“A Tremendously Productive Experience”: ABA Bookseller/Publisher Focus Groups

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Among the innovations at Winter Institute 8 was a series of Bookseller/Publisher Focus Groups that received rave reviews from participating booksellers and publishers.

“The publisher groups at this year’s institute were particularly rewarding, and I am so pleased that the ABA has extended them to BEA. I have already registered to participate once again,” said Bill Cusumano of Nicola’s Books in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

“Our session was extremely informative for both the booksellers and the publisher,” said Elliott Bay Book Company’s Tracy Taylor. “We were listened to, and we had a frank discussion about what is, and isn’t, helpful to bookstores when publicizing books.”

“The candid conversations, ideas, and suggestions that came out of our Publisher Focus Group session at Winter Institute were tremendously productive and valuable to both Algonquin and the participating booksellers, and it was exciting to hear that my publishing counterparts had the same positive experience in their sessions,” said Craig Popelars, the director of marketing for Algonquin Books.  “We’re all in the business of wanting to sell more books, so it’s important that both publishers and booksellers take more advantage of these focus group sessions to ensure that we’re all hearing each other above the everyday white noise, responding together to an ever-changing marketplace, and aligning ourselves to ensure smart growth and success.”

Booksellers who are interested in meeting with publishers to discuss issues of common interest and mutual concern at BookExpo America 2013 must sign up by May 3.

Assignments to a specific publisher will be made randomly for one of six time slots listed below. An e-mail with assignments will be sent from ABA’s Mark Nichols during the week of May 13.
 
Participation in the focus groups is limited to two booksellers per ABA member company. A unique e-mail address is required for each bookseller. Requests for specific publishers and/or time slots cannot be accommodated, and booksellers are asked not to change appointments during the show.
 
Thursday, May 30

  • 9:50 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.
  • 11:00 a.m. - Noon

Friday, May 31

  • 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
  • 3:10 p.m. - 4:10 p.m.

Saturday, June 1

  • 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
  • 11:10 a.m. - 12:10 p.m.

Sign up now for ABA’s Bookseller/Publisher Focus Groups. Complete details about ABA programming at BEA are available here.