Winter Institute Program

Schedule subject to change. Last updated January 9, 2014.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Bookstore Tour (Full Day) - check in one-half hour prior to tour departure

All tours are filled. ABA is offering a total of four tours to Seattle-area bookstores. The two full-day tours will start from the motor level of the Westin Seattle at 9:00 am and will return to the hotel between 6:00 pm and 6:15 pm. Both half-day tours will start from the motor level of the hotel at 1:00 pm and will return to the hotel between 5:15 pm and 5:20 pm. Stores on the tours include Third Place Books, Queen Anne Book Company, Eagle Harbor Book Co., Island Books, and more. The full schedule and details are here [2]; sign up when you register for Wi9. (For booksellers only.) Booksellers are asked to check in on the motor level one-half hour ahead of the tour departure.

View details for this event only [3]

10:00 am to 4:00 pm

How to Succeed at Retail Bookselling

Donna Paz Kaufman and Mark Kaufman of Paz & Associates Bookstore Training Group are offering a one-day seminar for prospective booksellers. This seminar will take place on Tuesday, January 21, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and is open to ABA provisional members and employees of regular member stores. Find more details and registration here [4]. (Limited to two booksellers per ABA member company.)

View details for this event only [5]

1:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Bookstore Tour (Half Day) - check in one-half hour prior to tour departure

ABA is offering a total of four tours to Seattle-area bookstores. The two full-day tours will start from the lobby of the Westin Seattle at 9:00 am and will return to the hotel between 6:00 pm and 6:15 pm. Both half-day tours will start from the hotel lobby at 1:00 pm and will return to the hotel between 5:15 pm and 5:20 pm. Stores on the tours include Third Place Books, Queen Anne Book Company, Eagle Harbor Book Co., Island Books, and more. The full schedule and details are here [2]; sign up when you register for Wi9. (For booksellers only.)

View details for this event only [6]

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Opening Reception at The Elliott Bay Book Company

Start the Institute off right with cocktails, snacks, and the company of your colleagues from across the country (and world!) at the Opening Reception, sponsored by industry newsletter Shelf Awareness. This year we will be celebrating at The Elliott Bay Book Company on 10th Avenue. Shuttle service will be provided from the hotel to the store and back. The first shuttle leaves the hotel at 6:45 pm. The reception begins at 7:00 pm.

View details for this event only [7]

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

7:15 am to 8:00 am

Yoga with Susan

Join us for early morning yoga to help ease your mind and body into the day. This class is designed for all—no experience necessary! The sessions will include stretching, strengthening, breath-work and meditation. Please wear comfortable clothes. Bring a yoga mat with you if have one. Towels will be provided. Susan Weis-Bohlen, owner of breathe books and cafe in Baltimore, Maryland, and Winter Institute's unofficial yogi, will lead this early morning class.

View details for this event only [8]

7:30 am to 8:00 am

Publisher Scholarship Recipient Reception

Winter Institute publisher sponsors and their scholarship recipients are invited to gather for an informal reception prior to the Institute Opening Plenary. Put a face with a name and share congratulations and gratitude.

View details for this event only [9]

8:30 am to 10:00 am

Opening Plenary Breakfast with Dan Heath (Decisive)

Author Dan Heath will open Winter Institute 2014 with a plenary talk about how we make decisions, and why so many of them are flawed. Decisive (Crown Business)—the latest bestselling title co-authored by Dan and his brother, Chip—offers insightful strategies and practical tools that enable individuals and businesses to make better choices. In his talk, Heath will address such critical questions as how we can stop the cycle of agonizing over our decisions; how we can make group decisions without disruptive politics; and how we can ensure that we don't overlook key opportunities to evaluate important information and change course. Making the right decisions is the key to a successful business, and Dan Heath's talk will answer the question of how we can do better.

View details for this event only [10]

10:15 am to 11:30 am

Bookseller Discussion Groups

Join your bookselling colleagues for a discussion inspired by the morning plenary. Groups will be led by an ABA Board Member; group assignments will be noted on the Winter Institute badge. (For ABA Member booksellers only.)

View details for this event only [11]

11:45 am to 1:45 pm

Rep Picks Speed Dating Lunch 

Enjoy lunch and learn about great upcoming titles at the Rep Picks Speed Dating luncheon. Seats are assigned, and registrants will receive an email in early January with table numbers.

View details for this event only [12]

International Booksellers Workshop

This session for international guests will be presented over lunch, and will provide a look into the state of bookselling in the United States. The panel, comprised of booksellers from ABA member stores, will address both large and small concepts that are important to international and national booksellers alike.

View details for this event only [13]

2:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Galley Room

Due to the generous materials sent by Wi9 publisher sponsors, the Galley Room is a hit every year. Additional access hours will be posted near the Galley Room at the start of Winter Institute.

View details for this event only [14]

2:30 pm to 3:45 pm

ABC Group Presents: Selling Sad and Dark Young Adult Lit

The young adult genre has exploded over the past five years, and YA dares to explore the same sad and dark subject matter as many adult titles. How do you market, recommend, talk about, and sell these types of books to your young customers and their parents? A panel of booksellers will explore how to sell this potentially delicate genre.

View details for this event only [15]

Gifts 101

Offering non-book or gift items in your store can improve cash flow, broaden your customer base, and even reinvigorate your staff. This 101 session will provide an overview of buying, selling, and merchandising non-book items.

View details for this event only [16]

Handselling 101

This basic course for new booksellers and those interested in a refresher will provide best practices for handselling in the era of showrooming. A panel of experienced booksellers will explore not only placing the right book in a customer’s hands but also about how to close the sale. The session will conclude with the opportunity to see expert handsellers in action.

View details for this event only [17]

Advanced Learning Session: Managing the Changing Workplace

Booksellers attending Managing the Changing Work Environment will participate in a discussion about how to manage employees in a world that reflects a new economic reality, and how the rise in non-traditional work expectations calls for a new strategy and attitude for employees, business owners, and communities alike. This will be an opportunity to discuss challenging employment issues with bookseller colleagues and a professional in a confidential and productive environment. Attendance will be limited. Participant booksellers must be owners and managers with 12 full-time equivalent employees or more. Indicate your interest for this Advanced Learning Session during the registration process; it will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Booksellers will be notified about placement in December.

View details for this event only [18]

Managing Cash Flow, Part I: The System

If you are experiencing increasing sales but decreasing cash on hand, you many need to reconsider how you manage cash flow. To understand cash flow you need a comprehensive system to manage and plan for expenses. This session will walk you through key steps you need to consider when creating the system that will become your road map to positive cash flow.

View details for this event only [19]

Producing Professional Events with Limited Staff

Events can bring people into your store, increase sales, and build your customer base. But planning and executing a professional level event, whether it is for 20 or 200 attendees, takes staff time. At this session, you’ll learn from booksellers who have created and managed superstar events with limited staff.

View details for this event only [20]

4:00 pm to 5:15 pm

Best Practices on Edelweiss for Publishers and Booksellers

Edelweiss is a program that provides value to both booksellers purchasing titles for their stores and sales reps. This session will explore the ways Edelweiss can both optimize and streamline the buying process and facilitate better communication among booksellers and reps. Robert Sindelar, Managing Partner of Third Place Books, with stores in Lake Forest Park and Seattle, will moderate the session.

View details for this event only [21]

Indie Booksellers and the Business of Self-Publishing with Kobo, Kirkus, and Ingram Spark

As the traditional publishing model continues to change, an increasing number of established and unpublished authors are turning to self-publishing. This session will present three programs that create benefits and opportunities both for the store and the self-published author.

View details for this event only [22]

Gifts 201

If you already sell an array of gift and non-book items, you may need to take a look at reinvigorating your product mix to increase sales. From high-ticket items to catchy, impulse buys, the right mix can make a difference. Come prepared to discover some new items and to share ideas that have been a success for you.

View details for this event only [23]

Managing Cash Flow, Part 2: Roundtable Discussion on Payroll, Inventory, and Occupancy

This follow-up session from Managing Cash Flow, Part I: Learning the System will help you look at more of the nitty-gritty items that are important to a stable cash flow. Hopefully you now have some thoughts for a system you can use to to help you monitor and project expenses and keep your cash flow under control. So much goes into understanding cash flow, but the big three topics that you must learn to navigate include payroll, inventory, and occupancy. In this session, you will participate in roundtable discussions on all three of these topics. Conversations will be led by a bookseller expert in each topic. Ask questions, hear your colleagues' thoughts, and learn more about cash flow.

View details for this event only [24]

How to Publicize Your Killer Events

You have spent the time, booked the author or guest, organized your space, brought in supplies, and staffed for success, but how do you get the word out to bring in customers? From social media and word of mouth to newspapers, newsletters, and more, this session will present you with actionable steps to ensure your next event is packed.

View details for this event only [25]

9:00 pm to 11:00 pm

The Scholastic Meet & Treat After Party

Drinks & dessert, featuring book toasts by Lucy Christopher, Sara Larson, Natalie Lloyd & Jon J Muth, and sponsored by Scholastic.

View details for this event only [26]

Thursday, January 23, 2014

7:15 am to 8:00 am

Yoga with Susan

View details for this event only [27]

9:00 am to 10:15 am

Breakfast and Discussion: The Seattle 7 Writers

Enjoy breakfast and a lively discussion with The Seattle 7 Writers—a nonprofit collective of Pacific Northwest authors whose mission is to foster and support a passion for the written word—as they discuss the creation of the group and how it works with the local independent business community.

View details for this event only [28]

10:15 am to 4:15 pm

Consultation Station - Day 1

The Consultation Station offers booksellers the opportunity to meet with representatives of ABA’s affiliated business solution partners, POS vendors, and other service providers. The list of Consultation Station participants and contact information is here [29]. Please note: If you granted permission for the companies participating in the Consultation Station to contact you directly when you registered for Wi9, they may reach out to you via email before the event. You may also contact them in advance to schedule appointments. Ask ABA will be located in the Grand Foyer. A few participants will be located in Blakely on the San Juan level.

View details for this event only [30]

10:30 am to 11:45 am

Building B-to-B Sales

Have you considered business-to-business sales to increase revenue and bring in new customers? Learn from a panel of book industry experts about how to successfully develop relationships and to market and sell to hospitals, medical offices, large corporations, educational institutions, religious organizations, governmental agencies, local businesses, and more.

View details for this event only [31]

ABC Group Presents: Starting Tween and Teen Advisory Boards

Need great ideas on how to better run your store's children's section? Look no further than your customers. If you want to start a tween or teen advisory board, this session will detail how best to go about implementing and sustaining one.

View details for this event only [32]

Data Watchers Report: BISG/the Codex Group/Nielsen

If you are interested in industry statistics and big data, this is the session for you. Industry experts will report on important book buying trends and how to apply this information to your business.

View details for this event only [33]

The Passion Conversation: Understanding, Sparking, and Sustaining Word of Mouth Marketing

Geno Church, Word of Mouth Pathfinder from Brains on Fire, will lead an interactive workshop created to help booksellers spark and sustain word of mouth marketing. Learn how to make people fall passionately and madly in love with your store, and how loving your customers can result in not just building a thriving community, but also drive meaningful conversations and, ultimately, the financial success of your business. This session will also be offered on Friday from 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

View details for this event only [34]

Making Social Media Work for Your Store

Using social media to market your store may seem at times to be hit-or-miss. But businesses of all types have successfully implemented effective social media marketing strategies. Hear tips from experts both inside and outside of the book industry, and learn how to make these marketing tools work for you.

View details for this event only [35]

12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

International Booksellers Luncheon

International bookseller attendees will meet over lunch.

View details for this event only [36]

Rep Picks Lunch 

Enjoy lunch and learn about great upcoming titles at the Rep Picks Speed Dating luncheon. Seats are assigned, and registrants will receive an email in early January with table numbers.

View details for this event only [37]

2:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Galley Room

Please refer to signage for additional Galley Room access times.

View details for this event only [38]

4:00 pm to 5:15 pm

ABC Group Presents: A Year of In-Store Promotions

Are you making the most of your ABC Group membership by taking full advantage of the many promotions available to you? Come to this session to brush up on what types of in-store promotions your ABC Group membership provides and to learn what your fellow booksellers are doing to translate them into crowd-pleasing events and sales.

View details for this event only [39]

Planning for Natural Disasters

In today’s world of weather extremes, it is more important than ever to be prepared for an emergency. What steps do you need to take to make sure you have a plan to protect your employees, to lessen the financial impact of disasters, and to be able to reopen your business quickly? Come to this session to find out. Presented by a panel that includes an outside expert in disaster planning for small business.

View details for this event only [40]

Advanced Learning Session: Bookseller "Shark Tank"—Pitch an Idea for Business Expansion

Like the American reality TV show, Shark Tank, which features a panel of potential investors, called "sharks," who consider pitches from entrepreneurs seeking investments for their business or product, this session will provide booksellers with the opportunity to pitch their idea for a new bookstore initiative and get feedback. The session will begin with a short presentation by a panel of booksellers who have demonstrated the ability to create successful and innovative programs in their stores. After the presentation, some participants will have the opportunity to present their idea to the group for feedback and discussion.

To participate in this Advanced Learning Session, booksellers must be owners, managers, or senior staff who regularly make decisions regarding store programing. Attendance will be limited. Indicate your interest for this Advanced Learning session during the registration process; the session will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Attendees will be contacted prior to the Winter Institute with instructions on submitting their business proposals. Booksellers will be notified about placement in December.

View details for this event only [41]

Understanding Basic Bookstore Accounting Principles

Whether you hire someone to manage your books or you do it yourself, you still need to have an understanding of the basic elements and principles that are part of every accounting system. This session will review standard accounting principles and will provide tips for those looking to hire the right professional.

View details for this event only [42]

Independent Retail in Seattle: Success Stories

Seattle is known for many, many, wonderful independent retail businesses. In this session, several of these successful entrepreneurs will share their best practices for facing the daily challenges of running a thriving business in a world of constant competition.

View details for this event only [43]

5:30 pm to 6:00 pm

Len Vlahos Presents The Scar Boys (Egmont USA)

Len Vlahos, former ABA staffer and friend of indie bookselling, will be celebrating the debut of his book, The Scar Boys (Egmont USA), with a multimedia presentation, featuring video, music, and a reading, immediately preceding the Author Reception. All institute attendees and guests are invited to attend. Vlahos will be signing books during the reception immediately following the multimedia presentation.

View details for this event only [44]

Friday, January 24, 2014

7:15 am to 8:00 am

Yoga with Susan

View details for this event only [45]

9:00 am to 10:15 am

Small & Independent Press Breakfast

During breakfast, each of the Wi9 small and independent press sponsors will make a brief presentation about their company and highlight key upcoming titles. And in addition this year the breakfast will include a special Q&A discussion with the groundbreaking scholar and writer Ray Oldenburg, whose books—including The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Bookstores, Bars, Hair Salons, and Other Hangouts at the Heart of a Community (Da Capo)—led the way in making clear how independent bookstores and similar "great good places" are the heart of our communities' social vitality and the grassroots of democracy. Mr. Oldenburg will be interviewed by Ron Sher, creator and owner of Third Place Books.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from these industry innovators. Watch for a list of the small and independent press sponsors in upcoming editions of Bookselling This Week.

View details for this event only [46]

10:15 am to 1:00 pm

Consultation Station - Day 2

The Consultation Station offers booksellers the opportunity to meet with representatives of ABA’s affiliated business solution partners, POS vendors, and other service providers. The list of Consultation Station participants and contact information is here [29]. Please note: If you granted permission for the companies participating in the Consultation Station to contact you directly when you registered for Wi9, they may reach out to you via e-mail before the event. You may also contact them in advance to schedule appointments.

View details for this event only [47]

10:30 am to 11:45 am

The Passion Conversation: Understanding, Sparking, and Sustaining Word of Mouth Marketing (Repeat)

Geno Church, Word of Mouth Pathfinder with branding and identity firm Brains on Fire, will lead an interactive workshop created to help booksellers spark and sustain word of mouth marketing. Learn how to make people fall passionately and madly in love with your store, and how loving your customers can result in not just building a thriving community, but also drivie meaningful conversations and, ultimately, the financial success of your business. (This session will cover the same material as the Wednesday "Passion Conversation" session.)

View details for this event only [48]

International Insight - Getting a Global Perspective on Bookselling

Come to this session to hear how the effects of such factors as competition, innovation, and changing consumer tastes look from an international perspective. This informative and interesting discussion featuring representatives from the global bookselling community will help you to think creatively about your business as you see it through an international lens.

View details for this event only [49]

Bookseller Roundtables

Booksellers meet for topic-specific conversations including: resort communities, store events, and successful implantation of social media.

View details for this event only [50]

Creating Compelling In-Store Displays

Creating eye-catching displays that sell books is not always as easy as it seems. With so many day-to-day tasks begging for your attention, it’s easy to let displays become dated and stale. Come to this session to hear about (and see) some creative and easy ways to display products that can not only make customers stop and look, but also buy.

View details for this event only [51]

IndieCommerce Platform Upgrade: What you need to know

As the IndieCommerce team prepares for the upgrade to Drupal 7, we've compiled a list of FAQs and action items for users. While this project progresses, it's imperative that our membership is informed of the new transformations coming in the near future. This session is highly recommended for IndieCommerce users and will include an open Q&A Session to address questions & concerns.

View details for this event only [52]

12:00 pm to 1:15 pm

Lunch: Get Buzzed with "Indies Introduce"

Finding and showcasing the best of debut fiction and nonfiction is both the passion and mission of independent booksellers — and through ABA's new "Indies Introduce" program independent booksellers identify a stellar selection of upcoming titles. At this lunch, bookseller panelists will talk about the exciting forthcoming debut books that have been chosen for the "Indies Introduce" promotion. They will also explain how ABA members can participate in this innovative, on-going promotion.

View details for this event only [53]

1:30 pm to 2:45 pm

Publisher/Bookseller Focus Groups - Day 2

To encourage further interaction among booksellers and publishers, booksellers will have the opportunity to meet with Wi9 sponsoring publishers in small groups to discuss issues of common interest and mutual concern. Each Wi9 bookseller attendee will be assigned to a specific publisher for this session. Assignment information and room locations will be provided at check-in at the Wi9 Welcome Desk.

View details for this event only [54]

3:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Alternative Sources for Raising Capital

Whether you need business capital for a store redesign, expansion, or to open a second location, this session will help you to think about non-traditional options to acquire the capital you need. From social media campaigns to community involvement, there are a growing number of new options beyond the bank loan.

View details for this event only [55]

ABC Group Presents: Using Common Core to Develop Your Community Profile

The Common Core State Standards were developed to provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, and booksellers can help by sharing their knowledge about complex, informational texts with parents and educators. This session will detail how booksellers can use their title knowledge and the new ABC Group Backlist Database to become a local Common Core resource.

View details for this event only [56]

Kobo Users Group

Come to this session for an interactive user's group about Kobo devices and eBooks.

View details for this event only [57]

Identify and Cultivate Your Store Brand

Cultivating your store brand involves more than just choosing a logo. In fact, an effective and persuasive brand can inspire a successful retail environment by helping you communicate your store's uniqueness in myriad ways. In this session you will gain greater insight into the concept of branding, hear from a store that successfully developed and integrated its brand, and participate in an exercise to help you maximize your brand.

View details for this event only [58]

Bookseller Roundtables

Booksellers meet for topic-specific conversations including: stores located in small community (25,000 or less), self-publishing, and stores with multiple locations.

View details for this event only [59]

4:45 pm to 6:30 pm

Small & Independent Press Author Reception 

Congratulations for making it through the event-packed Winter Institute! Wind down, enjoy one more drink with your colleagues, and meet authors from Wi9’s small and independent press sponsors. Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served. Music will be provided by Seattle-based author band, The Rejections, and the Trailing Spouses.

View details for this event only [60]