ABA Board members and local business alliance activists Steve Bercu of BookPeople in Austin, Texas, and Becky Anderson of Anderson's Bookshops in Naperville, Illinois, were the featured speakers at the American Booksellers Association's panel "Independent Retailing in 2008: A Report on the Shop Local Movement," moderated by ABA COO Oren Teicher, at BookExpo America.

The American Booksellers Association is asking every bookseller who participated in its programming last week at BookExpo America for feedback on the Day of Education sessions, special events, and bookseller lounge.

Materials binder replaced by downloadable handouts

Ingram Book Group and Ingram Publisher Services to Underwrite Bookseller Education

The American Booksellers Association announced today the formation of a new strategic partnership with Ingram Book Company and Ingram Publisher Services to underwrite bookseller education for the next three years. The new partnership will begin with ABA's Day of Education being held in Hollywood, California, on Thursday, May 29, in conjunction with BookExpo America.

Prospective booksellers who are interested in participating in "Opening a Bookstore: Creating Foundations for Success," a school sponsored by the American Booksellers Association and facilitated by Paz & Associates at BookExpo America, must register by Wednesday, May 7. The school program will run from Tuesday afternoon, May 27, through Thursday, May 29, at Hotel ABA, the Renaissance Hollywood, in Los Angeles.

Materials related to five of this year's ABA Day of Education sessions at BookExpo America 2008 are currently available to all ABA member booksellers via downloadable PDFs on BookWeb: "Building and Rewarding Customer Loyalty," "Green Retailing," "Creating Killer Events," "

For booksellers, becoming greener means incorporating environmentally friendly practices in day-to-day operations, as well as meeting the needs of a growing number of consumers looking for reliable information on everything from the science of global warming to public policies and personal practices that can help make the world a better place to live.

For prospective booksellers who may be daunted by the idea of creating a business plan, learning what resources are available to help is a good first step.

For the approximately 500 booksellers who attended the American Booksellers Association's 2008 Winter Institute, there were 24 education sessions to pick from, on topics ranging from developing a business plan to better understanding customer behavior and reaching today's "digital natives."

Hiring and retaining smart, well-read, personable booksellers is one key to staying competitive in the marketplace. While the ability to pay high salaries and offer bonuses and perks can go a long way toward attracting and keeping qualified employees, that's not the only solution to the compensation conundrum. By thinking creatively, and strategically, about the intangible benefits of working in a bookstore, store owners and managers can find ways to show employees they are valued, and that the bookstore is a great place to work, now and for years to come.