Monday, May 24, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Jacob Javits Convention Center, Room 1C04, New York City

There’s more to owning an independent bookstore than you might think -- no matter the size. This one-day program will help you understand how much it will cost to open, why margins are tight, how much you can earn, what indicators help you predict whether a community can support an indie bookstore, and what it takes to compete in today’s retail marketplace.

The free, one-day "Introduction to Retail Bookselling" seminar will be held inconjunction with BookExpo America (BEA) and ABA’s Day of Education, sponsored by Ingram. The seminar is geared toward people interested in opening a bookstore. Registration is open to ABA provisional members and employees of regular member stores.

Participants are also eligible to attend the May 25 Day of Education, and for a free badge to the BEA trade show.

Prospective booksellers who are not currently members of ABA can join and participate in all three events.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

Agenda

Morning -- Dollars and Sense

• Introduction to the Book Industry: An overview, including an examination of who buys books (9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.)
• Community Dynamics: Can yours support a bookstore? (10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.)
• Break (10:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.)
• Opening Costs (10:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.)
• A Timeline for Opening (11:15 a.m. - 11:35 a.m.)
• Question & Answer Session (11:35 a.m. - Noon)

Lunch (Bring your own bag lunch)

• Group Exercise: How will you compete?(Noon - 1:15 p.m.)

Afternoon -- What to Expect

• How to Compete in Today’s Marketplace (1:15 p.m. - 1:35 p.m.)
• Learning From a Guest Bookseller (1:35 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.)
• Exercise: Skills Assessment (2:15 p.m. -2:30 p.m.)
• Financial Dynamics (2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.)
• Break (3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.)
• How Much You Can Earn (3:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.)
• Video: What a Great Bookstore (4:15 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.)
• Trade Show Highlights / Question & Answer Session (4:25 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.)

Questions about the seminar program should be addressed to ABA Education Manager Lisa Winn; questions about membership should be directed to Membership and Marketing Officer Meg Smith.