ABA Spring Booksellers Forums Kick Off in Omaha and Atlanta

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Booksellers are invited to join American Booksellers Association CEO Oren Teicher and Senior Program Officer Joy Dallanegra-Sanger at an ABA Spring Forum in Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday, March 11, or Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday, March 12. The events are the first in a schedule of 10 Booksellers Forums to be held from March 11 through April 29 in conjunction with the regional booksellers associations in locations around the country.

ABA’s Spring Forums are free and open to all booksellers, members and non-members alike.

The Omaha and Atlanta meetings will feature an open forum discussion of industry issues over lunch and the education session “Exploring New Markets.”  Thoughtful innovation, combined with organized planning and execution, is key to successfully tapping new — and profitable — markets. This session will review a number of opportunities in both customer demographics and proven sales and marketing initiatives, emphasizing the practical steps necessary to implement appropriate programs in your store.

The spring programs are invaluable opportunities for members to share best practices with their colleagues and with ABA, and for ABA to garner meaningful feedback on a wide range of topics. Booksellers are encouraged to come prepared to share their thoughts, concerns, and insights.

Here’s a look at the schedules:

Wednesday, March 11, 2015, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
ABA Education and Forum in conjunction with the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association

The Market Basket, Countryside Village Shopping Center, 911 S. 87th Avenue, Omaha

  • 10:30 a.m. to Noon:  Exploring New Markets
  • Noon to 2:00 p.m.:  ABA Booksellers Forum discussion

MIBA will also be hosting a reception featuring authors with newly released or forthcoming books at The Bookworm of Omaha directly after the forum. Details are available on MIBA’s dedicated webpage for the event.

For planning purposes, anyone who is planning to attend ABA’s Omaha forum is asked to RSVP to ABA Member Relationship Manager Catherine Cusick by Wednesday, March 4. Please include the subject line “MIBA Spring Forum RSVP (Omaha)” in the e-mail.

Thursday, March 12, 2015, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
ABA Education and Forum in conjunction with the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance

Westin Peachtree Plaza ( Chastain Room H & I), 210 Peachtree Street NW, Atlanta

  • 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.:  Exploring New Markets
  • 12:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.:  ABA Booksellers Forum discussion

SIBA will be hosting a full day of education on the same day, starting with breakfast at 10:00 a.m. (prior to ABA’s education session) through 4:00 p.m. For more information and to register, visit the SIBA website. ABA Members can attend for free but will need to register in advance. Information on registration for The Great American Bargain Book Show (GABBS), which will be held March 13 – 15 at Atlanta’s AmericasMart, can also be found on the SIBA website.