Education Resources

186 results. Results may be paginated. Select one or more topics and filter by tag, format, or conference to focus results. Some resources are visible only to logged-in, ABA bookseller members. Visit the Education Hub for additional resources.

Lightning Talk - Emma Kaas (Norwich Bookstore) on Taking Annual Inventory

Lightning Talk - Emma Kaas (Norwich Bookstore) on Taking Annual Inventory (January 11, 2024)
Content related to the education session Lightning Talk - Emma Kaas (Norwich Bookstore) on Taking Annual Inventory, Lightning Talks.
Watch video from this event.
Topic:
  • Operations
Tags:
  • 101

ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On January 11, 2024, Emma Kaas (Norwich Bookstore) discussed Taking Annual Inventory.

Lightning Talk - Book Vending Machines with Isis Asare of Sistah SciFi

Lightning Talk - Book Vending Machines with Isis Asare of Sistah SciFi (June 15, 2023)
Content related to the education session Lightning Talk - Book Vending Machines with Isis Asare of Sistah SciFi, Lightning Talks.
Watch video from this event.
Topic:
  • Operations
Tags:
  • Technology

ABA's Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting 5-10 minute talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they’ve made in their stores. On June 15, 2023, Isis Asare of Sistah SciFi (Oakland, CA) discussed Book Vending Machines.

 

Small but Mighty: Creating a Financially Sustainable Business at Any Size

Small but Mighty: Creating a Financially Sustainable Business at Any Size (June 6, 2023)
Content related to the education session Small but Mighty: Creating a Financially Sustainable Business at Any Size, Children's Institute 2023.
AttachmentSize
PDF icon 2PM Small but Mighty.pdf295.58 KB
Topic:
  • Operations
Tags:
  • Owners and Managers
Small bookstores (less than 1000 square feet of selling space) have a lot to share with larger bookstores about financial sustainability. This bookseller-led panel will present innovative ideas for how to manage budgeting, buying, displaying, selling, and returns to keep your store financially stable, no matter the size.
 
Speakers:
Kathy Burnette, Brain Lair Books - South Bend, IN
Heather Hebert, Children's Book World - Haverford, PA
PK Sindwani, American Booksellers Association - White Plains, NY
 
Small but Mighty: Creating a Financially Sustainable Business at Any Size (June 6, 2023)
Content related to the education session Small but Mighty: Creating a Financially Sustainable Business at Any Size, Children's Institute 2023.
Watch video from this event.
Topic:
  • Operations
Tags:
  • Owners and Managers
Small bookstores (less than 1000 square feet of selling space) have a lot to share with larger bookstores about financial sustainability. This bookseller-led panel will present innovative ideas for how to manage budgeting, buying, displaying, selling, and returns to keep your store financially stable, no matter the size.
 
Speakers:
Kathy Burnette, Brain Lair Books - South Bend, IN
Heather Hebert, Children's Book World - Haverford, PA
PK Sindwani, American Booksellers Association - White Plains, NY
 

Communication in a Changing Workforce

Communication in a Changing Workforce (June 6, 2023)
Content related to the education session Communication in a Changing Workforce, Children's Institute 2023.
AttachmentSize
PDF icon Changing Workforce PDF.pdf1.24 MB
Topic:
  • Operations
Tags:
  • Owners and Managers
Presented by ZingTrain: The world of work is changing rapidly due to labor movements, the political and economic landscape, health crises, and a multigenerational labor force. Managers are facing unique challenges, as well as opportunities, when it comes to building a happy, productive team. Providing and receiving feedback is a critical part of managing employees and being an employee in a bookstore. However, it can be challenging. In this session, we will explore strategies for relaying feedback that promotes employee development and contributes to a positive workplace culture as well as receiving and responding to feedback that supports an employee in feeling heard and seen. You will learn how to effectively deliver, receive, and respond to feedback that is specific, actionable, and focused on behaviors, rather than personal traits. We will also cover strategies for dealing with difficult feedback conversations and for providing feedback in a timely and consistent manner.
 
Speaker:
Timo Anderson, ZingTrain - Ann Arbor, MI
Communication in a Changing Workforce (June 6, 2023)
Content related to the education session Communication in a Changing Workforce, Children's Institute 2023.
Watch video from this event.
Topic:
  • Operations
Tags:
  • Owners and Managers
Presented by ZingTrain: The world of work is changing rapidly due to labor movements, the political and economic landscape, health crises, and a multigenerational labor force. Managers are facing unique challenges, as well as opportunities, when it comes to building a happy, productive team. Providing and receiving feedback is a critical part of managing employees and being an employee in a bookstore. However, it can be challenging. In this session, we will explore strategies for relaying feedback that promotes employee development and contributes to a positive workplace culture as well as receiving and responding to feedback that supports an employee in feeling heard and seen. You will learn how to effectively deliver, receive, and respond to feedback that is specific, actionable, and focused on behaviors, rather than personal traits. We will also cover strategies for dealing with difficult feedback conversations and for providing feedback in a timely and consistent manner.
 
Speaker:
Timo Anderson, ZingTrain - Ann Arbor, MI

Five Steps to Effective On-Shift Training

Five Steps to Effective On-Shift Training (June 5, 2023)
Content related to the education session Five Steps to Effective On-Shift Training, Children's Institute 2023.
AttachmentSize
PDF icon On-Shift Training Handout1.4 MB
Topic:
  • Operations
Tags:
  • Owners and Managers
On-shift training is the primary form of training in many businesses - one trainer teaching skill-based information to one or two trainees. Despite its popularity, it is often hard to get consistent results when not all trainers are on the same page, are not working with the same expectations, and sometimes, are not on the same skill level. This leads to frustrated trainees, managers, and trainers. The 5 Steps for Effective On-Shift Training are guaranteed to improve the experience of trainer and trainee alike - and lead to better, more enjoyable results!
 
Speaker:
Timo Anderson, ZingTrain - Ann Arbor, MI

 

Five Steps to Effective On-Shift Training (June 5, 2023)
Content related to the education session Five Steps to Effective On-Shift Training, Children's Institute 2023.
Watch video from this event.
Topic:
  • Operations
Tags:
  • Owners and Managers
On-shift training is the primary form of training in many businesses - one trainer teaching skill-based information to one or two trainees. Despite its popularity, it is often hard to get consistent results when not all trainers are on the same page, are not working with the same expectations, and sometimes, are not on the same skill level. This leads to frustrated trainees, managers, and trainers. The 5 Steps for Effective On-Shift Training are guaranteed to improve the experience of trainer and trainee alike - and lead to better, more enjoyable results!
 
Speaker:
Timo Anderson, ZingTrain - Ann Arbor, MI

 

Harnessing the Power of Small Data (Bookseller Panel)

Harnessing the Power of Small Data (Bookseller Panel) (February 23, 2023)
Content related to the education session Harnessing the Power of Small Data (Bookseller Panel), Winter Institute 2023.
Topic:
  • Operations
Tags:
  • Technology

This session will offer insight into the small data sets you didn’t know you had and how to mine data to better focus your efforts. Information from POS reports, one-question customer surveys, and even understanding store traffic patterns can make the difference between a good day and a great one.

 

Speakers: Cynthia Compton, 4 Kids Books & Toys (Zionsville, Indiana); Melissa DeMotte, The Well-Read Moose (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho)

Best Practices for Efficient Operations (Bookseller Panel)

Best Practices for Efficient Operations (Bookseller Panel) (February 23, 2023)
Content related to the education session Best Practices for Efficient Operations (Bookseller Panel), Winter Institute 2023.
Topic:
  • Operations
Tags:
  • Technology

Join a panel of booksellers as they discuss ways that they have become more efficient in basic bookstore operations. The panel will review how to organize invoices for efficiency, provide samples of easy-to-use forms to streamlined processes, discuss how to communicate with staff around new operations procedures, and more. Come to the session to listen and also share your own best practices.

 

Speakers: Luis Correa, Avid Bookshop (Athens, Georgia); Emma Nichols, Norwich Bookstore (Norwich, Vermont); Lauren Nopenz Fairley, Curious Iguana (Frederick, Maryland); Darryl Peck, Righton Books (St Simons Island, Georgia)

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.

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