ABA Heads to NCIBA Trade Show

The fall regional trade show season continues this week with the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association show beginning on Friday, September 20, where booksellers can stop by the American Booksellers Association booth to say hello to ABA Board President Jamie Fiocco, CEO Oren Teicher, Senior Program Officer Joy Dallanegra-Sanger, IndieCommerce Senior Manager Geetha Nathan, and Senior Membership Manager Daniel O’Brien.

At each of this year’s shows, ABA will present the new education session “Independent Bookstore Day: Celebrate With Success,” focusing on how indie bookstores can make the most of the national celebration of independent bookselling that this year featured 575 participating stores, many of which reported increased sales and foot traffic plus a boost in brand awareness. 

Because of the national growth of the program, ABA has agreed to take on the management of IBD for 2020. During the session, a panel of booksellers will offer information on how to order and make the most of the exclusive merchandise created for IBD, how to organize and publicize their store’s party, and strategies for using social media to increase sales and community participation. The session is open to both members and non-members of ABA.

In addition, ABA is leading a session at the shows on “What ABA Can Do for You,” during which new ABA members, booksellers at newly opened stores, and anyone else interested can join ABA’s member relationship managers to talk about the programs and resources the association provides to strengthen independent booksellers’ businesses.

At the NCIBA show, ABA will also present “Actionable Ideas from Indie Retail,” during which booksellers can hear from independent retailer stars, ask questions, and discover ideas to apply to their stores. 

Finally, booksellers attending the trade shows can register to meet one-on-one with members of the IndieCommerce staff; book an appointment here. IndieCommerce is currently offering three e-commerce promotions:

• Enter to win one free year of IndieCommerce (total value of $1,425) by submitting an IndieCommerce contract through October 31.
• Receive three free months of IndieLite service for former My Books and More (Baker & Taylor) stores; get your first three months free, then pay $25 per month for the remaining nine months of the year (total value of $600).
• Sign up for IndieLite between September 1 and October 31 and pay half price for the entire year, just $25 per month.

ABA members also have a chance to win a scholarship to Winter Institute 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. Just leave a business card at the ABA booth, and one winner will be selected at random from all the cards received during the fall shows.

Non-ABA members can test drive an ABA membership for free until January 31, 2020, by attending one of the fall regional trade shows and collecting the promotion code to be used during the membership registration process.

The 2019 fall regional trade show schedule continues as follows:

Northern California Independent Booksellers Association (NCIBA)
Friday, September 20 – Saturday, September 21
Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, 1333 Bayshore Highway, Burlingame, California
“What ABA Can Do for You”: Friday, September 20, at 8:30 a.m.
“Actionable Ideas from Indie Retail”: Friday, September 20, at 9:45 a.m.
“Independent Bookstore Day: Celebrate With Success”: Saturday, September 21, at 9:45 a.m.

Southern California Independent Booksellers Association (SCIBA)
Friday, September 27 – Saturday, September 28
Sheraton Los Angeles San Gabriel, 303 E Valley Blvd., San Gabriel, California
“Independent Bookstore Day: Celebrate With Success”: Friday, September 27, at 12:00 p.m.
“What ABA Can Do for You”: Friday, September 27, at 10:30 a.m.

New England Independent Booksellers Association (NEIBA)
Wednesday, October 2 – Friday, October 4
Rhode Island Convention Center Ballroom, 1 Sabin St., Providence, Rhode Island
“Independent Bookstore Day: Celebrate With Success”: Friday, October 4, at 10:15 a.m.
“What ABA Can Do for You”: Wednesday, October 2, at 9:00 a.m.

Heartland Fall Forum (Midwest Independent Booksellers Association/MIBA and Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association/GLIBA)
Wednesday, October 2 – Friday, October 4
Renaissance Cleveland Hotel, 24 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio
“Independent Bookstore Day: Celebrate With Success”: Thursday, October 3, time TBD
“What ABA Can Do for You”: Date and time to come

Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA)
Sunday, October 6 – Tuesday, October 8
Red Lion on the River – Jantzen Beach, 909 N. Hayden Island Dr., Portland, Oregon
“Independent Bookstore Day: Celebrate With Success”: Sunday, October 6, at 10:30 a.m.
“What ABA Can Do for You”: Brief overview at start of first-timers session on Sunday, October 6, at 8:00 a.m.

Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Association (MPIBA)
Thursday, October 10 – Saturday, October 12
Renaissance Denver Stapleton Hotel, 3801 Quebec St., Denver, Colorado
“Independent Bookstore Day: Celebrate With Success”: Saturday, October 12, at 9:45 a.m.
“What ABA Can Do for You”: Wednesday, October 9, at 3:00 p.m.

New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association (NAIBA)
Tuesday, October 15 – Thursday, October 17
Crowne Plaza, 2349 Marlton Pike W., Cherry Hill, New Jersey
“Independent Bookstore Day: Celebrate With Success”: Thursday, October 17, at 9:30 a.m.
“What ABA Can Do for You”: Thursday, October 17, at 9:30 a.m. (roundtables)