Prospective Booksellers School at BEA: Registration Now Open

A four-day workshop for new and prospective booksellers will be offered from Tuesday, May 16, to Friday, May 19, in conjunction with this year's BookExpo America in Washington, D.C. The program, sponsored by the American Booksellers Association and facilitated by Donna Paz and Mark Kaufman of Paz & Associates, will explore strategies for opening and growing a profitable bookstore.

In addition to participation in a wide range of educational sessions and networking opportunities, the Booksellers School registration fee includes free admission to the BookExpo America trade show, access to ABA's Book Sense Lounge, and more.

The school program is aimed at those who are considering a career as a bookstore owner; those currently working towards opening a bookstore or considering investing in one; and book industry professionals who want a better understanding of book retailing.

Sessions include: Bringing Your Vision to Life; Bookselling in Today's Business Environment; The Business Plan: What Lenders Want to Know; Store Design: Creating an Exciting Place to Shop; Inventory: How to Develop Your Opening Order & the Secrets of Buying; Marketing: Acquiring & Keeping Customers; and Learning From Case Studies: Understanding Your Marketplace.

On Thursday, school registrants will join seasoned booksellers at ABA's full day of education at the Washington Convention Center, where sessions will shed light on the science of independent bookselling; the budgeting and monitoring process; how to optimize buying; the importance of forming or joining independent business alliances; how to create effective e-newsletters and killer events; and developing and implementing a public relations plan, among other topics.

Tuition is $500 per person for ABA members, $800 per person for non-members, and includes one copy of Opening a Bookstore: The Essential Planning Guide, registration to the trade show, and free events.

Advance registration is necessary as only 65 slots are open for the workshop, and they fill up quickly. Registration forms and more information is available on ABA's trade site, www.BookWeb.org.

Information about BEA and ticketed events is available at www.bookexpoamerica.com.