Winter Institute 2019

Community educators are important bookstore allies. They work closely with children, and children need books! Making sure bookstores are carrying what teachers are recommending is essential to strengthening the relationship between the two. In this session, event planners and buyers will share how they have implemented and had success hosting Educator Nights. Booksellers will learn:

• Why Educator Nights are important
• How to build a bookstore’s list of educator contacts
• The type of information educators are seeking out when they come to an in-store Educator Night

Important topics to discuss at these events

Pre-registration required; for owners and managers only. Register here As a bookstore owner or manager, having multiple responsibilities means your to-do list is never done. And as your business grows, your days only get longer. In order to keep your sanity, you need staff who can take on more responsibilities and grow with the business, providing leadership in your store and possessing the confidence to represent your store in the community. For this to happen, you need employees who can think strategically, take initiative, and feel empowered to solve problems. Alden Mills—Inc. 500 CEO, Navy SEAL, and author of Unstoppable Teams: The Four Essential Actions of High-Performance Leadership (HarperBusiness)—will teach important strategies you can apply immediately to develop leaders in your stores. You’ll walk away with Alden’s C.A.R.E.-based model that focuses on building relationships in four ways—with customers, co-workers, and community. This Advanced Education Session is designed for in-depth exploration among peers about management and operational concerns. Space is limited and registration is first-come, first-served. Each ABA member company is limited to two AES participants. ABA will attempt to accommodate all interested stores with at least one AES placement; assignments will be e-mailed prior to the start of Winter Institute. Presented twice on Thursday, 1/24: 9:20 to 10:20 am and 3:40 to 4:40 pm.

In this detailed financial session, two booksellers will walk publishers through the ABACUS Financial Benchmarking Report and discuss the financial realities of owning and operating a general bookstore in a storefront retail space.

Reshma Saujani is the author of Brave, Not Perfect: Fear Less, Fail More, and Live Bolder, Currency.

Pre-registration required; $59 fee per person per seminar; space is limited; attendance at Winter Institute is not required.
The IndieCommerce Institute is an interactive, classroom-style workshop for users of ABA's IndieCommerce platform. Attendees can register for either a morning or an afternoon seminar for $59 each, or for both morning and afternoon for $118. Each seminar will include step-by-step instructions for each topic covered. See complete IndieCommerce Institute schedule here. Register 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 a one-on-one time with a program specialist from the IndieCommerce team. Space is limited, but walk-ins are welcome. Sign up here.

Booksellers gather with colleagues to discuss issues raised by the Breakfast Keynote (below). Discussions are led by ABA Board members. Group and room assignments are printed on attendee badges.
1) As booksellers do you see yourselves as more in the "bravery" or the "perfectionist" camp? Why is that? How might embracing bravery make you a better bookseller?
2) After listening to Reshma Saujani, has your viewpoint changed on the difference between excellence and perfection? Does a different perspective change how you might approach your role at the store?
3) How does a fear of failure impact your business decisions? What is the fear of? Is it a “bottom line” issue, or a more personal one? Could answering this question help envision what your store would look like in 5 years?

The always-popular Galley Room is filled with ARCs of upcoming titles from Wi14 sponsors. A limited supply of book totes will be on hand. This year, Ingram has offered to assist in shipping your galleys back to your bookstores.

The Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association 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.

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 a one-on-one time with a program specialist from the IndieCommerce team. Space is limited, but walk-ins are welcome. Sign up here.

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

Pick up your badge, the official Wi14 welcome bag from Candlewick, and a full schedule of Institute events. Representatives from MPIBA will also be on hand to greet you. Group and table assignments are printed on bookseller badges. Member Relationship Managers Elizabeth Roberts and Daniel O’Brien can answer any questions about ABA or Wi14.

Friends of Bill (A Private Meeting)

An invitation to all booksellers to dance and drink with new and old friends and to ring in Winter Institute 14 together. Live music until midnight. This is a great opportunity for fun and engaging conversations about bookselling. Hosted by the National Book Foundation, Lit Hub, Bookselling Without Borders, and indie presses Archipelago, Catapult, Counterpoint, Europa Editions, Graywolf, New Directions, New York Review Books, Other Press, and Soft Skull.

Co-sponsored by Shelf Awareness, ABA’s 2019 Winter Institute Welcome Reception is an opportunity to celebrate the beautiful state of New Mexico while enjoying cocktails, snacks, and the company of your colleagues from around the world.