Final Week of March to Feature Booksellers Forums in Colorado, Michigan, Wisconsin

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The American Booksellers Association is inviting booksellers to five Booksellers Forum programs this month. As reported last week, the schedule begins with programs in Omaha, Nebraska, on Wednesday, March 11, and Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday, March 12. These will be followed by Booksellers Forum programs on March 24, 25, and 26 in Colorado, Michigan, and Wisconsin, respectively. Each is free and open to all booksellers, including non-ABA members.

The Booksellers Forums are valuable opportunities for members to share best practices with their colleagues and with ABA, and for ABA to garner meaningful feedback on a wide range of topics. Booksellers are encouraged to come prepared to share their thoughts, concerns, and insights.

Each event will also feature the new ABA education session “Exploring New Markets,” which will examine how thoughtful innovation, combined with organized planning and execution, is key to successfully tapping new — and profitable — markets. A number of opportunities in both customer demographics and sales and marketing initiatives will be reviewed with an emphasis on practical steps necessary to implement appropriate programs in your store.

Below is a look at the schedules for the Booksellers Forums from March 24 to March 26. For the details about the forums on March 11 and 12, click here.

Fort Collins, Colorado: March 24, 2015
In conjunction with the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association

Booksellers are invited to join ABA CEO Oren Teicher, Senior Program Officer Joy Dallanegra-Sanger, and Senior Strategy Officer Dan Cullen for a continental breakfast, the education session “Exploring New Markets,” and an open forum discussion over lunch.

The ABA/MPIBA Spring Forum will be at the Morgan Library Event Hall on the Colorado State University Campus, 1201 Center Avenue Mall, Fort Collins.

Here’s the schedule:

  • 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.: Continental Breakfast for Local Booksellers (ABA and booksellers will brainstorm plans for Winter Institute 11, which will be held in January 2016 in Denver.)
  • 9:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.: Exploring New Markets
  • 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: ABA Booksellers Forum over lunch

MPIBA will be hosting additional programming at the Morgan Library immediately following the ABA Forum, as well as a reception, featuring authors with newly released or forthcoming books, at 4:00 p.m. at Old Firehouse Books. Additional information is available on MPIBA’s dedicated webpage; those planning to attend must register online by March 6.

Old Firehouse Books is located at 232 Walnut Street, Fort Collins.

Ann Arbor, Michigan: March 25, 2015
In conjunction with the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association

Booksellers are invited to join ABA CEO Oren Teicher and Senior Program Officer Joy Dallanegra-Sanger for the ABA education session “Exploring New Markets” and an open forum discussion over lunch at Hathaway’s Hideaway, 310 South Ashley Street, Ann Arbor.

Here’s the schedule:

  • 10:30 a.m. to Noon: Exploring New Markets
  • Noon to 2:00 p.m.: ABA Booksellers Forum over lunch

Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to ABA Member Relationship Manager Catherine Cusick by March 18.

Spring Green, Wisconsin: March 26, 2015
In conjunction with the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association

Booksellers are invited to join ABA CEO Oren Teicher and Senior Program Officer Joy Dallanegra-Sanger for the second of two spring forums in the MIBA region. The event will be held at Arcadia Books, 102 East Jefferson Street, Spring Green.

Here’s the schedule:

  • 10:30 a.m. to Noon: Exploring New Markets
  • Noon to 2:00 p.m.: ABA Booksellers Forum over lunch

From 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., MIBA will also be hosting a peer review of Arcadia Books and a reception featuring authors with newly released or forthcoming books. For more information, visit MIBA’s dedicated webpage for the event.

Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to ABA Member Relationship Manager Catherine Cusick by March 19.