Winter Institute 2020 Program

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Tuesday, January 21, 2020  

7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Pick up your badge, the official Wi15 welcome bag from W.G. Ellerkamp, and a full schedule of Institute events from ABA’s membership team. Also on hand to greet you will be representatives from NAIBA, Binc and Arcadia Publishing.

7:30 am to 4:00 pm

Pre-registration required; $25 fee per person; space is limited. Up until December 13, this event is only open to registered Winter Institute booksellers. After December 13, if space allows, we will open registration to booksellers who are not attending Winter Institute. Registration is closed.

The bus will leave the Hilton Baltimore at 7:30 am. The symposium will begin in Washington D.C. at 10:00 am at The Rayburn House Office Building and will end at 12:00 pm. Coffee will be served and the cafeteria is available for lunch. The bus will depart Washington D.C. at 2:30 pm so you have time to attend any law-maker meetings you may have scheduled. Boarding begins 30 minutes prior to departure.

Over the past year, regulators and lawmakers have begun to investigate the business practices of Big Tech (Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google) to determine if any of these companies might be in violation of antitrust laws. On Tuesday, January 21, booksellers attending the Winter Institute will have the opportunity to be part of a special symposium in Washington, D.C., on growing monopoly power in the retailing and tech sector, with a focus on the extraordinary market dominance of Amazon. Among other speakers, the panel will feature:

  • Matt Stoller, author of Goliath: The 100-Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy (Simon & Schuster)
  • Maria Coppola, adjunct professor at George Mason University Law School, teaching European competition law
  • Stacy Mitchell, co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance
  • David Dayen, author of Monopolized: Life in the Age of Corporate Power (The New Press)

7:30 am to 7:00 pm

This year the book drive will support the Maryland Book Bank, a local nonprofit organization committed to getting free books into the hands of young people and cultivating literacy in children from under-resourced neighborhoods. For this book drive, the nonprofit is specifically seeking books featuring minority characters, popular elementary picture books and graphic novels, elementary and easy reading chapter books, and titles in Spanish and would prefer not to receive encyclopedia sets or textbooks older than 10 years. In general, the Maryland Book Bank accepts books of all reading levels and genres in good condition, so all donated books will find a good home.

There will be a box to collect books at the ABA Welcome Desk on Tuesday and at the Ask ABA desk on Wednesday and Thursday.

8:00 am to 8:30 am

8:00 am to 2:00 pm

Please join us for a tour of the Penguin Random House fulfillment center in Westminster, Maryland. Round-trip transportation from the Hilton will be provided. The ride to Westminster is approximately one hour long, depending on traffic.

Sign up here for the half-day tours. Registration closes on Monday, December 2. Confirmation of your spot and further details will be sent via e-mail in January 2020. Space is limited.

Morning session: 8:00 a.m. departure, 2:00 p.m. return.

Please indicate this session as your first choice if:

  • If you work with a Westminster-based rep, or
  • If you are a first-timer at Winter Institute, or
  • If you would like to learn more about supply chain

Afternoon session: Noon departure, 4:30 p.m. return. This session includes a tour only.

Please note: we cannot guarantee morning or afternoon until we see the full range of sign-ups. We encourage you to sign up for both and indicate first or second choice. Limit of two attendees per account.

Due to limited meeting space at Westminster, we are unable to provide a sit-down meal. Lights snacks will be provided on the round-trip bus ride.

9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Pre-registration required; $59 fee per person; space is limited; attendance at Winter Institute is not required. Registration is closed.

The IndieCommerce Institute is an interactive, classroom-style workshop for users of ABA’s e-commerce platforms. IndieCommerce Institute 2020 will feature two seminars: an IndieCommerce seminar for members using our IndieCommerce platform and an IndieLite seminar for members using our IndieLite platform. Each seminar will include step-by-step instructions for the topics covered. Each participant will be assigned their own test site to use and follow along with during the seminars.

See the complete IndieCommerce Seminar schedule here. Panelists: Chanthee Keokhaw, ABA (White Plains, NY), Scott Nafz, ABA (White Plains, NY)
, Geetha Nathan, ABA (White Plains, NY)
, Ryan Quinn, ABA (White Plains, NY)
, Matt Supko, Augment Digital (Huntsville, AL)

Pre-registration required; $59 fee per person; space is limited; attendance at Winter Institute is not required. Registration is closed. The IndieCommerce Institute is an interactive, classroom-style workshop for users of ABA’s e-commerce platforms. IndieCommerce Institute 2020 will feature two seminars: an IndieCommerce seminar for members using our IndieCommerce platform and an IndieLite seminar for members using our IndieLite platform. Each seminar will include step-by-step instructions for the topics covered. Each participant will be assigned their own test site to use and follow along with during the seminars. See the complete IndieCommerce Seminar schedule here. Panelists: Chanthee Keokhaw, ABA (White Plains, NY), Scott Nafz, ABA (White Plains, NY) , Geetha Nathan, ABA (White Plains, NY) , Ryan Quinn, ABA (White Plains, NY) , Matt Supko, Augment Digital (Huntsville, AL)

New Features
Don’t have the time to keep up with all the new features the IndieCommerce team is rolling out? Don’t worry, we got you covered. This session will include a live demonstration of all the recently added features and how your site can benefit from them.

 

Scott Nafz

Pre-registration required; $59 fee per person; space is limited; attendance at Winter Institute is not required. Registration is closed. The IndieCommerce Institute is an interactive, classroom-style workshop for users of ABA’s e-commerce platforms. IndieCommerce Institute 2020 will feature two seminars: an IndieCommerce seminar for members using our IndieCommerce platform and an IndieLite seminar for members using our IndieLite platform. Each seminar will include step-by-step instructions for the topics covered. Each participant will be assigned their own test site to use and follow along with during the seminars. See the complete IndieCommerce Seminar schedule here. Panelists: Chanthee Keokhaw, ABA (White Plains, NY), Scott Nafz, ABA (White Plains, NY) , Geetha Nathan, ABA (White Plains, NY) , Ryan Quinn, ABA (White Plains, NY) , Matt Supko, Augment Digital (Huntsville, AL)

Promoting and Selling Pre-Orders
Did you know your IndieCommerce website has great tools for handling pre-orders? In this session, we will cover everything from creating custom products for pre-order titles all the way to processing these pre-orders and generating custom reports. We will share best practices and marketing tips from other IndieCommerce stores.

 

Chanthee Keokhaw

Pre-registration required; $59 fee per person; space is limited; attendance at Winter Institute is not required. Registration is closed. The IndieCommerce Institute is an interactive, classroom-style workshop for users of ABA’s e-commerce platforms. IndieCommerce Institute 2020 will feature two seminars: an IndieCommerce seminar for members using our IndieCommerce platform and an IndieLite seminar for members using our IndieLite platform. Each seminar will include step-by-step instructions for the topics covered. Each participant will be assigned their own test site to use and follow along with during the seminars. See the complete IndieCommerce Seminar schedule here. Panelists: Chanthee Keokhaw, ABA (White Plains, NY), Scott Nafz, ABA (White Plains, NY) , Geetha Nathan, ABA (White Plains, NY) , Ryan Quinn, ABA (White Plains, NY) , Matt Supko, Augment Digital (Huntsville, AL)

Site Building — Understanding the Basic Building Blocks of an IndieCommerce Site
Do you find terms like “page,” “block,” “menu,” “content,” “views,” etc., confusing and making it hard for you to build your IndieCommerce site to your liking? You are not alone. In this session, we will explore the terms and technology behind your website, what these items are for, how they depend on each other, and how they all fit together to create an amazing and rich website.

 

 

 

Matt Supko

Pre-registration required; $59 fee per person; space is limited; attendance at Winter Institute is not required. Registration is closed. The IndieCommerce Institute is an interactive, classroom-style workshop for users of ABA’s e-commerce platforms. IndieCommerce Institute 2020 will feature two seminars: an IndieCommerce seminar for members using our IndieCommerce platform and an IndieLite seminar for members using our IndieLite platform. Each seminar will include step-by-step instructions for the topics covered. Each participant will be assigned their own test site to use and follow along with during the seminars. See the complete IndieCommerce Seminar schedule here. Panelists: Chanthee Keokhaw, ABA (White Plains, NY), Scott Nafz, ABA (White Plains, NY) , Geetha Nathan, ABA (White Plains, NY) , Ryan Quinn, ABA (White Plains, NY) , Matt Supko, Augment Digital (Huntsville, AL)

Store Books, Signed Copies, Pre-Order Titles
Selling books unique to your store

 

 

Matt Supko

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

The New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA) is pleased to host the Hospitality Suite at this year’s Winter Institute. Stop by for a chance to decompress, grab a beverage, and refuel before heading back out to join your colleagues. Open to booksellers from all regions.

The Quiet Room is intended to provide a quiet, calm space where attendees can spend time away from noise, light, and other stimuli of conference spaces. The quiet room is not available for conversations or meetings.

9:30 am to 4:15 pm

Ingram invites all Winter Institute attendees to relax and chat with independent booksellers and publishers from around the country and the globe in a cozy corner of the hotel overlooking the famed Camden Yards ballpark. With more than 25 presses represented at Winter Institute and over 600 independent publishers under its wing, Ingram has much to offer booksellers. Come see why buyers consider Ingram such a rich resource, chat with publishers and editors, enjoy a cup of coffee, and browse an array of books.

This new programming initiative will allow booksellers to sign up for 15-minute slots to meet with participating publishers of their choice. Registered booksellers will be provided with a link to an online appointment calendar for more than 15 participating publishers. Sign up for an appointment here.

10:00 am to 3:25 pm

Pre-registration required; $30 fee per person; space is limited. Registration is closed.

This bookstore tour for our international friends offers a chance to experience U.S. independent bookstores in and around the city of Baltimore. Join your international colleagues for a day of exploring and learning about the proud literary tradition in Baltimore, Maryland. The tour departs from the Hilton Hotel at 10:00 am on Tuesday, January 21, and will stop at The Ivy Bookshop, Atomic Books, Red Emma's Bookstore, The Children's Bookstore and Greedy Reads. Boarding begins 30 minutes prior to departure; the tour will return to the hotel by 3:25 pm. Lunch will not be provided but will be available for purchase. (Bookstore tours for U.S. booksellers are scheduled for Friday, January 24.

12:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Please join us for a tour of the Penguin Random House fulfillment center in Westminster, Maryland. Round-trip transportation from the Hilton will be provided. The ride to Westminster is approximately one hour long, depending on traffic.

Sign up here for the half-day tours. Registration closes on Monday, December 2. Confirmation of your spot and further details will be sent via e-mail in January 2020. Space is limited.

Morning session: 8:00 a.m. departure, 2:00 p.m. return.

Please indicate this session as your first choice if:

  • If you work with a Westminster-based rep, or
  • If you are a first-timer at Winter Institute, or
  • If you would like to learn more about supply chain

Afternoon session: Noon departure, 4:30 p.m. return. This session includes a tour only.

Please note: we cannot guarantee morning or afternoon until we see the full range of sign-ups. We encourage you to sign up for both and indicate first or second choice. Limit of two attendees per account.

Due to limited meeting space at Westminster, we are unable to provide a sit-down meal. Lights snacks will be provided on the round-trip bus ride.

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm

If you lost an important resource when Baker and Taylor left the indie community, this is a session you will not want to miss. The panelists will review the benefits of ordering direct from publishers and tips for organizing your resulting paperwork. Also on the panel will be booksellers who have accounts with wholesalers who can discuss those vendors' services for small stores. Panelists: PK Sindwani, ABA (White Plains, NY), Todd Dickinson, Aaron's Books (Lititz, PA), Lane Jacobson, Paulina Springs Books (Sisters, OR), Stephen Sparks, Point Reyes Books (Point Reyes Station, CA)

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

The Independent Publishers Caucus is an advocacy group with a mission to foster a true and mutually beneficial sense of community among independent publishers, between publishers and booksellers, and with readers through a variety of initiatives and shared resources. This meeting is by invitation only to independent publishers and their staff. See the full schedule details here.

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Batch for Books is a new electronic invoicing system created for booksellers and publishers in the U.S. The software-assisted service, based on the version used in the U.K., helps initiate payments between vendors and bookstore retailers at no cost to bookstores.

Booksellers can sign up for one-on-ones with Batch here.

IndieCommerce and IndieLite are ABA’s online platforms for marketing events and author appearances as well as selling books and other merchandise. Both users and non-users of IndieCommerce and IndieLite are invited to schedule one-on-one time with a program specialist from the IndieCommerce team. Space is limited, but walk-ins are welcome. Registration will open in December. Attendees may schedule their appointment by completing the form here.

2:00 pm to 3:30 pm

Every title on the bookstore shelf goes through a similar cycle: author, agent, editor, and publisher activities that include editing, jacket design, sales and marketing, and all the things involved in promoting bookstore sales. This session will feature industry professionals discussing each aspect of the life cycle of the book and will give attendees a larger perspective on their part in the process. Panelists: Bradley Graham, Politics and Prose Bookstore (Washington, DC), Kaitlin Harri, Senior Marketing Director, Morrow Group, HarperCollins Publishers (New York, NY), Laura Lippman, Author, HarperCollins Publishers (New York, NY), Vicky Bijur, Owner, Vicky Bijur Literary Agency, Liate Stehlik, President and Publisher, Morrow Group, HarperCollins Publishers (New York, NY), Mary Beth Thomas, VP, Deputy Director of Sales, HarperCollins Publishers (New York, NY), Tegan Tigani, Queen Anne Book Company (Seattle, WA)

2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Pre-registration required; space is limited. Registration is closed.

Discuss the art of selling used and rare books with fellow booksellers. Topics will include merchandising policies, inventory acquisition, events, displays, remainders, online sales, store layout, and more. Hear from veterans about the unique world of used books. Panelists: Shane Gottwals, Gottwals Books & The Walls of Books® Franchise (Byron, GA), Amy Thomas, Pegasus Books (Berkeley, CA)

4:15 pm to 5:15 pm

First time at Winter Institute? Don’t panic! Join us before the Welcome Reception to get the scoop on Winter Institute and meet other attendees new to the event. Together, we will assist you in making the perfect game plan that ensures you get the most out of your Wi15 experience. If you requested a mentor, now is also the time to meet them so that you can connect throughout the conference.

5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Co-sponsored by Shelf Awareness, ABA’s 2020 Winter Institute Welcome Reception and Anniversary Celebration is your welcome to Baltimore and an opportunity to enjoy cocktails, snacks, and the company of your colleagues from around the world.

8:00 pm to 9:00 pm

HarperCollins in partnership with Bookstore Romance Day invite booksellers to join Avon and Harlequin at a mix and mingle reception with authors, giveaways, swag, and more.

10:00 pm to 11:00 pm

ABA invites Wi15 attendees to join in honoring and toasting outgoing ABA CEO Oren Teicher.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020  

6:45 am to 7:15 am

7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Pick up your badge, the official Wi15 welcome bag from W.G. Ellerkamp, and a full schedule of Institute events from ABA’s membership team.

7:45 am to 9:00 am

New technologies and shifting consumer buying behaviors have reshaped the business landscape. In this Wi15 keynote event, Ryan Raffaelli (@RyanLRaffaelli), associate professor of business administration at Harvard Business School, will present his groundbreaking research on how longstanding industries can increase their odds of achieving sustained growth in the face of new business threats. Professor Raffaelli will also preview findings from his forthcoming academic paper on the renewed strength of the independent bookstore channel. Drawing on eight years of in-depth field observations of bookstores in 25 states, more than 200 interviews and focus groups, and analysis of extensive archival data, the study examines the decline and subsequent rise of the U.S. independent bookselling sector from 2005 to today. Professor Raffaelli will highlight “3Cs” of reinvention – community, curation, and convening – and offer broader insights for local businesses and communities responding to current significant threats from online and corporate retail competition.

9:00 am to 11:55 am

Batch for Books is a new electronic invoicing system created for booksellers and publishers in the U.S. The software-assisted service, based on the version used in the U.K., helps initiate payments between vendors and bookstore retailers at no cost to bookstores.

Booksellers can sign up for one-on-ones with Batch here.

IndieCommerce and IndieLite are ABA’s online platforms for marketing events and author appearances as well as selling books and other merchandise. Both users and non-users of IndieCommerce and IndieLite are invited to schedule one-on-one time with a program specialist from the IndieCommerce team. Space is limited, but walk-ins are welcome. Registration will open in December. Attendees may schedule their appointment by completing the form here.

9:00 am to 7:30 pm

The always-popular Galley Room is filled with ARCs of upcoming titles from Wi15 sponsors. A limited supply of book totes will be on hand. The PartnerShip/FedEx Shipping Desk will also be open to assist in shipping your galleys back to your bookstores.

9:00 am to 4:30 pm

The New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA) is pleased to host the Hospitality Suite at this year’s Winter Institute. Stop by for a chance to decompress, grab a beverage, and refuel before heading back out to join your peers. Open to booksellers from all regions.

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

The Quiet Room is intended to provide a quiet, calm space where attendees can spend time away from noise, light, and other stimuli of conference spaces. The quiet room is not available for conversations or meetings.

9:20 am to 10:20 am

Enjoy a session with your publishing colleagues.

Booksellers will gather with colleagues to talk about issues raised by the breakfast keynote speaker as part of discussions led by ABA Board members. Group and room assignments are printed on attendee badges.

10:30 am to 11:55 am

This meeting space will be open and available to booksellers throughout the course of the event. The agenda is yours! Enjoy a space set aside for one-on-one discussions or larger group conversations. A number of flip-charts will be available for use.

10:40 am to 11:40 am

The children’s department is typically one of the most profitable departments in any bookstore, but it can be a daunting place for general booksellers if they are not familiar with the material. In this session, seasoned children’s booksellers will lead a workshop for general booksellers on handselling children’s books with confidence to customers of all ages. Panelists: Cathy Berner, Blue Willow Bookshop (Houston TX), Mariana Calderon, Second Star to the Right (Denver, CO), Susan Kusel, [words] (Mapelwood, NJ), Ariana Paliobagis, Country Bookshelf (Bozeman , MT)

Pre-registration required; space is limited. Registration is closed. Workplaces that go beyond inclusive policies to truly cultivate climates of inclusion are a win-win for employers and employees, as they capitalize on the focus and energy that comes from people bringing their full selves to work. An educator from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation will present data on how to make your business a more inclusive place and will provide an environment for reflection and discussion on how to make positive changes in your workplace culture. Panelists: Raina Nelson, Human Rights Campaign Foundation (Washington, DC)

One of the most anticipated and talked about books of the 2020, American Dirt, touches on issues of immigration on the southern US border, the politics of our current world and ultimately a mothers fierce love for her son. Javier Ramirez, co-owner of Madison Street Books (Chicago, IL) and Jeannie Cummings, author, will engage in a conversation about the work and the impact it has already had in the industry and indie bookselling community. Panelists: Jeanine Cummins, author, Flatiron Books, Javier Ramirez, Madison Street Books (Chicago, IL),

ABACUS is the financial benchmarking survey that provides actionable, store-specific financial data as well as overall data on the financial health of independent bookstores for those who submit to the survey. Whether or not you submit, you will find this session full of helpful guidelines and suggestions for increasing store profitability. Not sure what ABACUS is or if it’s applicable to you? This is the perfect place to find your answers. Panelists: Pete Mulvihill, Green Apple Books (San Francisco, CA), Donna Garban, Little City Books (Hoboken, NJ), Suzanna Hermans, Oblong Books and Music (Millerton, NY), Angela Schwesnedl, Moon Palace Books (Minneapolis, MN)

An independent bookstore's backlist exemplifies the independence of the store as an institution, as well as the creators of the book space, and its customers. It is through this curation, experiences and learning opportunities are created that reflect a bookstore's community and propels the business and its community forward. This session will provide insight into how to serve a community by going beyond the classics and the methods and challenges faced in curating a backlist representative of the bookstore's culture. Panelists: Paul Yamazaki, City Lights Booksellers and Publishers (San Francisco, CA) , Derrick Young, MahoganyBooks (Washington, DC) , Rio Cortez, Schomburg Shop (Harlem, NY), Clarissa Hadge, Trident Booksellers (Boston, MA), Alena Jones, Seminary Co-op Bookstore (Chicago, IL)

Batch for Books is a new electronic invoicing system created for booksellers and publishers in the U.S. The software-assisted service, based on the version used in the U.K., helps initiate payments between vendors and bookstore retailers at no cost to bookstores. CEO Fraser Tanner will moderate a panel of UK users and US booksellers who have been part of the US Batch for Books beta test. Panelists include: Nic Bottomley, Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights (Bath, UK); David Prescott, Blackwell’s (Oxford, UK); Antonia Squire, The Bookshop (Bridport, UK); Fraser Tanner, Managing Director, Batch LTD (London, UK); Tegan Tigani, Queen Anne Book Company (Seattle, WA); Ron Tucker, Politics & Prose Bookstore (Washington, DC)

12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

International guests are invited to join their colleagues from around the world for an informative discussion about the current state of the American book business. Lunch will be served. Panelists: John Mutter, Editor-in-Chief, Shelf Awareness (Seattle, WA), Ed Nawotka, Bookselling and International News Editor, Publishers Weekly (New York, NY)

Enjoy lunch with publisher sales reps and learn about great upcoming titles from the Winter Institute’s publisher sponsors. Seats are assigned; table numbers are printed on bookseller badges.

2:15 pm to 3:15 pm

Rebecca Solnit, the author of more than 20 critically acclaimed books, has long been championed by independent booksellers. In this Wi15 keynote event — “A (Feminist) Field Guide to Nonexistence” — she will talk about her formation as a feminist and a writer in the face of a misogynistic American society, how she discovered her voice as a woman and an author, and what it means to speak out in a society that prefers women to be silent. Rebecca Solnit is the author of A Field Guide to Getting Lost, The Faraway Nearby, A Paradise Built in Hell, River of Shadows, and Wanderlust: A History of Walking. She is also the author of Men Explain Things to Me and many essays on feminism, activism and social change, hope, and the climate crisis. 2003 book, River of Shadows, won the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Lannan Literary Award; her 2013 book, The Faraway Nearby, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and her most recent collection of essays, Call Them By Their True Names, was longlisted for the National Book Award and the Kirkus Prize. Her forthcoming book, Recollections of My Nonexistence, will be published by Viking in March 2020.

3:15 pm to 3:45 pm

3:30 pm to 5:00 pm

Batch for Books is a new electronic invoicing system created for booksellers and publishers in the U.S. The software-assisted service, based on the version used in the U.K., helps initiate payments between vendors and bookstore retailers at no cost to bookstores.

Booksellers can sign up for one-on-ones with Batch here.

IndieCommerce and IndieLite are ABA’s online platforms for marketing events and author appearances as well as selling books and other merchandise. Both users and non-users of IndieCommerce and IndieLite are invited to schedule one-on-one time with a program specialist from the IndieCommerce team. Space is limited, but walk-ins are welcome. Registration will open in December. Attendees may schedule their appointment by completing the form here.

This meeting space will be open and available to booksellers throughout the course of the event. The agenda is yours! Enjoy a space set aside for one-on-one discussions or larger group conversations. A number of flip-charts will be available for use.

3:35 pm to 4:35 pm

Pre-registration required; space is limited. Registration is closed. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) included burnout in the eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases. It is now classified as an occupational phenomenon and characterized as “...feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job; and reduced professional efficacy.” Burnout is real; it often impacts individuals from minority groups at higher rates, and if not addressed it can lead to more severe health consequences. While there is no one solution for this syndrome, there are changes that can be put in place, whether you are a store owner, a manager, or a frontline bookseller. A professional in this field will lead a session to help all attendees identify workplace stressors in their environments and consider possible solutions. Panelists: Jeannie A. Nigam, MS, PhDc, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Jason Wells, Books Marketing Director, American Psychological Association

Edelweiss360 allows booksellers to efficiently craft and send store-branded, personalized emails to customers based on individual purchase behavior and staff knowledge of customers. In addition to driving foot-traffic to the store, this new service will expand a store’s online ordering and pre-ordering capabilities to better compete with large online retailers. Currently, a dozen stores are beta testing this new functionality. Learn how the beta stores have been using it successfully and how this may be a game-changer for independent bookstores. Panelists: Chris Morrow, Northshire Bookstore (Manchester Center, VT), John Rubin, Above the Treeline (Ann Arbor, MI)

Publisher reps can be a bookstore’s advocate, cheerleader, and access point for important publisher resources. By effectively working with their reps, booksellers can play an important role in communicating the unique needs of their diverse communities. Moderated by an experienced buyer, this panel conversation features a field rep, a commission rep, a phone rep and a bookseller. Together, they will offer an inside perspective on how booksellers and publishers can work together for combined success. Panelists: Julia Fleischaker, Greedy Reads (Baltimore, MD), Timothy Hepp, Simon and Schuster, Field Rep, Amanda McGuire, Penguin Random House, Phone Rep, Eileen Bertelli, Parson Weems Publisher Services (Brooklyn, NY), Jeanne Costello, Maria's Bookshop (Durango, CO)

Bookstore cafés can bring in new customers, increase overall sales, and boost profitability. But there can be many stumbling blocks between that first cup of coffee and a fully integrated and profitable enterprise. This session will focus on financial operations for stores that run their own cafés and serve limited menus. If you are looking for more information on bookstore café finances, this is the session for you. Panelists: Donna Paz Kaufman, Paz & Associates (Amelia Island, FL), Henry Pertman, Vice President, Total Image Creative (Baltimore, MD), Carrie Morris, Booka Bookshop (Oswestry, Shropshire, U.K), Nicole Magistro, The Bookworm of Edwards (Edwards, CO)

“Green retailing” is a term used to describe a retail business that emphasizes caring for the environment by building eco-friendly processes into store operations. Join us for an important update on what booksellers have been doing individually and collectively to make a difference in their communities and wider industry. The session will include time for discussion and idea sharing. Panelists: Julie Beddingfield, Inkwood Books (Haddonfield, NJ), Meryl Halls, Booksellers Association UK & Ireland (London, UK), Nic Bottomley, Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights (Bath, UK) Panelists: Julie Beddingfield, Inkwood Books (Haddonfield, NJ), Meryl Halls, Booksellers Association UK & Ireland (London, UK), Nic Bottomley, Mr B's Emporium of Reading Delights (Bath, UK)

E-commerce is too expensive, complicated, and time consuming for small or micro store, right? Wrong! If you have a micro store with yourself as the sole proprietor or with only a few staff, this session is for you. IndieCommerce Senior Manager Geetha Nathan will moderate a panel of booksellers from small stores who will walk attendees through their decision to include e-commerce, how they used the opportunity to expand their brand, and the resulting impact to both their customer base and bottom line. Panelists: Geetha Nathan, ABA (White Plains, NY), Rebekah Shoaf, Boogie Down Books (New York, NY), Doloris Vest, Book No Further (Roanoke, VA), Seth Marko, The Book Catapult (San Diego, CA)

4:50 pm to 6:20 pm

If you’d like to share questions, feedback, and ideas about your POS system with representatives of your system, plan on attending one of the POS User Groups. These group discussions are an opportunity for users to ask questions and gain insight into maximizing the use of their current POS system.

The Publisher and Bookseller Focus Groups are intended to be an opportunity for publishers and distributors to discuss with booksellers issues of mutual concern and importance, leading to productive and practical ways to improve sales. Each publisher will have their own agenda and booksellers will be advised of a range of topics likely to be covered. This 90-minute event will be split into two 45-minute shifts with booksellers assigned to only one 45-minute shift, leaving all booksellers with 45 minutes of free time. Shift assignments will be printed on bookseller badges.

6:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Wi15 lead sponsor Ingram hosts an open reception to close day one of the Institute. Join your colleagues for drinks and nibbles.

9:45 pm to 12:00 am

Come toast Scholastic’s 100th Anniversary with great authors, galley giveaways, champagne, dessert, and more! Featured authors include: Pam Muñoz Ryan, Deborah Wiles, Sharon Cameron, and Jenny Downham!

Thursday, January 23, 2020  

6:45 am to 7:15 am

7:30 am to 7:00 pm

Pick up your badge, the official Wi15 welcome bag from W.G. Ellerkamp, and a full schedule of Institute events from ABA’s membership team.

7:45 am to 9:00 am

Join bestselling novelist, memoirist, and short story writer Jennifer Finney Boylan as she explores the radical act of telling stories and the powerful role narrative plays as a catalyst for social change. Professor Jennifer Finney Boylan, author of fifteen books, is the inaugural Anna Quindlen Writer in Residence at Barnard College of Columbia University. Her column appears on the op-ed page of The New York Times on alternate Wednesdays. She serves on the Board of Trustees of PEN America. From 2011 to 2018 she served on the Board of Directors of GLAAD and also provided counsel for the TV series Transparent and I Am Cait. Her 2003 memoir, She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders was the first bestselling work by a transgender American. A novelist, memoirist, and short story writer, she is also a nationally known advocate for human rights. She lives in New York City, and in Belgrade Lakes, Maine, with her wife, Deedie. They have a son, Sean and a daughter, Zai. Good Boy will be published by Celadon Books in April 2020.

9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Batch for Books is a new electronic invoicing system created for booksellers and publishers in the U.S. The software-assisted service, based on the version used in the U.K., helps initiate payments between vendors and bookstore retailers at no cost to bookstores.

Booksellers can sign up for one-on-ones with Batch here.

The Consultation Station offers booksellers the opportunity to meet with representatives from ABA’s business solution partners, POS vendors, and other service providers. Check BookWeb often for the full list of Consultation Station participants and a chance to make appointments in the coming months.

IndieCommerce and IndieLite are ABA’s online platforms for marketing events and author appearances as well as selling books and other merchandise. Both users and non-users of IndieCommerce and IndieLite are invited to schedule one-on-one time with a program specialist from the IndieCommerce team. Space is limited, but walk-ins are welcome. Registration will open in December. Attendees may schedule their appointment by completing the form here.

This meeting space will be open and available to booksellers throughout the course of the event. The agenda is yours! Enjoy a space set aside for one-on-one discussions or larger group conversations. A number of flip-charts will be available for use.

9:00 am to 7:00 pm

The always-popular Galley Room is filled with ARCs of upcoming titles from Wi15 sponsors. A limited supply of book totes will be on hand. The PartnerShip/FedEx Shipping Desk will also be open to assist in shipping your galleys back to your bookstores.

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

The New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA) is pleased to host the Hospitality Suite at this year’s Winter Institute. Stop by for a chance to decompress, grab a beverage, and refuel before heading back out to join your peers. Open to booksellers from all regions.

The Quiet Room is intended to provide a quiet, calm space where attendees can spend time away from noise, light, and other stimuli of conference spaces. The quiet room is not available for conversations or meetings.

9:20 am to 10:20 am

Some of the best fiction and nonfiction is born out of crisis, and the human struggle – for peace, for freedom, for safety – is the backbone of some of our most enduring works of literature. Join five writers for a discussion of how they approach writing about crisis, and how stories of crisis can inform and inspire readers. With Julia Alvarez, Erik Larson, James McBride, and David Simon, moderated by Emma Straub. Panelists: Erik Larson, author, Penguin Random House, Julia Alvarez, author, Algonquin, James McBride, author, Penguin Random House, David Simon, author, Akashic Books, Emma Straub, Books Are Magic (Brooklyn, NY)

It has been more than a year since ABA and the Pre-Order Task Force began a dedicated push to help booksellers better capitalize on this important yet underutilized option for sales. Since then, many participating booksellers have witnessed increased sales both from targeted pre-order campaigns and overall sales of popular titles. In this session, publishers that have worked with ABA will review pre-order campaigns from their perspective and will provide additional data and best practices. And booksellers who have had success with pre-orders will share tips to further increase pre-orders and sales overall. Panelists: Joy Dallanegra-Sanger, ABA (White Plains, NY), Geetha Nathan, ABA (White Plains, NY), Dave Lucey, Page 158 Books (Wake Forest, NC), Robert Sindelar, Third Place Books (Seattle, WA); Karen Torres, Hachette Book Group (New York, NY); Meg Sherman, W. W. Norton & Company (New York, NY)

If you want to boost your sales numbers, this is the session for you! Genre titles include a broad category of topics, including fantasy, science fiction, western, romance, horror, mystery, dystopia, and more. And readers of these genres are often heavily invested in purchasing these titles and participating in the fandom through events, cosplay, and more. Bookseller panelists will review the financial impact of increased attention on genre titles. Panelists: Jenny Cohen, Waucoma Bookstore (Hood River, OR), Amber Brown, Quail Ridge Books (Raleigh, NC), Danny Caine, The Raven Book Store (Lawrence, KS), Emily Hall Schroen, Main Street Books (St. Charles, MO)

Being an independent bookstore in today’s retail environment means working tirelessly to stay connected and relevant to your customers in the store and online, while simultaneously participating in your greater community by advocating for independent retail as a key to downtown economic stability. It’s a big job! And all independent retailers, not just booksellers, are meeting this challenge in various ways. Come to this session to hear from Baltimore’s diverse and unique independent retailer stars, ask questions, and discover ideas to apply to your bookstore. Panelists: Dan Cullen, ABA (White Plains, NY), Tom Mansfield, Charm City Run (Baltimore, MD), Claudia Towles, aMuse Toys (Baltimore, MD), Mark Wasson, A Few Cool Hardware Stores (Washington, D.C./Baltimore, MD/Alexandria, VA), Dan Cullen, ABA (White Plains, NY)

Podcasting has become an increasingly popular way to supplement your store’s programming, boost sales, and generate interest in your store among the literary community and beyond. In this session, we will discuss how to decide if a podcast makes sense for your store, different philosophies regarding the creation of content, the best recording equipment and editing software, different publishing platforms, and how to work with publishers and authors to promote their work and yours. Jason Jefferies, general manager of Quail Ridge Books, host of the store’s podcast, Bookin', and co-director of the North Carolina Book Festival, will moderate this panel. Panelists: Jason Jefferies, Quail Ridge Books (Raleigh, NC), Annie Jones, The Bookshelf (Thomasville, GA), Alena Jones, Seminary Co-op Bookstore and 57th Street Books (Chicago, IL), Layla Saad, author, Sourcebooks

9:20 am to 12:15 pm

For attending Wi15 authors: Join your fellow authors on a tour of three Baltimore independent bookstores. Publishers can register authors online through the ABA Publisher Dashboard. There is a $30 fee per person. The tour will depart from the Hilton Hotel at 9:20 am on Thursday, January 23, and will stop at Greedy Reads, The Ivy Bookshop, and Red Emma’s Bookstore. Boarding begins 30 minutes prior to departure; the tour will return to the hotel by 12:15 pm. (Bookstore tours for U.S. booksellers are scheduled for Friday, January 24.)

10:35 am to 11:55 am

Indies Introduce is about what independent booksellers do best: Discovering exciting debut authors and sharing the best with readers across the country. You will hear about the title selection process from the bookseller panelists who curated the Winter/Spring 2020 Indies Introduce list, which, according to Destenie Fafard of Cellar Door Books (Riverside, CA), provides panelists with “the privilege of reading debut authors’ work and giving a spotlight to those who perhaps wouldn’t be seen without our platform.” Many of the Winter/Spring 2020 Indies Introduce debut authors will be present to read a short passage and answer a question posed by one of the panelists. Authors will be available to sign copies of their debut books following the presentation.

12:15 pm to 2:15 pm

International guests are invited to lunch with their colleagues and participate in an informal discussion about bookselling developments and trends from around the world. Take a break, relax, and enjoy an informal discussion with other international bookselling colleagues.

Enjoy lunch with publisher sales reps and learn about great upcoming titles from the Winter Institute’s publisher sponsors. Seats are assigned; table numbers are printed on bookseller badges.

12:30 pm to 2:00 pm

Developed for author guests at Winter Institute, this lunch panel features booksellers who have formulated best practices for creating events that benefits both store and author. This session will cover a number of issues, from author publicity to dealing with pre-event nerves. Panelists: Nina Barrett, Bookends & Beginnings (Evanston, IL), Linda Kass, Gramercy Books (Bexley, OH), Susan Hans O'Connor, Penguin Bookshop (Sewickley, PA), Joan Trygg, Red Balloon Bookshop (St. Paul, MN), Alex George, Skylark Bookshop (Columbia, MO)

2:15 pm to 5:00 pm

The Consultation Station offers booksellers the opportunity to meet with representatives from ABA’s business solution partners, POS vendors, and other service providers. Check BookWeb often for the full list of Consultation Station participants and a chance to make appointments in the coming months.

This meeting space will be open and available to booksellers throughout the course of the event. The agenda is yours! Enjoy a space set aside for one-on-one discussions or larger group conversations. A number of flip-charts will be available for use.

2:30 pm to 3:30 pm

The Town Hall is an opportunity for open discussion about industry and association issues. ABA Board Jamie Fiocco (Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC) and Vice President Bradley Graham (Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington, D.C.) will facilitate the meeting. The full ABA Board will respond to questions and comments from all booksellers; booksellers who would like to send questions in advance can e-mail [email protected].

3:30 pm to 4:00 pm

3:45 pm to 5:00 pm

Batch for Books is a new electronic invoicing system created for booksellers and publishers in the U.S. The software-assisted service, based on the version used in the U.K., helps initiate payments between vendors and bookstore retailers at no cost to bookstores.

Booksellers can sign up for one-on-ones with Batch here.

IndieCommerce and IndieLite are ABA’s online platforms for marketing events and author appearances as well as selling books and other merchandise. Both users and non-users of IndieCommerce and IndieLite are invited to schedule one-on-one time with a program specialist from the IndieCommerce team. Space is limited, but walk-ins are welcome. Registration will open in December. Attendees may schedule their appointment by completing the form here.

3:45 pm to 4:45 pm

The panel brings together respected booksellers, Shirikiana Gerima, Ramunda Lark Young, and Hannah Oliver Depp, to examine the intersections of race, literature, and entrepreneurship. The panelists will explore the importance of their contributions to the bookselling eco-system, activism, and what is required to create diverse, equitable environments. Panelists: Glory Edim, Well-Read Black Girl, Founder (New York, NY), Shirikiana Gerima, Sankofa Video, Books & Cafe (Washington, D.C.), Ramunda Lark Young, MahoganyBooks (Washington, D.C.) , Hannah Oliver Depp, Loyalty Bookstore (Washington, D.C.)

Events draw foot traffic, residual sales, and often media coverage for our stores. What they don't always draw is profit. But even in today's economic climate of rising minimum wages and other costs, we can produce events that serve both our communities and our profitability. In this session, we'll look at how to execute successful events through planning, budget creation, profit-and-loss analyses, and other tools professional event planners use to help manage the workload and the bottom line. We'll also discuss one of the most important aspects of all—valuing your time and expertise and then charging accordingly, even for authorless events. This session will be presented by Cindy Dach, CEO of Changing Hands Bookstore and is part of the store's professional development series. Panelists: Cindy Dach, Changing Hands Bookstore (Tempe, AZ)

Bookshop CEO Andy Hunter will present Bookshop.org, an online bookstore that financially supports independent bookstores and explain how they hope to work with indies. Bookshop targets book buyers that would otherwise go to the major online retailer, and gives socially conscious book buyers an alternative that supports their values. This session will contain a brief demo of the platform and discussion of how indie bookstores can participate in the profit-sharing and use the platform to sell books and earn revenue. Panelists: Andy Hunter, Bookshop

This is an opportunity for booksellers to come together to discuss meaningful and often difficult topics. The goal for this conversation is not to find a solution or to provide active take-away steps, but to practice active listening, contributing, and considering other points of view on complex issues facing our industry and society. This session will focus on the politics of curation. What social or economic factors do you consider when you buy, merchandise, hand-sell, and cultivate specific author and publisher relationships? Do you choose to exclude certain titles or authors from your inventory? This conversation will be facilitated by a professional moderator. Panelists: Lexi Beach, Astoria Bookshop (Astoria, NY), Luis Correa, Avid Bookshop (Athens, GA), Kenny Brechner, Devaney Doak & Garrett Booksellers (Farmington, ME) , Valerie Koehler, Blue Willow Bookshop (Houston, TX), Robert Sindelar, Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park, WA)

5:30 pm to 7:00 pm

Thanks to the generosity of ABA’s publisher sponsors, dozens of authors and illustrators will be on hand to chat with booksellers and autograph new and forthcoming titles at the Author Reception. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served.

Friday, January 24, 2020  

6:45 am to 7:15 am

7:30 am to 3:00 pm

Pick up your badge, the official Wi15 welcome bag from W.G. Ellerkamp, and a full schedule of Institute events from ABA’s membership team.

7:30 am to 8:00 pm

The always-popular Galley Room is filled with ARCs of upcoming titles from Wi15 sponsors. A limited supply of book totes will be on hand. The PartnerShip/FedEx Shipping Desk will also be open to assist in shipping your galleys back to your bookstores.

7:45 am to 9:15 am

Enjoy breakfast while hearing about great upcoming titles from more of Winter Institute’s publisher sponsors. Seating is unassigned for this breakfast.

9:15 am to 5:00 pm

Batch for Books is a new electronic invoicing system created for booksellers and publishers in the U.S. The software-assisted service, based on the version used in the U.K., helps initiate payments between vendors and bookstore retailers at no cost to bookstores.

Booksellers can sign up for one-on-ones with Batch here.

IndieCommerce and IndieLite are ABA’s online platforms for marketing events and author appearances as well as selling books and other merchandise. Both users and non-users of IndieCommerce and IndieLite are invited to schedule one-on-one time with a program specialist from the IndieCommerce team. Space is limited, but walk-ins are welcome. Registration will open in December. Attendees may schedule their appointment by completing the form here.

The New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA) is pleased to host the Hospitality Suite at this year’s Winter Institute. Stop by for a chance to decompress, grab a beverage, and refuel before heading back out to join your peers. Open to booksellers from all regions.

This meeting space will be open and available to booksellers throughout the course of the event. The agenda is yours! Enjoy a space set aside for one-on-one discussions or larger group conversations. A number of flip-charts will be available for use.

The Quiet Room is intended to provide a quiet, calm space where attendees can spend time away from noise, light, and other stimuli of conference spaces. The quiet room is not available for conversations or meetings.

9:15 am to 12:00 pm

The Consultation Station offers booksellers the opportunity to meet with representatives from ABA’s business solution partners, POS vendors, and other service providers. Check BookWeb often for the full list of Consultation Station participants and a chance to make appointments in the coming months.

Booksellers have the opportunity to meet with small and mid-size publishers for informal conversations. These publishers, many of which are first-time ABA event sponsors, will have sample copies of their books, as well as additional copies for giveaways at their discretion.

9:15 am to 10:45 am

Immediately following their breakfast presentations, reps from participating publisher sponsors will be available to meet with interested booksellers for further discussion.

9:30 am to 10:30 am

Board games are a hot trend and a growing business that capitalize on popular TV and streaming shows and pop-culture moments. And they all have something in common: face-to-face social interaction, which is a key component of successful independent bookstores. Come hear from booksellers who have integrated board games and play nights into their sales and events. An independent board game seller joins the panel to discuss the aspects of her business and how booksellers can bring games — and customers — into the bookstore. After the session, come to the Winter Institute Board Game Playroom to sample games with colleagues or game reps, review discounts, and place orders. If you are looking for new non-book inventory, this may be an opportunity for you. Panelists: John Stacy, Executive Director, GAMA (Columbus, OH), Todd Dickinson, Aaron's Books (Lititz, PA), David Prescott, Blackwells (London, UK), Milton Griepp, ICv2 The Business of Geek Culture (Madison, WI)

Join the ABA Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for an overview of current and future DEI initiatives as well as a broader discussion on diversity in the industry. Bring your questions and concerns. All are welcome.

In our highly charged and increasingly challenging political landscape, author visits and even authorless events can become a flash point. Managing and pre-planning for potential event disruptions by fully understanding your community, your audience, and your guests can go a long way toward creating solutions. This panel will offer suggestions from booksellers who have experienced store boycotts and both peaceful and not-so-peaceful protestors. Panelists: Dave Grogan, ABA (White Plains, NY), Reiko Redmonde, Revolution Books (Berkeley, CA), Elisa Thomas, Cellar Door Books (Riverside, CA), Bradley Graham, Politics and Prose Bookstore (Washington, DC)

One minute of planning can save you 10 minutes in execution. But when you are one of the only booksellers on staff, finding that one minute can be tough. Panelists will provide useful tools for fighting distraction and tracking time so you can create those efficiencies that lead to improved productivity. Panelists: Dan Cullen, ABA (White Plains, NY), Bel McNeil, Bel & Bunna's Books (Lafayette, CA), Angela Maria Spring, Duende District Bookstore (Washington, D.C.), Kathy Burnette, The Brain Lair (South Bend, IN)

10:45 am to 11:45 am

In the 1960s and 1970s, scores of Black bookstores opened in the U.S. Founded by activist entrepreneurs, these indie stores served as a refuge and intellectual center for communities in search of books by and about Black people. This Wi15 keynote event will be a wide-open conversation about the history and vital position of Black bookstores in our communities and in our industry with pioneers of Black bookselling and publishing, moderated by Professor Joshua Clark Davis, author of From Head Shops to Whole Foods: The Rise and Fall of Activist Entrepreneurs (Columbia University Press). Speakers include: W. Paul Coates, Black Classic Press (Baltimore, MD); Shirikiana Aina Gerima, Sankofa Video Books and Cafe (Washington, D.C.); Judy Richardson, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (Atlanta, GA); Nati Kamau-Nataki, Everyone's Place (Baltimore, MD).

12:00 pm to 1:30 pm

Enjoy lunch and meet an additional lineup of authors and illustrators from Winter Institute’s sponsors, who will be on hand to chat with booksellers and autograph their new and forthcoming titles.

1:30 pm to 5:00 pm

The Consultation Station offers booksellers the opportunity to meet with representatives from ABA’s business solution partners, POS vendors, and other service providers. Check BookWeb often for the full list of Consultation Station participants and a chance to make appointments in the coming months.

1:45 pm to 5:00 pm

Welcome to the Winter Institute Board Game Playroom! This is your opportunity to sample games with colleagues or game reps, review discounts, and place orders. If you are looking for new non-book inventory, this may be an opportunity for you. Game publishers on hand will include: Atlas Games, GIGAMIC, Hush Hush Projects/Fog of Love, Iello Games, Looney Labs, Peachstate Hobby Distributors, R&R Games, Smirk and Dagger Games, Storymatic, USAopoly, Van Ryder Games, and WizKids.
Panelists: John Stacy, Executive Director, GAMA (Columbus, OH)

Pre-registration required. Space is limited. Booksellers are encouraged to attend the seminar in its entirety. Registration is closed. Attention frontline booksellers! ABA is offering this in-depth, interactive seminar to help you learn more about the industry and become better booksellers. The subjects for the afternoon include:

  • Personal Finance: Because finances make your life work! Tina Hay, author of Napkin Finance (HarperCollins), will present “Napkins for the Frontline Bookseller.” Tina developed this visual way of understanding financial concepts and managing money while attending Harvard Business School. Her visual learning strategy uses sketches and infographics that helped her succeed in her studies and master even the most complex financial topics.
  • When Hand-selling is Difficult : Maybe you’re not into kids’ books or history or cooking, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a competent and meaningful exchange on the topic and help guide a customer to the best choice.
  • Career Management: Take some time to focus on your future. A panel composed of booksellers and publishers will share insights on their career trajectories and tips for creating a career plan for future success. You won’t want to miss this conversation.

Panelists: Tina Hay, author, Dey Street Books , Cynthia Compton, 4 Kids Books and Toys (Zionsville, IN), Michael Triebwasser, Politics and Prose Bookstore (Washington, D.C.)

Pre-registration required. Space is limited. Booksellers are encouraged to attend the seminar in its entirety. Registration is closed. An employee manual is the documentation for your store’s policies and procedures, as well as for employees’ legal rights and obligations. But it is more than that. This document provides a window into the unique workplace vision and culture that you have built — or that you want to build. The workshop will cover the following sections for your employee manual:

  • Workplace culture, including store values and mission statement
  • General employment information
  • Code of conduct
  • Benefits
  • Disciplinary procedures and grounds for termination
  • Employee manual disclaimer

Panelists: Stephanie Steinberg, Hachette Book Group (New York, NY), Rebecca Fitting, Greenlight Bookstore (Brooklyn, NY), Jenny Cohen, Waucoma Bookstore (Hood River, OR)

1:45 pm to 2:45 pm

Welcome to ABA’s live Marketing Meetup! Marketing is more than social media, newsletters, or placing ads. While all of these tasks are vital to marketing, it is important not to overlook search engine optimization, or SEO. In this session, you’ll learn what SEO is, why it matters, and some best practices for implementation. Panelists: Ryan Quinn, ABA (White Plains, NY), Eileen McGervey, One More Page Books (Arlington, VA), Cassie Clemans, Roundabout Books (Bend, OR) and  Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialists Jordan Brannon, Coalition Technologies (Culver City, CA), and, Cassandra Cross, Coalition Technologies (Culver City, CA).

Pre-registration required. Registration is closed. Join bestselling and award-winning authors Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds in conversation on the history of racist ideas in America and how to better navigate these complex realities. Reynolds and Kendi’s Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, March 2020) delivers a timely YA reimagining of Kendi’s National Book Award-winning Stamped From the Beginning. Through his work, Kendi has explored how racist ideas were developed by some of the most brilliant minds in history to justify and rationalize the nation’s deeply entrenched discriminatory policies. But while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited. Jason Reynolds’s remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning also offers the tools needed to combat these ideas. With Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, Kendi and Reynolds have come together to deliver an energizing narrative that speaks to young people and shines a light on the many insidious forms of racism—and on ways readers can identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives.

2:00 pm to 4:45 pm

Pre-registration required; $30 fee per person; space is limited. Registration is closed.

The Baltimore-area Bookstore Tour departs from the Hilton Hotel at 2:00 pm on Friday, January 24, and will stop at Atomic Books, Red Emma's Bookstore, and Black Classic Press. Boarding begins 30 minutes prior to departure; the tour will return to the hotel by 4:45 pm.

3:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Independent Bookstore Day (IBD) has grown from a handful of bookstores in California to a national celebration involving more than 575 stores and, in some cases, citywide celebrations. Participating bookstores see an increase in sales, increased foot traffic, and increased brand awareness. This session will offer attendees an overview of the program and tips from booksellers who have figured out how to make the most of IBD. Panelists will offer information on how to order and make the most of the IBD exclusive merchandise, how to organize and publicize your store’s party to bring people into your store, and how to use social media strategically to increase sales and community participation. Panelists: Samantha Schoech, Program Director of Independent Bookstore Day, Janet Geddis, Avid Bookshop (Athens, GA), Rebecca George, Volumes Bookcafe (Chicago, IL), Tom Nissley, Phinney Books (Seattle, WA), Christie Olson Day, Gallery Bookshop & Bookwinkle's Children's Books (Mendocino, CA)

This informal yet informative talk is designed to provide a relaxed atmosphere for inspiring and educational conversations. Two booksellers with experience with everything from fundraising to campaigning to serving will discuss and offer suggestions and encouragement for those who are curious about what it takes to serve in office. Panelists: Kate Schlademan, The Learned Owl (Hudson, OH), Becky Anderson, Anderson's Bookshops (Naperville, IL)

This forty-five minute long session offers attendees three lightning talks from booksellers who have had game-changing aha! moments in the past year. Presentations will be short — 10 minutes or less — and will focus on concepts that have saved money, improved operations, created a new efficiency, or increased sales. From major shakeups to a better system for ordering store supplies, innovative ideas come in all sizes but can make a big impact. Presentations this hour include: How to Turn Social Media Activism Into Increased Sales (Danny Caine, The Raven Bookstore, Lawrence, KS); Black Books Matter (Ramunda Lark Young, MahoganyBooks, Washington, D.C.); and Ithica is Books (Lisa Swayze, Buffalo Street Books, Ithaca, NY). Panelists: Danny Caine, The Raven Bookstore (Lawrence, KS), Lisa Swayze, Buffalo Street Books (Ithaca, NY), Ramunda Lark Young, MahoganyBooks (Washington, D.C.)

3:15 pm to 3:45 pm

4:15 pm to 5:00 pm

More than 50% of Generation Z (people between the ages of 13 and 20) identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and a recent survey by the Human Rights Campaign shows that many of them have anxiety regarding their personal safety. In this session, booksellers will have the chance to share ideas, programs, and actions they have taken to make their store an inclusive, welcoming, and safe environment for today’s LGBTQ+ youth. Panelists: BrocheAroe Fabian, River Dog Book Co.

Congratulations on making it through Winter Institute 2020! What are you taking away from this conference? What has excited or inspired you? If you attended the Bookseller Discussion Groups on Wednesday, you will find your moderator ready to guide your group through this debrief discussion. If you are attending on a day pass, you are welcome to join any table with a “Day Pass” stanchion. Your moderator will be a member of the ABA Booksellers Advisory Council or ABC Advisory Council.

5:10 pm to 7:00 pm

Sponsored by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Celebrate the end of another successful Winter Institute and Baltimore legend John Waters with this very special movie screening of the 1988 classic Hairspray. Refreshments will be served.

About ABA

The American Booksellers Association, a national not-for-profit trade organization, works with booksellers and industry partners to ensure the success and profitability of independently owned book retailers, and to assist in expanding the community of the book.

Independent bookstores act as community anchors; they serve a unique role in promoting the open exchange of ideas, enriching the cultural life of communities, and creating economically vibrant neighborhoods.

Contact

PRESS INQUIRIES: [email protected]

INDIECOMMERCE: [email protected]

ALL OTHER INQUIRIES: [email protected]

 

 

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