NEBA/NAIBA to Hold Shop Talk in East Syracuse, New York

With about 10 years in the bookselling and publishing industry, Rob Stahl, the general manager of Colgate Bookstore in Hamilton, New York, understands the value of regional booksellers getting together to discuss business issues. He also knows that, in central New York State, independent bookstores -- many of whom are either members of the New England Booksellers Association (NEBA) or the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA), or both -- have a tough time attending NAIBA's or NEBA's regional meetings due to the travel distances.

So Stahl decided to do something about it. "I knew NEBA had great Shop Talks, but they're in [New England], and NAIBA has great meetings, too, but in the Philadelphia area," he told BTW. "There's a lot of booksellers in central New York who are not being represented [at these meetings] … so I had a conference call with [NAIBA Executive Director] Eileen Dengler and [NEBA Executive Director] Rusty Drugan" about holding a meeting in upstate New York.

The result of that hour-long phone call is the NEBA/NAIBA Shop Talk to be held at the Holiday Inn Carrier Circle in East Syracuse, New York, on May 18, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

There are planned discussions on topics such as the adequacy of publishers' sales representation, distribution issues, and sales reporting. In addition, Stahl said he would try to find out whether there is an interest from attendees in conducting further meetings in the region, as well as the frequency and organizational structure, and to find out if there is interest in having a trade show with independent publishers from New York State.

ABA COO Oren Teicher will also participate in the Shop Talk and will provide updates on ABA programs and initiatives including Book Sense, bestseller reporting, and the gift card program.

Both Dengler and Drugan said they were pleased by Stahl's proactive approach and believe the Shop Talk is a great way to ensure booksellers in each region are able to discuss important matters and network. Dengler told BTW that it is on NAIBA's agenda to conduct similar regional shop talks throughout its membership region during the summer -- and Rob's phone call happened as they were kicking this idea around. "It all happened at the same time," Dengler said. "We were spurred by our own Board wanting to do smaller and easier-to-put-together meetings -- we wanted to do things that are more casual…. It is [a good idea] and builds up that collegiality among booksellers."

Said NEBA's Drugan, "[The NEBA/NAIBA Shop Talk] is in line with our Board policy that anybody who wants to get together and talk shop, that we will pay for the lunch or dinner. It's facilitating the meeting of booksellers, and we're prepared to do that throughout our area -- it's grassroots, low-key, and friendly." --David Grogan