to the attention of readers in a way no other marketing plan can. We’re here to help you reach this vital market.
Whether you’re a large, small, independent, or corporately owned publisher; a wholesaler or distributor; or a vendor with bookstore merchandise — please join us and discover the strong community of independent booksellers throughout the literary Midwest. |
October 11-13, 2017Booth Rates
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Sponsorship |
The Heartland Fall Forum is hosted by two nonprofits and takes a sizable investment of resources to sustain. Many publishers partner with us by sponsoring our show and our events as a way strengthen the independent bookselling market. If you're interested in sponsoring an event at the Heartland Fall Forum, please reserve your sponsorship level via the online form below.
Exhibiting companies can maximize their presence throughout the three-day conference and stretch their dollars by purchasing sponsorship packages at the following levels:
Bookseller Sponsor — $400
Sponsor an individual bookseller and receive:
We encourage you to sponsor as many booksellers as you can!
Gold Sponsor — $5,000 (a $6650 value)
Platinum Sponsor — $9,000 (an $11,050 value)
Exhibiting companies can maximize their presence throughout the three-day conference and stretch their dollars by purchasing sponsorship packages at the following levels:
Bookseller Sponsor — $400
Sponsor an individual bookseller and receive:
- Your name or your company’s name and logo in color on the inside front cover of the program
- Your name or your company’s name and logo on signage at the registration desk
We encourage you to sponsor as many booksellers as you can!
Gold Sponsor — $5,000 (a $6650 value)
- 5 Bookseller sponsorships ($2000 value)
- Name and logo in color on the website and inside front cover of the program
- Name and logo on signage at the registration desk
- Gold drape for your exhibit space on the trade show floor
- Complimentary half-page program ad ($550 value)
- Complimentary email blast to both MIBA and GLIBA booksellers ($400 value)
- One complimentary presenter slot in the Rep Sessions presentation ($100 value)
- One complimentary non-keynote author placement ($250 value)
- Complimentary membership to both MIBA and GLIBA ($350 value)
- Name and logo on all online and printed materials affiliated with an official Heartland Fall Forum event of your choice (subject to availability) ($3000 value)
Platinum Sponsor — $9,000 (an $11,050 value)
- 10 Bookseller Sponsorships ($4000 value)
- Name and logo on the website and the inside front cover of the program
- Name and logo at the registration desk
- Gold drape for your exhibit space on the trade show floor
- Complimentary full-page program ad ($800 value)
- Complimentary email blast to both MIBA and GLIBA booksellers ($400 value)
- Two complimentary booth spaces ($2200 value)
- Two complimentary presenter slots in the Rep Sessions presentation ($200 value)
- Two complimentary non-keynote author placements ($500 value)
- Complimentary membership to both MIBA and GLIBA ($350 value)
- One Guaranteed Keynote author
- Name and logo on all online and printed materials affiliated with an official Heartland Fall Forum event of your choice (subject to availability) ($3000 value)
Exhibitor Registration |
Register to exhibit on the Heartland Fall Forum's trade show floor via the form below.
Information for Registered Exhibitors |
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Set-up Hours
Thursday, October 12: 9:00 am-5:00 pm Friday, October 13: 7:00 am-9:00 am Exhibit Hall Hours Friday, October 13: 9:00 am-5:00 pm Tear-down Hours Friday, October 13: 5:00-8:00 pm Registration Booth Hours Wednesday, October 11: 5:00 pm-8:00 pm Thursday, October 12: 7:00 am-5:00 pm Friday, October 13: 7:00 am-5:00 pm |
Exhibitor Packet
Download our full Exhibitor Packet here. Please note that ONLY BOOTH MATERIALS should be sent to the decorator's drayage. All books for author appearances should follow the guidelines available on our TBD author page. Show Specials
We encourage exhibiting companies to offer special discounts for orders placed on the show floor. You can enter the details of your show specials into the registration form below, or email them separately to robert@midwestbooksellers.org by September 9 to have them included in the official trade show program. |
Badges
As noted above, exhibitors receive free badges as part of their table or booth cost. For each Booth A purchased, exhibitors will receive 5 badges. For each Booth B purchased, exhibitors will receive 4 badges. For each Regular Table, exhibitors will receive 3 badges. For each Small Table, exhibitors will receive 2 badges. Each additional badge is $38.00 and can be purchased at the time of registration. Authors selected to fill an event slot at the show receive complimentary badges. Publishers bringing authors to the show for events on the exhibit floor can use some of their 5 free badges for those authors. If you have questions, please email Robert Martin (robert@midwestbooksellers.org).
As noted above, exhibitors receive free badges as part of their table or booth cost. For each Booth A purchased, exhibitors will receive 5 badges. For each Booth B purchased, exhibitors will receive 4 badges. For each Regular Table, exhibitors will receive 3 badges. For each Small Table, exhibitors will receive 2 badges. Each additional badge is $38.00 and can be purchased at the time of registration. Authors selected to fill an event slot at the show receive complimentary badges. Publishers bringing authors to the show for events on the exhibit floor can use some of their 5 free badges for those authors. If you have questions, please email Robert Martin (robert@midwestbooksellers.org).
Rep Picks Sessions |
Hearing the pick of the lists from sales rep throughout the industry is always a highlight of the show for booksellers.
This year we’ll be offering five simultaneous rep picks sessions on Thursday, October 12 from 3:45-4:45pm. Each session will feature 5-6 reps, with each rep having about 8 minutes to present. Reps will be assigned as needed to balance each session. If you are proposing multiple reps from the same house, each rep is required to present a separate list of titles.
This year we’ll be offering five simultaneous rep picks sessions on Thursday, October 12 from 3:45-4:45pm. Each session will feature 5-6 reps, with each rep having about 8 minutes to present. Reps will be assigned as needed to balance each session. If you are proposing multiple reps from the same house, each rep is required to present a separate list of titles.
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Presenter fee: $100
Payment will not be required until participation is approved. Presenter slots are limited. We reserve the right to accept or deny any application. Application Deadline: July 15, 2017
No application will be accepted until exhibitor registration is complete. We will follow up separately for more information about your proposed presentation, including title lists. Rep Session Assignments available August 14, 2017
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These sessions are not scheduled against any education sessions or the trade show floor; your only competition will be each other. Rather than the speed-dating or “Rep Around” format we’ve used in years past, this format will ensure booksellers hear from a broad group of publishers, and that publishers will be able to reach an entire room of booksellers rather than only those at the tables they visit.
Participating reps must be part of an exhibiting company to participate. When you register, you will receive a confirmation email that includes a link to our online Rep Picks Sessions application. If you have registered and cannot find the link in your confirmation email, or if any other issues arise with regard to your rep sessoin application, contact Deb Leonard at Deb@Gliba.org.
Participating reps must be part of an exhibiting company to participate. When you register, you will receive a confirmation email that includes a link to our online Rep Picks Sessions application. If you have registered and cannot find the link in your confirmation email, or if any other issues arise with regard to your rep sessoin application, contact Deb Leonard at Deb@Gliba.org.
Maximize your Presence at the Heartland Fall Forum |
If you are planning to exhibit at the upcoming Heartland Fall Forum there are some things you can do to make the most of opportunities the show provides to connect with booksellers. Having a strategy in place to draw people to your booth is important to making the show a success for you. Here are some steps you can take to maximize your exposure.In Advance of the Show
At the Show
After the Show
- Request a mailing list
Although it is difficult to obtain an attendee list before the event, if you are a member of either MIBA or GLIBA you can request a mailing list of that association's member bookstores at any time. The list includes both snail mail and email contact information. Use the list to communicate with booksellers in advance of the show. Reminding them of a booth signing or offering a small give-away they can pick up at the booth is an effective way to generate traffic to your exhibit space. - Develop a 40-second pitch
An important part of your success on the show floor is your sales pitch. Prepare a 40-second pitch in advance so that when booksellers come by, in addition to having something to give them, you also know what you want to say. Ask yourself: What is the most important information they need to hear? Don't repeat the info that is on the giveaway, but add new information. One idea is to tell booksellers what kind of reader or customer will buy this book. "If they like A, B and C, they will love [your title]" OR "This isn't like anything else - imagine eating an orange for the first time - that is how this book makes you feel." You want something memorable and catchy. But your 40-second book pitch is the key.
- Make your social network connections early
Here are the bookstore members of both MIBA and GLIBA. Go on Facebook and like them all. Say nice things about them and let them know you will be at the show and what your booth number is and that you look forward to meeting or seeing them again.
At the Show
- Table tricks
As enticing as it is, there is more to a successful exhibit than a stack of books on a table. Make your booth look attractive and inviting. Have things going on. Engage with folks. Ask them to sign up for your email newsletter. Offer them a piece of candy. Keep that 40 seconds in your pocket at all times. Remember to have fun. Smile even when you're tired. Don't let the last person's attitude infect your encounter with the next person unless it was really good! - Don’t forget your auction items
Every exhibitor can donate items to the BINC Charity Auction. Have some items on display in your booth that attendees can bid on at the BINC booth on the show floor. A representative from BINC will be circulating during setup to provide branded flags to signal that the item is available for auction. - Sharing the good times while they are happening
Use your smartphone. Folks (mostly) love having their picture taken. Offer to take photos of friends together in front of your booth. Use their phone or yours. Better to use yours because then you get their info so you can send the photo to them. Have some props or a frame that promotes you and is fun for them. Post photos you take from the show and ask people to tag themselves.
- Complain to the right people
Negativity does not sell books, so don't complain, except to each other, or to staff. Staff are the only folks who can fix problems and no one else wants to hear about them. If you have an issue at your booth talk to one of the board members stationed in the MIBA and GLIBA booths on the show floor, or at the information/registration booth.
After the Show
- Follow up
Follow up with everyone who is expecting to hear from you and write thank you notes to the booksellers who stopped by and left you their card or email. It’s like writing thank-you cards for Christmas gifts—people appreciate being remembered and it keeps the lines of communication open between you and your new accounts. - Be publicly appreciative
Tag people on Facebook that you met and thank them there. Post any photos you have and share them. Bookstores will appreciate the extra boost of visibility. - Keep the Heartland Fall Forum in the loop
Be sure and include the Heartland Fall Forum when you are tagging and posting. We’ll return the favor. Heartland's Twitter handle is @MidwestBookShow, and our hashtag is #HFFXX (in 2017, that’s #HFF17).
