A Letter From ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz

Dear Bookseller,

As BookExpo America approaches we at ABA are busily (frantically and excitedly) preparing for the opportunity to meet with so many of our members. Every year, we try very hard to incorporate the information we have received from our Board of Directors, our Booksellers Advisory Council, and, literally, hundreds of our members at the numerous Booksellers Forums about what booksellers need in terms of education and other programming in order to maximize the value of this incredible industry "happening."

Our Strategic Plan, which guides the association's activities, states that the number-one priority of ABA programming should be providing practical, business-oriented educational programs, as well as useful information, to help each one of our members create better businesses. I could not be more proud of what we have to offer at this year's show. Not only are the education sessions varied in the subjects covered, but also by experience level (beginning or advanced). The range and depth of the offerings far exceed anything we have offered in the past. As of the writing of this letter, close to 500 booksellers have signed up for the Thursday all-day education program. They are coming to learn, and I do not think they will be disappointed.

Booksellers always comment that networking with fellow independent booksellers at BEA invariably proves to be the most valuable part of the experience. Every year, we are told to maximize the opportunities for informal conversations to take place. This year's event is replete with such opportunities. To list just a few: nearly 1,000 booksellers staying at the Hotel ABA will be enjoying the free continental breakfast and the publisher receptions (Wednesday - Friday nights) in the company of their colleagues; the ABA/Book Sense Lounge in the Javits Center will be open Thursday - Sunday, providing a relaxed informal atmosphere in which to sit and talk; the "What Are You Reading/Publishing?" and the Book Sense lunches let booksellers share ideas as well as a meal; and the Celebration of Bookselling should once again be a very special evening.

These are challenging times for small retailers. An ever more competitive market demands much from independent booksellers, but we continue to survive and grow in spite of those conditions. For the third consecutive year our market share in both units and dollars has increased. I know that the refinement and restatement of the numbers has caused some confusion, but the underlying fact is that the trend is up, and we believe it will continue to be so.

We very much look forward to seeing you in New York for BEA 2005 -- where we all can come together to learn and share the joys of being an independent bookseller.

Warm regards,

Avin Mark Domnitz
CEO, American Booksellers Association

More information about BEA can be found at www.bookweb.org/aba/convention/.