Spring Forums Coming Up in MIBA, MPIBA Regions

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version

2018 ABA Spring Forums logo

The American Booksellers Association will host Spring Forums in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 23 and Evergreen, Colorado, on April 25.

All independent booksellers — ABA members and non-members alike — are invited to attend the forums, which are being held in conjunction with the regional bookseller associations.

Each program will feature an open forum discussion of industry issues plus the new education session “A Year of Bookstore Profitability.” The session will present a year-long calendar of effective steps that bookstores can implement — as well as key cost-saving programs — to boost sales and improve the bottom line. This session is applicable to all bookstore employees, and booksellers will be invited to join the conversation and share the initiatives they use to improve profitability each quarter.

As part of the open forum segment of the program, booksellers will have the opportunity to discuss any of their concerns related to ABA, the book industry in general, and other issues. The spring forum discussions are a critically important vehicle for ABA to gather feedback from members, and all are encouraged to come prepared to discuss their concerns.

Try Out an ABA Membership

Non-member booksellers attending one of the forums are invited to sign up to test drive an ABA membership for free through August 31. This offer applies to stores that have not been ABA members in the past two years.

Through May 15, booksellers can enter the code “Spring2018free” in the new member application on BookWeb.org to sign up for the free trial. Following the trial period, stores will have the option to convert their membership to regular status until the end of the dues year (January 31, 2019) for a prorated portion of the new member rate of $199.

Need a Store Website?

Stores that sign up for an IndieLite website by April 30 will receive the first three months of their subscription for free (a $150 value). To participate, stores must be a current ABA member. For more information, e-mail [email protected] or call (800) 637-0037 (option 2).


Upcoming Spring Forums

The April 23 Spring Forum in St. Louis will be held in conjunction with the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association. Join ABA CEO Oren Teicher, Senior Strategy Officer Dan Cullen, and ABA Board member Kris Kleindienst of Left Bank Books for an education session (10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) and lunch and an open forum (12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.). 

MIBA programming, including a bookseller roundtable, an author event, and a wine reception, will take place from 1:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and there will be an after-party at Left Bank Books.

The forum will be held at Evangeline’s Bistro and Music House, located at 512 N. Euclid Avenue in St. Louis.

Booksellers planning to attend are asked to RSVP to MIBA Member Relationship Manager Liz Roberts.


The April 25 Spring Forum in Evergreen will be held in conjunction with the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association. Join ABA CEO Oren Teicher, Senior Strategy Officer Dan Cullen, and ABA Board President Robert Sindelar of Third Place Books for an education session (10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) and lunch and an open forum (12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.). 

MPIBA programming, including an open MPIBA discussion, advisory council meeting, and author reception at Hearthfire Books & Treats, is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

The forum will be held at the Center for the Arts Evergreen, located at 31880 Rocky Village Drive in Evergreen.

Booksellers planning to attend are asked to RSVP to MPIBA Member Relationship Manager Daniel O’Brien.