The IndieCommerce Institute

Registration is now open! 

IndieCommerce Institute 2016

May 10, 2016, 11 am to 7 pm 

The Drake Hotel, Chicago
140 E Walton Place
Chicago, IL

Sign up now to attend the IndieCommerce Institute (ICI), a one-day, interactive learning experience for IndieCommerce stores only. ICI offers two tracks: a Main Session for intermediate users ($99) and an Advanced Seminar for experienced users ($125). Attendees are expected to bring a laptop. Free wifi will be available in the ICI session rooms.

The IndieCommerce team is also scheduling one-on-one appointments during BookExpo America, May 11 – May 13, in the ABA Member Lounge at McCormick Place. Sign-up for the one-on-one sessions will open in April.

Enrollment in the Main Session is capped at 60 booksellers; the Advanced Seminar is limited to 12 and booksellers must qualify to attend. There is a maximum of three attendees per member company for ICI; only one attendee per member company can register for the Advanced Session.

• Register for ICI Main Session
• Register for ICI Advanced Seminar

Agenda (subject to change)

11 am – Welcome and opening remarks
11:15 am to 1 pm – The Main Session and Advanced Seminar meet in separate rooms
1 pm to 2 pm – Working lunch with guest speaker for all participants
2 pm to 6:45 pm – Workshops resume
6:45 pm – Closing remarks for all participants

Main Session

A classroom-style session that goes beyond basic training, providing actionable information useful for new and experienced stores. Attendees of this session should have worked on their website for at least a year and be familiar with taxonomy and content types with custom fields. Users new to IndieCommerce and comfortable working on their website are also welcome.

The Main Session topics include:

• Website best practices: E-commerce best practices, responsive themes and more
• Social Media Integration: Integrating your IndieCommerce website with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest etc.
  (Having access to your store’s social media accounts is a plus)
• Views: Overview of the views User Interface; basics of views; create simple yet popular views
• Reports: Custom reports (order, sales, customers) using views
• Custom Products: Product classes with attributes and options; “variable price” and “stock” for custom products; custom product in views
• Webforms: Collect data from users (surveys, feedback, RSVP for events); export and analyze those responses
• Order Processing: Processing orders best practices and managing fulfillment

Register for ICI Main Session ($99)

Advanced Seminar

Participants will spend most of the day in an informal setting, learning directly from each other as they provide critiques of each other’s sites. Seminar attendees will be required to spend a significant amount of time reviewing their peer’s websites, and writing critiques, before the day of the ICI.

Advanced Seminar Qualifications: An IndieCommerce member with a track record of proficient and creative use of the product. Applicants must devote a substantial amount of time each week to working on their store’s site. Application to the seminar is required; all applicants may not qualify for the limited number of spots (12). It is limited to one applicant per store. Applicants who do not qualify for the seminar are welcome to attend the Main Session instead.

Register for ICI Advanced Seminar ($125)

One-on-one sessions at BookExpo America

In addition to ICI, stores who can make time in their BEA schedule have the option to sit down, in-person, with a member of the IndieCommerce staff for a one-on-one session. Appointments will be available Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, May 11–May 13. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions and receive guided instruction on specific topics, or follow up on what was discussed at the ICI. Sign ups for the one-on-one sessions will open in April, following the close of ICI registration. Stores interested in one-on-one sessions will be asked to submit questions in advance, if possible, so they can be paired with the appropriate person.

One-on-one sessions are limited and may fill up. Stores don’t have to attend ICI to sign up for a one-on-one, but priority will be given to ICI attendees.