Spring Forum Education to Focus on “A Year of Bookstore Profitability”

In addition to the usual open forum discussions on topics of concern to booksellers, the American Booksellers Association’s 10 Spring Forums will feature an educational session focusing on the issues independent booksellers face in staying profitable.

The education portion, “A Year of Bookstore Profitability,” to be led by ABA at each of the 10 Spring Forums, 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.

ABA’s Spring Forums are presented in conjunction with the regional bookseller associations, and booksellers will have the opportunity during the open forum segment 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.

All indie booksellers — ABA members and non-members alike — are invited to take part in a forum in their area.

Here are the dates and locations for the 2018 Spring Forum season; watch for more details in upcoming editions of Bookselling This Week.

• Friday, March 16: Hollywood, California, with the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association
• Sunday, March 18: San Francisco, California, with the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association
• Monday, March 19: Seattle, Washington, with the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association
• Friday, March 23: Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance
• Monday, March 26: Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association
• Wednesday, March 28: New York, New York, with the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association
• Thursday, April 12: Cambridge, Massachusetts, with the New England Independent Booksellers Association
• Tuesday, April 17: Detroit, Michigan, with the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association
• Monday, April 23: St. Louis, Missouri, an additional forum with the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association
• Wednesday, April 25: Evergreen, Colorado, with the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association