Spring Booksellers Forums Underway

The American Booksellers Association kicked off its 2010 Spring Forum Tour last weekend in conjunction with the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance and the National Association of College Stores' Campus Market Expo (CAMEX) in Orlando, Florida. At the forum, led by ABA CEO Oren Teicher, booksellers shared their thoughts and concerns about e-books and how indies can participate moving forward, as well as ideas for alternative business models and new ways to find customers.

ABA COO Len Vlahos presented the popular Winter Institute education session "Techniques and Tactics for Online Website Promotion," which teaches booksellers how to use everything from hyperlocal searches and affiliate marketing to advanced analytics and beyond to build meaningful relationships between a bookstore website and the local community. ABA Membership and Marketing Officer Meg Smith also participated in the forum program and CAMEX trade show.

"It was great to have the opportunity to talk to ABA member stores in the SIBA region, and we thank the booksellers from Florida who came to share their ideas and concerns, as well as the several members of NACS who also attended," said Teicher. "We look forward to meeting as many ABA members as possible over the next month and a half, as we hold 11 additional forums covering every region of the country."

The next ABA Booksellers Forum program will be held this weekend in St. Louis, Missouri, followed by stops in Atlanta, Georgia; Portland, Maine; and Oberlin, Ohio, in the next few weeks.
In addition, this week, ABA announced details for mid-April forums in Lake Forest Park, Washington, and Long Beach, California.

10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Third Place Books (17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, Washington)

ABA CEO Oren Teicher and COO Len Vlahos will be on hand at a Booksellers Forum at Third Place Books to listen to booksellers' concerns and to provide updates on the association's programs and key initiatives. Attendees help guide the agenda of the forum, so booksellers are encouraged to come with questions and comments. Lunch will be served during the forum.

The program will also feature the presentation of the Winter Institute education session "Techniques and Tactics for Online Website Promotion." This session will show booksellers how to use everything from hyperlocal searches and affiliate marketing to advanced analytics and beyond to build a meaningful relationship between a bookstore website and the local community.

In line with booksellers' keen interest in alternative business models and new ways to stay connected to their customers, the day will conclude with a presentation of Third Place Books' POD machine.

Here's the schedule:

Booksellers planning to attend the forum in Lake Forest Park are asked to RSVPs to ABA's Jill Perlstein by April 5.

10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. on The Queen Mary (Queen Salon, 1126 Queen's Highway, Long Beach, California)

ABA CEO Oren Teicher and COO Len Vlahos will be hosting a Booksellers Forum at the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association's Schmooze Cruise II/Spring Meeting. They'll be there to listen to booksellers' concerns and to provide updates on the association's programs and key initiatives during a lunchtime forum. ABA will also present the Winter Institute education session "Techniques and Tactics for Online Website Promotion."

Here's a look at the schedule to date for SCIBA's Schmooze Cruise. All events will be in the Queen's Salon, Main Deck:

10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. B-to-B From the Rep's Perspective
Best practices and brainstorming to grow bookstore sales with businesses and schools. In this time of transition, how to increase your business using the resources of each publisher's Business-to-Business program. Presented by Tom Benton of Penguin Group and Wade Lucas of Random House.

11:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.: ABA Spring Forum
An open forum and discussion of industry issues. Attendees help make the agenda, so booksellers are encouraged to come with questions and comments. Lunch, hosted by ABA, will be served during the forum. Led by ABA CEO Oren Teicher.

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.: Techniques and Tactics for Online Website Promotion
From hyperlocal searches and affiliate marketing to advanced analytics and beyond, learn how to build a meaningful relationship between your website and your community. Presented by ABA COO Len Vlahos.

4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: SCIBA Annual Meeting

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.: SCIBA Reception
There will be a cash bar.

General parking is $12; valet parking is $16.

Booksellers who are planning to attend are asked to RSVP by April 5 via e-mail to ABA's Jill Perlstein or SCIBA's Jennifer Bigelow.