Booksellers School @ BEA to Provide Foundations for Success

Paz & Associates will be conducting a two-day workshop for prospective booksellers, "Retail Bookselling: Creating Foundations for Success," in conjunction with BookExpo America. The program is designed for those who are considering becoming bookstore owners, either through the purchase of an existing store or with the establishment of a new business.

"So many people interested in opening a bookstore tell us that the most common response they get from others is: 'Are you crazy?!'" said Donna Paz Kaufman. "While we agree that it's important to understand your tolerance for risk and to thoroughly assess your community's ability to support a retail bookstore, times of change are also times of opportunity. Right now, landlords are more willing to negotiate terms, and property values are more affordable than we've seen in a very long time. In some communities, small chain bookstores in mall locations are being closed, and some leases for large chain bookstores are not being renewed. All this opens the doors of possibility."

Because "retail bookselling differs from other forms of retail and making a profit is a real challenge," she added, "we encourage people (even those who have worked in, but not owned a bookstore) to learn the fundamentals first. An informed and purposeful approach will lead to greater prospects for success."

Booksellers School registration includes two days of classes (on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 26 - 27 at Hotel ABA, the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge); participation in ABA's Day of Education, alongside experienced booksellers (on Thursday, May 28, at the Javits Convention Center); and admission to the BEA trade show floor (from Friday, May 29, through Sunday, May 31), where students will be able to meet authors, get a sneak preview of fall titles, and see the entire book industry in action.

The school curriculum, led by Paz Kaufman and Mark Kaufman, with help from special guests, will focus on:

• How to assess whether a community will support an independent bookstore
• Strategies for choosing a store location
• How much it will cost to start a business and what to expect as a return on investment
• How long it will take to open
• Bookstore financial dynamics, including why some bookstores are profitable and others aren't
• Ways that successful booksellers compete in today's market
• How the dream compares with the realities of operating a retail bookstore

Booksellers School tuition is $450 for ABA members and $650 for non-members. (Non-ABA members can join the association to take advantage of the member rate, as well as other ABA benefits.) For more information about Booksellers School, and to register, visit www.pazbookbiz.com.

Booksellers School students can reserve a room at the Brooklyn Marriott at the ABA member rate of $183 per night via the Marriott's dedicated ABA member web page until May 4 or the block of rooms sells out, whichever comes first. --Rosemary Hawkins