Midwest and Great Lakes Booksellers Talk Shop

Booksellers from the Great Lakes (GLBA) and Midwest booksellers associations (MBA) met at the Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop in Shorewood, Wisconsin, on June 22 for a daylong ShopTalk, co-sponsored by both regional associations. The 35 participants were able to learn about marketing projects at Schwartz and explore the store's merchandising firsthand. Vintage author Patrick Somerville (Trouble) led an engaging lunch session, and Jim Dana and Susan Walker, executive directors of GLBA and MBA respectively, shared information about the upcoming switch to a 13-digit ISBN and the weekly National Public Radio program backed by eight regional bookseller associations, The Spoken Word.

Dana told BTW that the day was filled with lively exchanges of information, beginning with the marketing presentation led by Mary McCarthy, Schwartz vice president and CEO. "She described the store's work with Paco Underhill and Envirosell. They hired [the marketing consultants] and learned how to solve problems." Some of the new ideas included products created exclusively for the store, with and without store logos. "Booksellers really welcomed the opportunity to get together to hear about these programs and see them in action," Dana said.

Following the two-hour presentation, Dana said, the group sat down to a box lunch and talked with Somerville. This was the author's first speaking event, and the group of experienced booksellers was able to offer him much insight into how to make contacts with readers, stores, and schools. According to MBA's Walker, booksellers were pleased to meet Somerville and make the connection for future author events, "It turned out to be a good opportunity for both booksellers and the author," she said.

Following lunch, Dana introduced the two topics many feel are of primary importance to booksellers this year -- the January 1, 2007, changeover to ISBN-13 and participation by bookstores with The Spoken Word. Dana commented that about half the group was reasonably informed [about ISBN 13] and half was not. "The official changeover date is January 1, but there are many procedural questions.... There is no one expert who can answer every question, some decisions only [the individual bookseller] can make. We wanted to give people some resources and a list of steps to ensure a smooth transition.

"Many of the booksellers were also not familiar with The Spoken Word. With repetition, getting the word out, we'll increase the number of stores," Dana continued. "The show is now carried on about 40 NPR stations. The new format, which is operational this month, has a weekly discussion of five titles from the month's Book Sense Picks list. Also, each show will feature 'handselling on the radio' with booksellers offering reviews."

Both Walker and Dana told BTW that the importance of cultivating potential "emerging leaders" was stressed. Walker said, "We talked about the responsibility we have of supporting the younger group of booksellers who will be taking over ownership of many of the stores as these folks retire. We're raising the next group of booksellers and have to nurture them. Also young booksellers are more tuned into the younger generation of adult readers." --Nomi Schwartz