SIBA sponsoring education for bookstore owners at Spring Book Show 2007

    /24-7PressRelease/ - ATLANTA, GA, February 11, 2007 - When Spring Book Show 2007, the South's largest bargain book show, comes to Atlanta on March 23-25, new educational programming for booksellers will be one of the features.

The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) will sponsor bookseller education during non-exhibit hours. "In addition to exhibiting at this year's show, SIBA will provide independent booksellers with the opportunity to share their successes with each other," said Cathie Eargle, the show coordinator.

Friday, March 23

9 - 10:30 AM
"Email Newsletters & Marketing for Busy Booksellers"
Presenter: Nicki Leone, SIBA

This session will focus on how booksellers can make the most of their email newsletters and other email marketing opportunities to raise the visibility of their stores, reach new customers and keep in contact with regular customers. The goal is to help store operators create a professional newsletter that reflects the character of the store.

10:45 - 11:45 AM
"Using Above the Treeline Software"
Presenter: Bob Steele, Above the Treeline

Attendees will learn how Above the Treeline is giving booksellers a clearer view of their inventory in fresh new ways. A key feature of this Web-based business analysis tool is the ability to show independent retailers how a title is selling in their store compared to sales across other independents. The one-hour demonstration will use live store data will introduce perspective users to all the features of Above the Treeline.

Noon - 1:30 PM
"Making Your Bookstore More Profitable with Used Books & Remainders"
Presenter: Gayle Shanks, Changing Hands Bookstore

This session will focus on incorporating used books and remainders into the bookstore mix - where to find them, how to buy them, what formula to use when pricing them. Shanks will focus on generation of higher margins with remainders and used books. She will also discuss making the bookstore a gathering place, a respite from a cold world, a place people think about when they want to buy a book.

1:30 - 3 PM
Above the Treeline - Advanced Users Group
Facilitator: Bob Steele

Designed for current users familiar with Above the Treeline, this session will focus on advanced features and how to use them, walking participants through a tour of the software's new user interface/ with an overview of the new features.

Saturday, March 24

8 - 10 AM
Resource Roundtable Breakfast
Presenters:
Sally Brewster, Park Road Books
Karin Wilson, Page & Palette Bookstore
Kelly Justice, The Fountain Bookstore
Janet Bollum, The Muse Bookshop
Elisabeth Grant-Gibson, Pat Grant, Windows a bookshop
Nicki Leone, SIBA
Frazer Dobson, Park Road Books
Bob Sommer, Changing Hands Bookstore
Gayle Shanks, Changing Hands Bookstore

Participants will have the opportunity to meet with seasoned booksellers covering merchandising, remainder buying, book clubs, creating community events, using talk radio: The Book Report, author events, creative advertising and getting the most out of SIBA.

10:30 - Noon:
Making Your Bookstore More Profitable with Gift Items
Presenter: Gayle Shanks, Changing Hands Bookstore

Session will focus on making the bookstore attractive and trendy, adding gift items to the merchandise mix, learning how to buy and display gift items while increasing profitability and making the bookstore a place people think about when they want to buy a gift.

Wanda Jewell, executive director of SIBA, said of the educational component, "We are excited to partner with the Spring Book Show and take the opportunity to gather together and learn from one another."

This year's Spring Book Show will draw more than 700 buyers and 100 dealers to the Georgia World Congress Center. Dealers will be offering more than 50,000 book titles at bargain prices to hundreds of buyers from bookstores, public and academic libraries and K-12 school media specialists.

According to show organizer Larry May of Knoxville, Tenn., this year's theme, "Spring Forward," was chosen to inspire attendees to succeed with their bargain book marketing effort in the Spring selling season that begins with the vernal equinox on March 21.

May said the largest remainder dealers from the United States, Canada and Great Britain will be attending the Atlanta show. They'll display their wares - the largest collection of remainder books, returns, slightly hurt and white sales and promotional books in the nation - at 500-plus display units in more than 60,000 square feet of space.

The Spring Book Show caters to buyers who purchase multiple copies of individual titles from dealers who specialize in remainders. A number of innovations will be featured at this year's show.

Larry May is available for interviews. Further information: http://www.springbookshow.com; Cathie Eargle, 865-922-7490; Spring Book Show, 3517 Neal Drive, Knoxville, TN 37918; email [email protected]; Web site http://www.springbookshow.com. 3517 Neal Drive, Knoxville, TN 37918; email [email protected]; Web site http://www.springbookshow.com.

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