The first New Voices New Rooms (NVNR) Owners Retreat of 2024 will focus on the theme of "Strategic Closing": How to plan for store downtime to manage bigger projects such as renovations and inventories, unplanned shutdowns from crises like weather events or lockdowns, or blocking out time for owner and staff vacations.
The Retreat will be led by moderators Adam Waterreus and Janet Geddis.
Adam Waterreus is the owner of Lost City Books in Washington DC. A combination of new, used and rare books, it sits in the spot of the former Idle Time Books. Since opening in 2019, Lost City Books has become a hub for community activities, with book clubs for queer-narratives, black feminist authors, and sci-fi to name a few. Prior to creating his own bookstore vision, Adam worked in Politics & Prose for a decade and as a sale rep for W.W.Norton. Adam is also noted for his woodworking skills.
Janet Geddis is a business owner, writer, speaker, and community leader. The owner of Avid Bookshop in Athens, Georgia, Janet is involved with regional and national book industry organizations, presenting at least twice a year at conferences and volunteering her time for advisory boards. She began her first term on the SIBA Board in 2018. Janet holds an M.Ed. in educational psychology from UGA with an emphasis in creativity studies.
Owners Retreats are an invaluable opportunity for networking with your fellow store owners. Attendance free but limited to 50 people, 25 from each of the SIBA and NAIBA regions. You must be a member of either SIBA or NAIBA and a store owner to attend. One person per store, please.
Bookstore owners are all too familiar with the struggle to bring authors to their event programs. The stores that are most successful with this have built relationships with publishers and publicists, and have learned how to present their stores as attractive destinations for authors on tour.
For newly opened bookstores, or stores gearing up their events program after the pandemic's hiatus, NVNR's Publicity Speed Dating event is an important first step in making/revitalizing those relationships with publishers. Every store has about fifteen minutes to talk to a group of publicists about your store, your strengths, your audience, and how your creative approach will make events with their authors a success. The Speed Dating event can put your store on publishers' radar.
REGISTER HERE And start now to prepare for your fifteen minutes of fame:
1. Create or Update your Store Press Kit
This simple one sheet of facts about your store tells a publicist everything they need to know
about your store and your location. You can see some examples posted by stores to NVNR's "Bookstore Row." Click on a store's detail listing link to see if they have a press kit uploaded. (Here is an example from Eagle Eye Book Shop).
You can't participate in Publicity Speed Dating without a Store Press Kit, so it is worth getting started early to create one for your store. Watch Maribeth Pelly's press kit webinar to guide you while you create or update your marketing materials.
2. Practice your Pitch
Go into your "speed date" prepared with what you want to say. There isn't time for much back and forth questions with publicists, so you will need to make an impression right out of the gate. Decide what are the most important points you want to get across, and practice your pitch ahead of time. Watch "Making the Most of Your Pitch" with Bren McClain for useful tips on giving great, engaging presentations.
A little prep can go a long way in making the most of your "Speed Date!"
NVNR August hosts daily "Book Buzz" events -- a combination of the popular "Pick of the Lists" and "Editors' Buzz" sessions. Hear sales reps talk about their favorite books of the upcoming season, and listen to editors discuss the books they have been working on, and what drew them to the story. Booksellers love these sessions for the insight they provide about the books that are soon to be on their shelves.
Book Buzz sessions happen every day at 1:00 PM ET.
Publishers include: Blackstone, Hachette, HarperCollins, Harper Kids, Ingram, Macmillan, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Sourcebooks, and W.W. Norton.
On Wednesday, 8/10 Book Buzz is dedicated to Indie and Small Press publishers, including Catapult, Counterpoint Press, Soft Skull Press, and the reps from Chesapeake & Hudson, Inc
Posted By Nicki Leone,
Thursday, July 7, 2022
Updated: Wednesday, July 13, 2022
NVNR is looking for booksellers to instruct/teach in the education sessions at New Voices New Rooms, August 2022. If you are interested in sharing your expertise with booksellers from NAIBA and SIBA, we welcome your participation. Click here to see topics and sign up
The schedule for the New Voices New Rooms August event features three days of education, networking, and rep picks bookended each morning and evening by an Author Breakfast and Author Dinner.
The August Schedule will be posted the first week of July. But in the meantime here is a sneak peak at the authors you will be able to meet:
Monday, 8/8
Breakfast at 9:00 AM: We are Here: Centering our Black and Brown Community
with Tami Charles, Linda Sarsour, and Maria Hinojosa
Dinner at 7:00 PM Look Who's In Town
with A.M. Homes, Ross Gay, Matthew Quick, and Kristina McMorris
Tuesday 8/9
Breakfast at 9:00 AM: Big Ideas for Little Readers: Storytelling Through Picture Books
with Desiree Cooper, Karina Nicole Gonzalez, Constance Lombardo, Helen Docherty and Kate DiCamillo
Dinner at 7:00 PM YA Suspense, Magic & Horror Dinner
with Justina Ireland, Tracy Deonn, Tiffany D. Jackson, and Lamar Giles
Wednesday 8/10
Breakfast at 9:00 AM: Alternate Futures: Four Scenarios
with Silas House, Lucinda Roy, Ewan Morrison, and Ruthanna Emrys
Dinner at 7:00 PM Memoir
with Carell Augustus, Craig Morgan and Rabia Chaudry
There are about 115 bookstores listed on what has become to be affectionately called "Bookstore Row" at New Voices New Rooms. But that represents only about two-thirds of the stores represented at NVNR programming. If you don't see your store listed, register now for NVNR August or contact Nicki about adding your store to the list.
Bookstore Row acts as both a store directory and a resource for NVNR attendees and publishers. As a public directory it is a wonderful showcase of SIBA and NAIBA bookstores. But the detailed view available to NVNR attendees provides much more information, such as a place to provide press kits for publishers to download, the option to list contact information for staff who have important roles in the shop like "Children's Buyer" or "Event Manager."
The detailed version of Bookstore Row is available at the NVNR Attendee Hub and currently shows the list of stores that attended NVNR May. On July 1st, the list will update to show stores that will be attending NVNR August, so if you haven't done so, now is the time to register!
Posted By Nicki Leone,
Thursday, June 16, 2022
Updated: Thursday, June 23, 2022
Nominations have opened for the 2022 VIndies Awards, celebrating the best of independent bookstore video.
Launched in 2021 by New Voices New Rooms, the collaborative partnership for virtual and hybrid programming created by the New Atlantic Booksellers Association (NAIBA) and the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA), The VIndies recognize the spirit and creativity of independent bookstore videos.
Nominated videos will be judged by a panel drawn from the bookselling community and winners will be announced at a special VIndies Award Ceremony on October 13, 2022.
To be eligible, videos must have been created by a SIBA or NAIBA member bookstore and must have been publicly exhibited – appearing on the store’s website, in their social media channels, or in their store newsletters — between October 2021 and October 2022. Nominations may come from independent bookstores or any fan of independent bookstores.
For its second season, The VIndies have expanded the categories videos may be submitted for. Added for 2022 are:
"Around the Store" for videos showcasing a bookstore’s shop floor and storefront
"Community Work" for videos documenting bookstores’ engagement with their community
"Staff Picks & Book Recommendations" for store videos focused on specific book recommendations
"Trending Sounds," acknowledging the growing popularity and unique character of TikTok videos which use viral “trending” sounds and music
The VIndies proved to be one of the highlights of NVNR's 2021 event, featuring screening of finalists and on-screen appearances of store staff and videographers. See the 2021 finalists and winners
New Voices New Rooms began in 2020 as an innovative virtual programming platform for an industry adapting to the realities of operating during a pandemic. The platform was refined in 2021, and now in 2022 has become not simply a "conference" but a permanent and ongoing partnership and community dedicated to fostering connections and relationships between publishers and NAIBA and SIBA bookstores.
The NVNR Calendar currently features five regular events:
March: Publicity Speed Dating
Early in the season, Booksellers pitch their stores to publishers and publicists, making the case for their inclusion in publicity event grids and marketing plans. Participating bookstores receive a contact list of all the publicists and publishers present. Contact Eileen Dengler if your store participated and you need a copy of the list.
May: NVNR May
A two-day event focused on bookseller and author/publisher connections at a time when bookstores are making most of their holiday buying decisions. The program features author panel programs, keynote presentations, and breakout rooms where authors and small groups of booksellers will enjoy get-to-know-you talks, and multiple "Pick of the List" Rep presentations and Editors’ Buzz sessions.
August: NVNR August
A three-day event that features a week of education, bookseller retreats, author presentations, new and upcoming titles, and publisher studios, similar to NVNR from the past two years. There will be an added focus on networking and building industry connections among bookselling colleagues and publishers.
October: The VIndies
Launched in 2021, the VIndies is a celebration of bookstore creativity. A "Bookstore Oscars" that highlights the fun and independent spirit of bookstore videos.
Late Fall: New Owners Retreat
A multi-day intensive networking and education workshop specifically designed for new bookstore owners. The schedule is tailored to current store needs and includes moderated discussions and networking sessions around topics such as staffing, finance, store operations, and inventory management.
April - September: Bookstore Row & The Publisher/Vendor Studio Gallery
The online directories of bookstores, publishes and vendors opens to NVNR attendees on April 1st and stays open until September 30. Bookstores showcase their store and staff, with easily-shared links to their store listing. Publishers provide curated Edelweiss collections, video links to rep picks and editor buzz presentation, links to order specials, new account information and sales rep contact info. Bookstore Row and the Studio Gallery are only open to the NVNR community.
Share your insider-information with booksellers on the east coast. Two days of Editors Buzz and Pick of the Lists at the time booksellers are making their buys for Fall and Holiday titles.
How to use NVNR to your advantage:
Use Your Studio Space!
Announce the Fall & Holiday releases.
Broadcast seasonal promotions.
Share links to genre Edelweiss catalogs to help bookstores fill out special sections
Post videos of editors talking about their projects. Link to an Edelweiss catalog.
Post videos of author interviews and promotions.
Apply for an Editors Buzz and / or Pick of the List session: We have more of those sessions in two days than anywhere else in the industry. All these will be recorded and available for booksellers for three solid months. Register to apply
Take advantage of NVNR breakout rooms to invite a limited number of booksellers to meet an author. The online version of an author luncheon. Unlike author panels, booksellers will have the chance to engage with the author.
Galleys in the Readers of the Last ARC: Share print and digital copies of the new releases you want booksellers to handsell. Don’t worry if the ARC is not ready yet. Post it now, we’ll provide you with a request list, and you can send it later. Register to reserve a listing.
All this content will be promoted continuously to the booksellers until NVNR August.
NVNR: a long & fruitful promotional shelf life for books.
Posted By Nicki Leone,
Thursday, February 10, 2022
Bookseller sign ups for New Voices New Rooms May & August have been pouring in since registration opened last week. Stores are especially excited about the addition of the May event, with its focus on new and forthcoming books for the summer and fall season.
Although it is only a two-day event, the NVNR May schedule will have more time devoted to the "Pick of the Lists" rep presentations and the Editors' Buzz sessions that have been one of the most popular parts of the NVNR program. NVNR May will also feature the signature Readers of the Last ARC Galley Room, as well as Bookstore Row and the Studio Gallery -- the latter with a focus on providing resources and materials for the books presented at the event.
NVNR May is timed to give booksellers the information they need to make their third- and fourth-quarter purchasing decisions.
The highly acclaimed virtual industry conference returns this year with an expanded program in both May and August. Attendees can register for either or both programs at the same time. There are discounts for publishers who commit to both conferences.
NVNR May is May 17-18 and is focused on bookseller and author/publisher connections, introducing booksellers to authors through panel programs, keynote presentations, and breakout rooms where authors and small groups of booksellers will enjoy get-to-know-you talks. The very popular Pick of the List Rep presentations, and Editors’ Buzz sessions are a feature of the May event, which is timed to give booksellers the information they need when they are making most of their holiday buying decisions.
NVNR August runs August 8-11, and features a week of education, bookseller retreats, author presentations, new and upcoming titles, and publisher studios, similar to NVNR from the past two years. There will be an added focus on networking and building industry connections among bookselling colleagues and publishers.
Registration for the New Voices, New Rooms Virtual Event is strictly limited to members of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance, the New Atlantic Booksellers Association, and designated attendees. All staff of member bookstores are encouraged to attend. If you are not a member of either organization or otherwise designated and would like information on membership, please contact event organizers.
The Press Kit Webinar with Maribeth Pelly is now available to view. Pelly uses real store press kits to demonstrative the best practices when creating what could be the single most important piece about your bookstore you can give to publishers. Press
kits are required for stores attending the NVNR Publicity Speed Dating event on March 1-4.
While creating New Voices New Rooms (NVNR), the virtual meeting space for SIBA and NAIBA, the two organizations took the opportunity to ask questions and reinvent their regional conferences. Covid protocols stripped away business habits and patterns. Now NVNR is moving their Fall Conference to the Summer, and adding a Spring event to provide crucial title introductions for publishers and booksellers.
“Summer is when booksellers are focused on their holiday buying, and it made sense to host an event at that critical time in the process,” says Eileen Dengler, executive director of NAIBA. “Once we shared this idea with booksellers and publishers, people started nodding their heads and wondering why we hadn’t done this a long time ago.” Linda-Marie Barrett, executive director of SIBA, is also enthusiastic about the switch to summer, “A summer conference is ideal for SIBA booksellers, who live in a region where football and challenging weather, along with bookfairs and the holiday season, compete for attention. Summer can be slow for southern booksellers, so our new timing could bring even greater attendance.”
The two 2022 conference events are scheduled for May 17 & 18 and August 8 -11. Each conference will be structured differently. The May event focuses on bookseller/author connections, introducing booksellers to authors through panel programs, keynote presentations, and breakout rooms where authors and small groups of booksellers will enjoy get-to-know-you talks. The very popular pick of the list and editor buzz sessions return, and publishers’ studio spaces will promote their upcoming releases, provide galleys, and share promotion details. This information will remain available to booksellers for an extended period after the two-day event.
The August conference will feature a week of education, bookseller retreats, author presentations, new and upcoming titles, and publisher studios, similar to NVNR from the past two years.
The VIndies awards (recognizing store-made videos that embody the spirit and voice of indie bookstores, and highlight exactly why indie booksellers are the heart and soul of their communities) will be a stand-alone event on Thursday, Oct 13. Michael Triebwasser, director of operations at Politics & Prose will return as the master of ceremonies.
NAIBA and SIBA, on their NVNR platform, will also host publicity speed dating March 1-4 and a new owners retreat Oct. 25-27. Separately, both organizations are planning in-person events in April and October, if pandemic protocols permit.
New Voices New Rooms popular Publicity Speed Dating event returns for 2022!
This year the event will be held Tuesday, March 1 through Friday, March 4. Over the course of three and a half days, 72 bookstores will get their (approximately) fifteen minutes in the spotlight to pitch their stores to publicists and
make their case why they would be a good fit for future author tours and event programming.
There will be morning (9:30am-12:30pm) and afternoon (1:30pm-4:30pm) time blocks for speed dating each day. Friday morning will be dedicated to children's books. Bookstores will have one 15-minute appointment time to introduce themselves and the features
of their store’s event programs to a Zoom room of publicists.
The 72 available slots are being divided among the two regions; 36 for NAIBA and 36 for SIBA. Six bookstores from each region can opt for the children’s slot on Friday morning. Children’s-only bookstores will get priority in that assignment.
Booksellers
(Registration is handled by SIBA. Non SIBA members should use the "guest
registration" option.)
Cost for bookstores is $35 per slot. Booksellers sign up for either a morning or afternoon slot on whatever day they choose. NVNR will assign the specific time for each presentation and let stores know when they will be presenting. Because space is very limited, stores are only allowed one presentation. Stores with active children's programs can also sign up for a spot on Friday the 4th, dedicated to children's books. Please note: Children's-only stores will be given priority.
After registration, bookstores will need to upload their press kit to NVNR, which will be shared with all the publishers. NVNR staff will share store press kits live on-screen during each speed dating appointment.
Publishers
Publicists are encouraged to sign up for as many blocks that fit into their schedule that week. We encourage and hope multiple publicists from all publishers will attend blocks of speed dating that week.
Be Prepared!
Booksellers who register for Publicity Speed Dating can make the most of their almost-fifteen-minutes by preparing well ahead of time:
If your store attended NVNR's 2021 Fall Conference and added your press kit to the Bookstore Row Directory, NVNR can use that as your press kit for this event.
Moderated by Kirsten Hess of Let's Play Books in Emmaus, PA, the NVNR Closing Keynote Event with Ben Hatke, Yuyi Morales, and Peter Reynolds was joyful, magical, and occasionally tearful. You will not be able to watch these amazing writers and not want
to push their books into the hands of all your customers.
Posted By Nicki Leone,
Thursday, September 23, 2021
Dear Friends,
A few years ago, I spent a weekend writing with a friend. We stayed at my house and wore repurposed lanyards that contained “A Retreat of Our Own” badges bearing our names and photos. I’d made these to remind ourselves that our weekend had a specific goal, to devote our time to writing, instead of doing laundry or just goofing off. That would come later :)
I mention this story because next week SIBA and NAIBA are co-hosting an extraordinary virtual conference, New Voices New Rooms: Opening Doors. We know you’re in your stores or at home working, as opposed to the usual setup of traveling to a hotel where you can be more single-focused. Consider taking out an old lanyard from pre-pandemic conferences (even if you only wear it metaphorically), and check out the full schedule of events. Mark off the times you can devote the same single focus to a conference that has been created to educate and inspire you, and improve your business.
Honestly, though, I don’t want you to miss any of it. This conference is an unparalleled bookseller to bookseller experience: booksellers are offering education, running roundtables and retreats, moderating author events, even working behind the scenes with the NVNR staff to run Zoom! As we put together our programming, we reached out to booksellers to find out what education they needed now, what kinds of author events they most appreciated, what key ways they wanted to interact with their reps and publisher contacts. And we created a conference that would meet those needs, and more.
One last comment before I sign off here: Check out our author event programming and consider the panels as inspirations for displays, book bundles, and subscription box offerings. These are the authors your publishing colleagues want you to know about, to handsell their books to your customers. We’ve covered “rewritten classics,” horror, fantasy, thrillers, romance, debuts, international authors, books about food and foodways, mindful books for anxious kids, kids books on science and nature, timely tales of hope and alliances, adult silver linings stories, “big books,” books about the South, and books that explore the Black experience in our country. Stream these author events in your stores so staff (and maybe some lucky customers!) can gather round. Reach out through our Readers of the Last Arc Galley Room to get copies to review and share with your coworkers.
Emily Liner, owner of Friendly City Books, Columbus, MS called last year’s virtual conference her Favorite SIBA programming benefit: She said, “Attending New Voices New Rooms last year was a game changer. It was lovely to connect with other bookstores across the South, and it introduced me to my bookstore mentor, Rachel Watkins at Avid Bookshop in Athens, GA.” We hope you join us next week and up your own game. And bring your lanyard!
NVNR: The Studio Gallery & Bookstore Row
A different approach to networking at a virtual conference
The most important thing about any conference is not the speakers you come to see or the workshops you sign up to attend, it is the connections you make with your colleagues. Those are the true resources you bring back to help with your business.
In order to foster connections between booksellers, publishers, and vendors, New Voices New Rooms has replaced the static "exhibit hall" and "attendee list" with two highly interactive directories we are calling "The Studio Gallery" (Publishers & Vendors) and "Bookstore Row" (Bookstores, obviously).
The Studio Gallery and Bookstore Row are designed as detailed directories which can be filtered, sorted, searched, and downloaded, and which contain detailed company information and resources that are most useful to bookstores and the publisher/vendor partners of NVNR.
"One of the most common things we heard from booksellers after last year's show was how frustrating it was to re-enter information in form after form for publisher after publisher," notes Eileen Dengler, NAIBA's executive director, "if they were at an in-person show they would be handing out business cards. But in a virtual show, everything required filling out a form."
"Publishers experienced the same kind of frustration," added Linda-Marie Barrett, Executive Director of SIBA. "The Studio Gallery and Bookstore Row makes it much easier for booksellers and publishers to share important information."
NVNR has prioritized the kind of necessary information booksellers and publishers need to facilitate good relationships:
In The Studio Gallery booksellers can find:
Contact info for their sales rep
instructions for setting up appointments during and outside of the show
detailed show specials
links to instructions for setting up a new account
links to event grids, downloadable catalogs and other downloadable resources
links to edelweiss collections and product images.
links to offsite resources, websites, and videos
information about sponsored events and author appearances in the schedule
On Bookstore Row, booksellers and partnering publishers and vendors can find:
Store contact information, website links, and social media accounts
Store descriptions, including any special focus the store has
Staff contact information for buyers, event managers, and other specialized staff positions
links to downloadable and online press kits
a gallery of store photos
Each studio and bookstore row card also has an assigned "permalink" which can be shared with others during the show as a quick way to provide important company information.
The Studio Gallery & Bookstore Row are open to NVNR attendees only, and will remain available through the end of the year.
The NVNR Team is hosting two orientation sessions to introduce booksellers and book industry members to the New Voices New Rooms 2021 Fall Conference.
Publishers and Vendors Orientation:
Monday July 12 at 2:00 PM Eastern | REGISTER
Topics include: What's new for 2021, Introducing Studios, The Readers of the Last ARC Galley Room, Office Hours & the NVNR Hospitality Suite, Expanded communication opportunities, The NVNR Show Box, Important Deadlines
Booksellers and Other Attendees Orientation:
Tuesday, August 17t at 1:00 PM Eastern | REGISTER
Topics include: What's new for 2021, Your NVNR Account, The Readers of the Last ARC Galley Room, Office Hours & the NVNR Hospitality Suite, Connecting with Publishers and Vendors, The NVNR Show Box and Studios, Getting the most out of your show experience, Important Deadlines
New Voices New Rooms will be held September 27 - October 1. One of the best-rated virtual shows from 2020 returns for 2021 with even more innovative programming and opportunities for booksellers and their industry partners. With a show theme of "Opening Doors," NVNR2021 will feature a streamlined schedule, more dedicated networking space for booksellers to connect with publishers and vendors and with each other, and a wide variety of education for booksellers of all levels and situations.
Posted By Nicki Leone,
Thursday, June 10, 2021
Updated: Wednesday, June 9, 2021
For Immediate Release:
June 10, 2021
NVNR Presents: The VIndies! A Celebration of Indie Bookstore Videos
(From A Bookstore Not Very Far Away) -- Lights, Camera, Fiction! New Voices New Rooms, the collaborative partnership between NAIBA and SIBA, is launching The VIndies to recognize the spirit and creativity of independent bookstore videos.
NVNR and an academy of judges drawn from the bookselling community will award prizes to videos created by independent bookstores in the SIBA and NAIBA territories from January 1, 2020 through June 1, 2021.
“We are constantly amazed at the creative talent shown by bookstore videos,” said SIBA Executive Director Linda-Marie Barrett. “They have moved us to tears, or made us laugh, or both! Bookstore videos offer glimpses into their worlds, and highlight just how important they are in their communities.”
“I think these videos demonstrate just how flexible and responsive independent bookstores can be to any situation,” added NAIBA Executive Director Eileen Dengler. “They are a testament to the resiliency of small businesses.”
Winners will be announced at the VIndie Awards Ceremony, which will include viewings of the finalist videos, and will take place during the New Voices New Rooms Fall Conference Sept 27-October 1. Prizes will be awarded to the winning stores.
The Award Categories are:
Best Drama
Best Comedy/Musical
Best Animated
Special Category for 2020/21: Best Covid-Related Video
To be eligible, videos must have been created by a SIBA or NAIBA member bookstore and must have been publicly exhibited – appearing on the store’s website, in their social media channels, or in their store newsletters -- between January 2020 and June 1, 2021. Nominations may come from independent bookstores or any fan of independent bookstores. Only one nomination per category, per store. Click here to nominate:
The NVNR New Owners Retreat coming up July 19 – 22 has announced the schedule of topics and programming for the event. The retreat will be held in the evenings, after dinner, to accommodate the limited availablity of store owners during the work week.
Seasoned booksellers and special guests will be on hand to guide you through your growth, share their experiences, help you envision your future, and answer your most pressing questions. It is a perfect opportunity to step away from the store, look at your operations, finances, and resources for perspective, ideas, and solutions.
This event is geared for stores that have opened in the last five years and/or owners who have purchased an existing store in the last five years.
Bookseller veterans share their biggest mistakes and best moves in their early years
A publisher shares best practices on working with publishers, and etiquette for industry meetings, dinners, and conferences
An overview of resources, including ABACUS
A look at a store’s working documents, including mission statement, employee handbook, and procedures manual
Tuesday, July 20:
6:30 - 8:00 PM
Bookseller veterans will discuss the importance of locations and leases, managing store operations (including the daily tasks of accounting, receiving, placing orders, working the sales floor, and cleaning the bathrooms), followed by Q & A
A special presentation on Designing Your Space by Lisa Uhrik, president of Franklin Fixtures
Wednesday, July 21:
6:30 - 8:00 PM
A bookseller veteran will discuss prioritizing profitability
Breakouts for stores on topics of finances, publisher terms, growth opportunities, buying and returns, stock turns, and more.
Thursday, July 22:
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Bookseller veterans will discuss human resources, hiring/firing, marketing, authorless events, subscription services, hybrid stores (cafes, pop-ups, nonprofits)
Closing with an inspirational talk: “Why I Am a Bookseller” by Janet Geddis, founder and owner of Avid Bookshop in Athens, GA
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Bookstore owners are all too familiar with the struggle to bring authors to their event programs. The stores that are most successful with this have built relationships with publishers and publicists, and have learned how to present their stores as attractive destinations for authors on tour.
Nominations have opened for the 2022 VIndies Awards, celebrating the best of independent bookstore video.
Bookseller sign ups for New Voices New Rooms May & August have been pouring in since registration opened last week. Stores are especially excited about the addition of the May event, with its focus on new and forthcoming books for the summer and fall season. 
NVNR August runs August 8-11, and features a week of education, bookseller retreats, author presentations, new and upcoming titles, and publisher studios, similar to NVNR from the past two years. There will be an added focus on networking and building industry connections among bookselling colleagues and publishers.
The August conference will feature a week of education, bookseller retreats, author presentations, new and upcoming titles, and publisher studios, similar to NVNR from the past two years.
A few years ago, I spent a weekend writing with a friend. We stayed at my house and wore repurposed lanyards that contained “A Retreat of Our Own” badges bearing our names and photos. I’d made these to remind ourselves that our weekend had a specific goal, to devote our time to writing, instead of doing laundry or just goofing off. That would come later :)
The most important thing about any conference is not the speakers you come to see or the workshops you sign up to attend, it is the connections you make with your colleagues. Those are the true resources you bring back to help with your business.
NVNR2021 Orientation Sessions
(From A Bookstore Not Very Far Away) -- Lights, Camera, Fiction! New Voices New Rooms, the collaborative partnership between NAIBA and SIBA, is launching The VIndies to recognize the spirit and creativity of independent bookstore videos.
The NVNR New Owners Retreat coming up July 19 – 22 has announced the schedule of topics and programming for the event. The retreat will be held in the evenings, after dinner, to accommodate the limited availablity of store owners during the work week.