NEBA Anticipates a Busy, Well-Attended Show

The New England Booksellers Association (NEBA) is expecting robust attendance at its 31st Annual Meeting & Trade Show, which will be held at the World Trade Center in Boston from Friday, October 8, through Sunday, October 10. The trade show floor will be open from 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. The American Booksellers Association will offer three free educational sessions at the show: "Book Sense Gift Card Users," "BookSense.com Users Group," and "The 2% Solution."

NEBA executive director Rusty Drugan told BTW that he expected a busy, well-attended show. "Attendance figures look very good," Drugan said. "We have for the first time had to make arrangements for two overflow hotels."

About NEBA's programming, Drugan said, "The buzz I hear leading up to our show is grassroots excitement about Kate Whouley's day-long workshop on Friday about refreshing and renewing your store's appearance. Lots of anticipation and interest. Everyone seems to be in a makeover mood."

This year's ABA exhibit will focus on "Book Sense Gift Cards: One Year Later" and will feature live demonstrations. Association staff will also be on hand to gather member input on ABA education initiatives, as well as to provide general information.

The Book Sense Gift Card Program, just completing its first year of operation, has already helped more than 200 bookstores dramatically increase their sales. The ABA exhibit will give booksellers the opportunity to see firsthand how the gift card program works. As an incentive to try the gift card, ABA will waive the one-time $25 set-up fee for booksellers signing up at the show. (Booksellers planning to sign up at the show will need to bring their checking account information. For more details about Book Sense gift cards, click here.)

The number-one goal of ABA's strategic plan is to "provide independent professional booksellers with access to the education, information, and business services they need to succeed in a changing world," and ABA staff attending NEBA's trade show will be seeking bookseller input on how best to construct the association's educational offerings moving forward. An "ABA Education 2005 Survey" was recently sent to members via e-mail and can be downloaded in PDF format by clicking here. Survey forms will also be available at ABA's booth on the trade show floor. (Booksellers returning surveys at the trade show will be entered into a sweepstakes to win a color, inkjet computer printer.)

Here is a look at ABA-sponsored programs to be held at the NEBA trade show.

On Saturday, October 9:

• 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. "Book Sense Gift Card Users Group." An in-depth review of the gift card program and a discussion about future growth. Booksellers will be asked to share their experiences regarding the operation of the program as well as their marketing ideas. One-on-one meetings to discuss the Book Sense Gift Card Program may also be scheduled for any time during the NEBA trade show. This session will be moderated by ABA Marketing Director Jill Perlstein. To schedule a meeting in advance of the show, booksellers should send an e-mail to Perlstein at [email protected]. Stores that have not yet converted to gift cards are also welcome.
  

• 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. "BookSense.com Users Group." BookSense.com users will learn about the latest features of BookSense.com, as well as planned enhancements to the product. Non-BookSense.com stores are welcome to attend this session, which will be led by BookSense.com Director Len Vlahos.
  
  

On Sunday, October 10:

• 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. "The 2% Solution." This seminar, offered this past spring at BookExpo America to rave reviews, looks at the drivers of bookstore profitability and examines how they can be worked on to move our businesses to greater profitability. Specific suggestions and ideas on how a bookseller can work on sales, gross margin, compensation and occupancy expenses will be provided. The 2003 ABACUS study of independent bookshop operations showed that the average profitability of all 197 participants was a negative 1.67%. While moving from negative profitability to a positive 2% is a long journey, this seminar will help us to start drawing the road map. ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz will present this program.
  

In addition to Domnitz, Perlstein, and Vlahos, ABA will be represented at the show by ABA COO Oren Teicher; Kristen Gilligan, associate director of programming and constituent groups liaison; and ABA Board members Suzy Staubach of UConn Co-op in Storrs, Connecticut, and Linda Ramsdell of The Galaxy Bookshop in Hardwick, Vermont.

NEBA education sessions will be held on Friday, from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; on Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; and on Sunday, from 10:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. Highlights of NEBA's education sessions include, on Friday, a two-part session led by bookstore consultant and author Kate Whouley (Cottage for Sale -- Must Be Moved, Commonwealth Editions) from 10:00 a.m. - noon and from 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., " Refresh and Renew" and "Creating a Store Your Customers Love (Even More)." The educational workshop shows how booksellers can reinforce the uniqueness of their bookstore by creating an appealing visual environment.

On Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., "Scams and Shoplifting: Theft in the Bookstore" will feature a panel of booksellers who will discuss security issues and solutions. Panel members are Jeff Smull of Toadstool Bookshop in Keene, New Hampshire; David Didriksen of Willow Books and Café in Acton, Massachusetts; and security systems industry professional Kagan Hudayar of OmniGuard Systems.

On Friday night from 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. NEBA hosts its annual Children's Books Author/Illustrator Dinner. Guest speakers include Graeme Base (Truck Dogs, Abrams Books for Young Readers); Cornelia Funke (Dragon Rider, Scholastic); and Janet Tashjian (Vote for Larry, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers).

The next day, from 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., will be the Saturday Breakfast With Authors. Guest speakers are Lynne Cox (Swimming to Antarctica, Harcourt), Stewart O'Nan (co-author with Stephen King, Faithful: Two Diehard Boston Red Sox Fans Chronicle the 2004 Season, Scribner); and Esmeralda Santiago (The Turkish Lover, Da Capo Press).

On Saturday night, NEBA will hold its annual reception from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., followed by the Dinner With Authors from 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Authors confirmed at press time are Kelly Braffet (Josie and Jack: A Novel, Mariner Books); Jane Brox (Clearing the Land, FSG); Edward Docx (The Calligrapher: A Novel, Mariner Books); Ross Gelbspan (Boiling Point, Basic Books); Jennifer Haigh (Baker Towers, William Morrow); Chuck Hogan (Prince of Thieves, Simon and Schuster); Jon Kabat-Zinn (Coming to Our Senses: Healing Ourselves and the World Through Mindfulness, Hyperion); Garret Keizer (Help: The Original Human Dilemma, HarperSanFrancisco); Margot Livesey (Banishing Verona, Henry Holt & Co.); Howard Frank Mosher (Waiting For Teddy Williams: A Novel, Houghton Mifflin Co.); Meg Ostrum (University of Nebraska); and Amanda Eyre Ward (How to Be Lost, MacAdam/Cage). Tickets are required.

For the most up-to-date information and for registration, go to the NEBA Web site at www.newenglandbooks.org or call (800) 466-8711.