Host: Stephanie Heinz Participants: Ruth (PRH), Stephanie (Print), Donna (Kepler’s), Kim (Third Place Books), Charlie (Kepler’s), Nasim (Alta Journal) Notes: What has been done? Used to have Emerging Leaders and then Indies Forward Emerging Leaders kind of petered out as people moved into management & ownership DEIC was a direct result of Indies Forward’s work… Continue reading How can we create an ongoing sense of mentorship, especially for newer booksellers to help them create sustainable careers?
Year: 2021
Non-profit models for bookstores
Host: Donna Paz Kaufman Notes: Sara from Charis (Atlanta) and Ryan (Open Book in Chicago) shared their structures, how they evolved and how they work best. Charis has several entities: a for-profit bookstore and two no-profit initiatives. What general booksellers consider author events are considered programs. Open Book is 100% non-profit. Bookstore revenues help fulfill… Continue reading Non-profit models for bookstores
How can bookstores leverage the market for independent/small-press books to be more inclusive in connecting readers and authors?
Host: Vanessa MacLaren-Wray Participants: Charlie Kruse, Dick (VisionWorks), Humaira Ghilzae, Christopher Miya (Heyday), Madi Mulluen (libro) Notes: Our group successfully posed a lot of good questions, though not so many answers. Mainly, we learned that there’s a will to connect small-press/indie-pub books with indie bookstores and a need for creativity and awareness of constraints on… Continue reading How can bookstores leverage the market for independent/small-press books to be more inclusive in connecting readers and authors?
How can we shift indie bookstores from a commodity offering to a “category of one” by creating one or more Grand Slam Offers?
Host: Jill Hendrix Participants: BradleyJones/ Morgan Hill Bookstore in CA, woman from Berrett Koehler, Carol from BookPeople, a couple of latecomers Notes: Inspired by book $100M Offers by Alex Hormozi Books are commodities that are easily price-shopped. With chains/online/ebooks, indie bookstores no longer have book monopolies in their communities. How do we get that back… Continue reading How can we shift indie bookstores from a commodity offering to a “category of one” by creating one or more Grand Slam Offers?
How can cooperative ownership (worker and/or consumer) provide an alternative to traditional economic models?
Host: Roy Karp at Rozzie Bound (Boston, MA) (roy@rozziebound.com) Participants: Suzanna, Amanda, Charlie, Kristin Hall, Beth, Nathan, Kristen, Esme, Jamilah, Rebecca, Hannah, Stephanie Heinz Notes: Introductions – popcorn Roy – Rozzie Bound, aspiring cooperative in Boston Jamillah – House of Page, worker-owned bookstore in Georgia ? Rebecca – Rediscover Books, looking to become a coop… Continue reading How can cooperative ownership (worker and/or consumer) provide an alternative to traditional economic models?
Young people are the future but teenagers don’t frequently read books or go to bookstores. How can Indie bookstores attract teenagers?
Host: Perla Ni Participants: Perla, CEO CommunityConnect Labs Notes: Problem statement: Young people are the future and they are not reading books frequently, or going into bookstores frequently. Ideas: Bookstores can better fulfill teenager’s needs: place to meet up, hang out with friends, impress a date Make bookstores a place for teens to hang out:… Continue reading Young people are the future but teenagers don’t frequently read books or go to bookstores. How can Indie bookstores attract teenagers?
How can indie bookstores get the kind of public support that libraries, etc. get to alleviate the financial burdens?
Host: Tanya Mills Participants: Eileen McGervey, Diana Montano, Robert Martin, Joan Griffin McCabe, Veronica Liu, Andy Hunter (John Mutter, Pam Grange, Kevin Smokler, Ethan Nosowsky, Aziza stopped by) Notes: Are there “grants” that bookstores can apply for that are similar to the kind of support themselves like libraries? Asking Veronica: wondering about founding of Word… Continue reading How can indie bookstores get the kind of public support that libraries, etc. get to alleviate the financial burdens?
Real Estate Trust
Host: Bradley Jones Participants: Donna, Paz, Bradley Jones, Christine Longmuir Notes: Affordable Occupancy is the foundation/essential component for the future of retail bookselling Check out Mainvest.com Look for community partners with Property or Wealth-Tech titans? Community Connection and collaboration to develop concept to present to investors or property owners Mine business districts business partners How… Continue reading Real Estate Trust
How can indie bookstores remain true community spaces in a polarized society? If they can’t or don’t want to, what are the consequences?
Host: Jill Hendrix Participants: Ruth Liebmann from PRH, Connie (writer), Sara Look from Charis, Ryan Jackson from Open Books, Jahtiek Long, Kevin Smokler, Katy Budget Books used bookstore, Alex Green from PW, Humaira (writer/consumer), Kim / Third Place, and many others Notes: What makes a community space?-welcome: staff, books you recognize -physical space: community meeting… Continue reading How can indie bookstores remain true community spaces in a polarized society? If they can’t or don’t want to, what are the consequences?
How can digital book readers, audiobook readers, online communities and book clubs support independent booksellers? How can booksellers leverage curation and discovery expertise to connect with these readers?
Host: Jason Boog Participants: Jason Boog, Fable (L.A.) jason@fable.co Eric Besner, Fable (NYC) ericb@fable.co Billie Bloebaum, Bookstore Romance Day Andrea Ginsky, Bookstore1Sarasota (FL) andrea@sarasotabooks.com Angie (Angeline) Gomez, student & reader festival@pen.org Candace, Editor/Teacher (Louisiana) Kelly Stromberg Kendra Armer, Reader (SF Bay Area) Margie Franzer, Wanderlust Bookstore wlbookshop@gmail.com Tom, New Story Community Books (Michigan) Kevin… Continue reading How can digital book readers, audiobook readers, online communities and book clubs support independent booksellers? How can booksellers leverage curation and discovery expertise to connect with these readers?
Reimagining Bookstores 