BookED

We all know that middle-grade readers aren't, well, reading. This session will explore why 8-12 year olds are reading less, which reading trends are holding steady, and opportunities to increase discoverability. You'll examine actionable ways to boost middle-grade readership to support young readers' development.   Recorded Februrary 25, 2025 at Winter Institute 2025 in Denver, CO Additional books...

Providing a platform for all authors, big and small, is one of the many ways independent bookstores support the book industry. Join Ingram and our panel of experts as they discuss their journey of self-publishing, in store self-publishing programs and the importance of elevating these stories, and how Ingram can help other booksellers discover indie authors and titles for their shelves.   Recorded...

No cap: out of all generations, Gen Z is the most loyal to brick-and-mortar stores, and Gen Alpha is quickly following in their footsteps. These two generations are also incredibly diverse, making them a fantastic potential customer base for your bookstore! While Gen Z and Gen Alpha buy books, they also are interested in buying sidelines, and this session will explore how you can find sidelines th...

Everything's coming up Bluey, Peppa Pig, and Pete the Cat! Books and sidelines featuring licensed characters are an incredible avenue to attract customers and increase your sales. This session delves into the strategies for leveraging popular licensed characters and childhood trends to revitalize your store's inventory and layout. You'll discover how to design immersive displays, curate on-trend p...

We're in our romance era! Romance readers are some of the most loyal and devoted customers. Bolstering and marketing your romance section isn't just a way to form long-lasting and meaningful customer relationships; given the popularity and growth of the genre, it's a good business decision. This session will explore strategies like how to curate a diverse and appealing selection, create engaging d...

Your voice matters, but talking in front of your state legislature can be daunting. As more anti-book legislation is passed, booksellers are in a unique position to advocate for the importance of access to diverse books and stories. This hands-on workshop will help you begin the process of crafting a compelling testimony that can influence state legislative decisions. We'll discuss the essentials...

Join Ingram for an informative workshop with ipage tips that can help you manage your account and bookstore more efficiently. Whether you're new to ipage or an experienced user, gain a clearer understanding of our platform's full capabilities allowing you to spend less time navigating and more time selling. Learn about our streamlined stock box and cart, Direct-to-Home improvements, IPS publisher...

Running a bookstore should be fun, but one of the less fun aspects is managing the overwhelming number of invoices you receive from publishers. To solve this problem, many bookstores have turned to Batch for Books, a free online hub that streamlines how stores organize and manage invoices and make payments to publishers. In this session, you'll learn about Batch and how it works. Then, you'll hear...

The CEO and founder of Bookshop.org Andy Hunter will give bookstores all the details on how to successfully sell e-books. Andy will walk stores through the simple steps to add an additional revenue stream to their ledger, how bookstores can sell e-books on their own site, how referrals to Bookshop.org work, how much margin you'll receive, and more!   Recorded Februrary 26, 2025 at Winter Institute...

Everyone loves opening up a big box of books, but let's talk about being on the other side of that process: packaging and shipping! This session will explore how you can drive down shipping costs while still making your customer's ordering and unboxing experience seamless, personal, and exciting, all while reminding them why they shop indie. We'll discuss shipping options, sustainable packaging, a...

The newest and hottest book is all over BookTok, but how can your bookstore profit off of an in-demand pre-order? This session will explore how you can take full advantage of pre-order opportunities so you can avoid lost sales, PR, and market share. You'll leave this session ready to successfully promote, report, and sell pre-orders. Recorded Februrary 24, 2025 at Winter Institute 2025 in Denver,...

ABA's  Indies Introduce  interview series spotlights debut authors handpicked by booksellers from around the country. In each episode, a bookseller from the Indies Introduce panel interviews an author featured in the program to celebrate the release of their book. In this episode, Kalli King from Rediscovered Books in Boise, ID interviews DeAndra Davis, author of All the Noise at Once , available...

ABA's  Indies Introduce  interview series spotlights debut authors handpicked by booksellers from around the country. In each episode, a bookseller from the Indies Introduce panel interviews an author featured in the program to celebrate the release of their book. In this episode, Kristine Jelstrom-Hamill from Buttonwood Books and Toys in Cohassett, MA interviews Kyle Casey Chu, author of The Quee...

Are you tired of being surprised when your bookstore is thrown for a loop by an unexpected plot twist? This session will explore how you can cultivate a proactive approach to bookselling. You'll learn invaluable strategies for strategic thinking, goal setting, and effective prioritization, empowering you to build a resilient and thriving future for your bookstore business. This session is perfect...

Dive into the world of small data sets with this session on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for bookstore success. In this presentation, you'll learn how to unlock valuable insights from POS reports, customer and staff surveys, and store traffic patterns to refine your sales, while gaining practical strategies for evaluating, tracking, and leveraging crucial KPIs. You'll leave empowered and read...

The top stores using Bookshop.org don't treat it as a passive income stream — they actively look for ways to incorporate Bookshop into their business. In this session, we'll dive into the innovative strategies and practices that have propelled these top-performing stores, leaving you with actionable insights on how to elevate your store's performance and increase this critical revenue stream.   Re...

Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) is one of the key metrics for ABA's ABACUS survey and your store's profitability. This session will focus on how you can manage COGS through ordering, negotiating, and diversifying your inventory. We'll discuss high-margin books like remainders and used books, pricing and management of non-book items, and how and when to buy strategically. You'll gain insight to prioritiz...

ABA's  Indies Introduce  interview series spotlights debut authors handpicked by booksellers from around the country. In each episode, a bookseller from the Indies Introduce panel interviews an author featured in the program to celebrate the release of their book. In this episode, Jessica Hahl from Books Inc . in San Leandro, CA interviews Jess Callans, author of Ollie In Between , available April...

Free Expression Friday is an interview series from ABA's  American Booksellers for Free Expression celebrating the amazing work of booksellers, organizers, and book people in general fighting for the right to read. David Landry and his wife started CLASS Bookstore in Houston with a small amount of capital and plenty of good advice from other Black bookstore owners and booksellers. Now he's the one...

ABA's  Indies Introduce  interview series spotlights debut authors handpicked by booksellers from around the country. In each episode, a bookseller from the Indies Introduce panel interviews an author featured in the program to celebrate the release of their book. In this episode, Desirae Wilkerson from Paper Boat Booksellers in Seattle, WA interviews Emma Pattee, author of Tilt , available March...

ABA's  Indies Introduce  interview series spotlights debut authors handpicked by booksellers from around the country. In each episode, a bookseller from the Indies Introduce panel interviews an author featured in the program to celebrate the release of their book. In this episode, Claire Margetts from Weller Book Works in Salt Lake City, UT interviews James Robinson, author of  Whale Eyes , availa...

ABA's  Lightning Talk series features booksellers presenting short talks on tech tools, organizational strategies, communication methods, or innovations they've made in their stores. In February of 2024, Eileen McCormick of Green Apple Books (San Francisco, CA) discussed celebrating  Independent Bookstore Day through partnerships with community organizations. Session Video & Resources   Additional...

The world of work is changing rapidly due to labor movements, the political and economic landscape, health crises, and a multigenerational labor force. Managers are facing unique challenges, as well as opportunities, when it comes to building a happy, productive team. Providing and receiving feedback is a critical part of managing employees and being an employee in a bookstore. However, it can be...

ABA's  Indies Introduce  interview series spotlights debut authors handpicked by booksellers from around the country. In each episode, a bookseller from the Indies Introduce panel interviews an author featured in the program to celebrate the release of their book. In this episode, Austin Carter from Pocket Books Shop in Lancaster, PA interviews Alice Austen, author of  33 Place Brugmann , availabl...

From the Archive:  Recorded on January 24, 2019 at Winter Institute 2019 (Wi14) One minute of planning can save you ten minutes in execution. Planning skills can make you a more effective bookseller and help prevent burnout because planning creates efficiency and leads to improved productivity. Cindy Dach, co-owner of Changing Hands Bookstores (Tempe, AZ), will teach booksellers techniques for tim...