Winter Institute

Independent business owners in downtown Asheville, North Carolina, are preparing for the American Booksellers Association’s Indie Retail Crawl, a three-hour shopping bonanza featuring discounts and unique merchandise that kicks off the 10th anniversary Winter Institute.

The Asheville Internet marketing firm JB Media Group will present a session on the ABCs of social media strategy and analytics on Tuesday, February 9, at the Winter Institute.

Attendees of ABA’s 2015 Winter Institute in Asheville, North Carolina, can show up in style this year when they wear custom-designed T-shirts featuring logos created by the winner and runners-up in Wi10’s T-shirt design contest.

The deadline to secure the special ABA rate for accommodations at Winter Institute 10’s overflow hotel, the Asheville Renaissance, has been extended to Friday, January 16.

Two important Winter Institute deadlines are drawing near: December 31 is the last day for booksellers to cancel their conference registration and still receive a refund; January 9 is the deadline to secure the special ABA rate for accommodations at the overflow hotel, the Renaissance Asheville.

To give waiting booksellers a better chance of attending the Winter Institute, ABA will refund the conference fee for booksellers who cancel their registrations by December 31.

The Consultation Station, featuring representatives from ABA’s affiliated business solution partners, POS vendors, and others, returns to the Winter Institute on Tuesday, February 10, and Wednesday, February 11, 2015. Booksellers who are interested in meeting with specific vendors are encouraged to set up appointments in advance.

Before the holiday rush reaches fever pitch, ABA is urging Winter Institute 10 registrants to make their travel arrangements or to let ABA know if they are no longer planning to attend.

Booksellers are invited to take a look at the many conversations happening in BookWeb’s Bookseller Forums, where members go to discuss topics ranging from social media best practices to IndieCommerce to plans for the upcoming Winter Institute.

ABA has announced the winners of 60 scholarships to the February 2015 Winter Institute in Asheville, North Carolina. Fifty-two of the scholarships have been awarded to booksellers by the Winter Institute’s publisher sponsors.

Now is the time to make your reservations for Winter Institute 10’s customized tours of the Biltmore Estate and/or historic Asheville. Tours are being offered on Sunday, February 8, and Thursday, February 12, and each has been tailored to highlight details with special appeal to booksellers.

Responding to the speed at which the February 2015 Winter Institute reached full registration, ABA has changed the event’s conference fee refund policy, which previously stated that no refunds were allowed.

To help members connect and carpool to Winter Institute 10 from airports other than Asheville Regional Airport, ABA has created a Wi10 Carpool Forum on BookWeb.

ABA and the grassroots organization We Need Diverse Books are working together on educational kits for bookstores, learning opportunities at the Winter Institute, and other efforts to keep the need for non-majority narratives in the spotlight.

After busy days on Sunday, February 8, and Monday, February 9, at Winter Institute 2015, booksellers are invited to relax and socialize at publisher-sponsored parties.