Industry Voices

By Susan Richmond of Inklings Bookshop in Yakima, Washington

Salt Lake City is beautiful. The snow-covered mountains just seem to hold the city like protective hands. Everything downtown points to the LDS Temple and their grounds are impressive. We did a little walking around, but didn't get a tour. Some in our group were able to sit-in on the Thursday night rehearsal of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and they said it was very impressive.

By Carla Cohen of Politics and Prose Bookstore and Coffeehouse

Politics and Prose is very lucky. We are located in an affluent section of an affluent metropolitan area, a place where most people have graduate degrees. That doesn't mean we are immune from economic downturns or unaffected by the changing technology, which competes for attention. Of course, we are.

By Kristen McLean, Executive Director, Association of Booksellers for Children

By Sandy Scott, Events Coordinator, The Galaxy Bookshop

Registered for the 2009 Winter Institute in Salt Lake City yet? The free event, capped at 500 attendees, is packed with tough-times education, networking, author events, and store tours.

As Oscar Wilde once said, experience is the name everyone gives to his mistakes. And let's face it, you won't find a business owner who doesn't have a lot of ... experience. Whether it's underestimating start-up costs, partnering with your (former) best friend without a legal contract, or overstocking the shelves, rookie errors come in all shapes and sizes.

The Literary Liberation Box provided a huge amount of material to help booksellers use IndieBound to promote their stores ... and that may have left some wondering exactly where to start. Stephanie Anderson of Moravian Book Shop in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, has helped ABA create an easy, 10-step guide, based on her experience introducing IndieBound to her bookstore and to the surrounding community.

By Guinevere Platt

Clearly, we are in a season of large-type headlines regarding the national economy.

Both gas and food prices and unemployment levels are rising. The value of the dollar, property values, and the number of new jobs created are falling. It's a disquieting mix.

Gayle Shanks ABA President

Dear Fellow Booksellers,

By Melissa Lion

By Chuck and Dee Robinson

By Len Vlahos, ABA Chief Program Officer

The weather in New York on February 11 and 12 went from sub-zero wind chills, to snow and sleet, to driving, soaking rain. But inside the Marriott Marquis in Time Square, at the O'Reilly Media "Tools of Change" Conference, it was all sunshine and light.

Robyn Kamimura

By Robyn Kamimura, Assistant Promotional Director, Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, California