2016 Archive
Thursday, October 6
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Plenary Session: Ideas That Work
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Romancing Your Sales Do you know if there are romance readers in your store? Are you making them welcome, training staff to destigmatize genre reading? Learn how you can communicate to authors and readers that you are a safe space for genre and learn how the fan behavior today mobilizes loyalty and sales like never before in this avid consumer base! Cultivate a shortlist of titles to keep in stock, assemble a team of author and reader experts to help you cultivate what goes on your genre shelves, and learn how to harness the grassroots power of this social-media savvy audience to help accelerate book sales. Moderator: Emily Hall (Main Street Books, St. Charles MO) Panelists: Elizabeth Hoyt (bestselling author of the Maiden Lane romance series); Whitney Spotts (Shuler Books and Music, Grand Rapids MI); Becky Anderson (Anderson's Bookshop, Naperville IL) |
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Independent Bookstores & Indie Authors
As more and more authors look to self-publish their books, they are consistently looking for advice from their local independent bookseller. In the past, self-publishers may have posed more of a nuisance to a busy bookseller. But today, many bookstores are seeing this as an opportunity to turn authors into customers. The ways in which independent stores work with self-published authors are as unique and varied as the stores themselves. Different models for working with self-published authors will be discussed, from consignment to creating a store-specific publishing program. This not only brings new content to readers, but adds value to the entire publishing industry. This session will showcase current booksellers who have successfully built such programs and introduce you to IngramSpark, a publish-on- demand service for authors. Learn how to bridge the gap in conversations between a bookseller and author; find positive solutions for rejecting and re-directing authors; utilize IngramSpark for in-store publishing programs. Moderated by Nancy Rohlen (Ingram) Panelists: Josh Floyd (Ingram); Suzy Takacs (The Book Cellar, Chicago IL); Kate Schlademan (The Learned Owl, Hudson OH), Annie Metcalf (Magers & Quinn Booksellers, Minneapolis MN) |
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ABA Presents: Understanding and Acting on your ABACUS-15 Report
ABACUS is important because it is the only financial benchmarking tool for the independent bookselling industry. Booksellers who participate in the confidential survey receive a customized report that puts their store’s finances within a fully intelligible industry framework, which provides context, insight, and essential benchmarking guidelines to improve financial performance. Booksellers nationwide, in markets of all sizes, have found ABACUS to be an essential key to strategic and business planning, access to capital, negotiations with landlords, and much more. At this session, ABA staff andboard member will share information about ABACUS participation and will review top-line financial data from this year's report to demonstrate how booksellers can use the information to improve their business' performance. Come with your questions and leave with a better understanding of what ABACUS is and how to use its data. Featuring ABA staff and Kris Kleindienst (Left Bank Books, St. Louis MO) |
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How to Write a Blurb
Blurbs are used to quickly tell people what's worth knowing about a book you loved. You've got to use sharp, convincing writing to convey important information in very little space. Learn some basic mechanics, tips, and tricks of how to write a successful blurb. Attendees will spend time writing blurbs and shelf talkers so come prepared to write about two favorite books or recent releases. Moderated by Suzanne DeGaetano (Mac's Backs-Books on Coventry, Cleveland Heights OH) Panelists: Peter Geye (author of Wintering); Johanna Hynes (PGW); Catherine Cusick (ABA staff); Hans Weyandt (Milkweed Books) |
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Graphic Novels
Graphic novels accounted for $500 million in sales in 2015. Should you be paying more attention to this growing group of readers? Discussion will cover how to sell, how to buy, and how to manage your inventory. Moderator: Susan Thomas (Coffee Tree Books, Morehead KY) Panelists: Aja Martin (Indigo Bridge Books and Cafe, Lincoln NE); Nicholas Sinsi (Diamond Books); Gillette Kempf (An Open Book, Wadena MN) |
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Introduction to Edelweiss+
Edelweiss has been updated with a new site, Edelweiss+. This session will walk you through how to do all the things you’re used to doing in Edelweiss using this new and improved platform. Moderated by Ruth Bradstreet of Above the Treeline |
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The Big Buzz
Frontline booksellers discuss the hottest titles in the forthcoming season. Get psyched for the trade show floor with lunch, a cash bar, and some good, old-fashioned bookselling enthusiasm. Featuring Jennifer Geraedts, Pamela Klinger Horn, Dana Schulz, Katie McGinley, Jessilynn Norcross, and Tom Lowry.
Frontline booksellers discuss the hottest titles in the forthcoming season. Get psyched for the trade show floor with lunch, a cash bar, and some good, old-fashioned bookselling enthusiasm. Featuring Jennifer Geraedts, Pamela Klinger Horn, Dana Schulz, Katie McGinley, Jessilynn Norcross, and Tom Lowry.
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Jen Geraedts
Beagle & Wolf Adult Buzz |
Jessilynn Norcross
McLean & Eakin Kids Buzz |
Katie McGinley
Wild Rumpus Kids Buzz |
Kelly Estep
Carmichael's Kids Buzz |
Tom Lowry
Lowry's Books Sidelines Buzz |
Pamela Klinger-Horn
Excelsior Bay Books Adult Buzz |
Dana Schulz
Snowbound Books Adult Buzz |
Friday, October 7
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Independent Bookstore Day
Independent Bookstore Day, held on the last Saturday of April, is a one-day celebration of indie bookstores, bookselling, and the entire literary ecosystem! At its core are exclusive, just-for-indies books and literary items from major publishers and authors. In 2016 430 bookstores from around the US participated, generating an average sales increase of 200%. Four Midwestern stores, some initially skeptical, talk with the national IBD Program Director about what works, what doesn't, and why you should JOIN THE PARTY! Moderated by Kris Kleindienst (Left Bank Books, St. Louis MO) Panelists: Samantha Schoech (Independent Bookstore Day); Joanna Parzakonis (The Bookbug, Kalamazoo MI); Matt Keliher (Subtext Books, St. Paul MN), Nina Barrett (Bookends and Beginnings, Evanston IL) |
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Marketing Workshop with Beth Golay of Books & Whatnot
We all promote and market our bookstores, but do we know what’s working or why it is? Discuss hands-on examples of ways you are already marketing your bookshop with tips and tricks to make life easier. Understand and analyze what we should be doing and why it works. Websites, email marketing, and social media are already parts of our marketing strategy, so come see examples of what works, what we can all do better, and most importantly why these techniques work. Moderated by Larry Law (Anderson's Bookshop, Naperville IL) Panelist: Beth Golay (Books & Whatnot) |
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Connecting to Your Inner Leadership Self - offered by the Shannon Leadership Institute
What is your natural leadership style? What fuels you to do this work? Come to this interactive workshop to explore who you are as a leader, and how to remain an authentic leader both in the workplace and in your personal lives. Owners, managers and staff are welcome to attend. Attendees will walk away with: A deeper understanding of your core values and how they play out in your work; check-points for renewal and a plan of action to avoid burnout; awareness of your personal leadership style and your blind spots; understanding of how to leverage your leadership style to maximize effectiveness and bridge across different leadership styles. |
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Education for Authors: Taking Part in the Indie Renaissance
Rock Island Indie bookstores are the movers and shakers of the bookselling world, helping authors build their careers. How can authors take best advantage of this? In this session, we invite all Heartland authors (that is, traditionally published authors) to learn from education designed precisely for them. We'll cover social media, how to reach out to indies, preparing for indie events, what a fantastic author event includes (ie, not a lot of reading from your book!) This is a two-hour session, and if not all time is used for education, we encourage authors to mingle and get to know one another. Panelists: Linda White (BookMania) and Pamela Klinger Horn (Excelsior Bay Books, Excelsior MN), and author Wendy Webb |
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Online Tools
Hiawatha 1 Even though we've all had those days where it doesn't seem true, computers are supposed to make our lives easier! Come see some hands-on examples of the ways bookstores are using online tools and services to simplify their workdays and increase sales. Specific tools the panel will cover: Sign-up Genius; Groupme; Doodle Poll; Survey Monkey; whenIwork.com; googledocs; brownpapertickets.com; Eventbrite; Constant Contact; MailChimp. Moderated by Larry Law (Anderson's Bookshop, Naperville IL) Panelists: John Mesjak (Abraham and Associates); Jessica Peterson White (Content Bookstore, Northfield MN) |
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The Changing Landscape of Purchasing
Get smart about your buying habits. With various options like publishers, distributors, and individual authors, ordering your inventory can be overwhelming. We will discuss the best practices for frontlist vs. backlist, direct vs. indirect ordering, and take a brief step into the murky waters of co-op credits, returns, and promo codes. Moderated by Jessilynn Norcross (McLean & Eakin, Petoskey MI) Panelists: Sue Boucher (Cottage Book Shop, Glen Arbor MI), Mark Fleeman (Fujii Associates) |
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