Bookseller Tools
 
 
 
Home > Events >
Book Expo America
 

BookExpo America is the industry's premier trade show. Held annually, this is an invaluable opportunity to get a sneak peek inside the world of bookselling at the biggest national bookselling event of the year. Aside from the trade show floor (where publishers exhibit their fall titles), there are education and information sessions, author breakfasts and lunches, special events, many opportunities to network with booksellers and publishers, and much more.

The American Booksellers Association is a proud sponsor of BookExpo America. ABA sold the show in 1992 to Reed Exhibitions who manage and operate the show. ABA’s Town Hall and Annual Membership Meetings are held in conjunction with BEA, and ABA members are encouraged to attend not only the trade show, but also the myriad special events sponsored by the association and its partners throughout the week of BEA. ABA members get a discounted rate when they register BEA.

BEA’s Official Site

Register for the BEA trade show and for ABA's Day of Education, order tickets for BEA Author Breakfasts and Lunches and other special events, and more.

Future dates

2009: New York City, May 26 – May 31, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
2010: Washington DC, June 3 – June 6, Washington DC Convention Center
2011: Las Vegas, June 9 – June 12, Las Vegas Convention Center

ABA at BookExpo 2008

"Welcome to Hollywood" activities
The American Booksellers Association is inviting member booksellers to kick off their stay in Los Angeles for BookExpo America 2008 with fun activities on Wednesday afternoon, May 28. ABA has made special arrangements with a local walking tour company, which has added a significant literary edge to its standard Hollywood Walking Tour, just for member booksellers. The association has also arranged a shuttle bus to take members for a special tour of the Getty Museum and Bookstore. The afternoon will be capped with a "Welcome to Hollywood" Author Reception, sponsored by ABA and the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association, at the famed Egyptian Theatre. The list of things to do and see in L.A. is endless, so ABA has also provided a suggested list of alternative activities, but all member booksellers are reminded to be back in time for the Author Reception at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Read more...

ABA's Day of Education
ABA offers its member booksellers a full day of education just before the trade show floor opens. Presented by a range of expert retail strategists, professional booksellers, and ABA staff, ABA’s educational offerings are comprehensive, valuable, up-to-date, and free with ABA membership. From bookselling basics to succession planning, ABA’s exclusive courses, events, and publications help bookstores achieve profitability, differentiate themselves from their competition, and adapt to a rapidly changing retail landscape.

Special Events and Networking Opportunities

  • ABA's Celebration of Bookselling (Thursday, May 29; Grand Ballroom, 5th Floor of the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel [Hotel ABA]; 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.)  The Celebration of Bookselling, sponsored by the Ingram Book Company/Ingram Publisher Services, is the concluding event for the Day of Education. Booksellers are invited to have a drink and hors d’oeuvres with their bookselling and publishing colleagues, and to see the presentation of the 2008 Book Sense Book of the Year Awards. This event is open to all BEA attendees, and is free of charge. This year, the Celebration will include a major announcement about an exciting, new ABA initiative. You won’t want to miss this!

  • ABA Author Luncheon (Friday, May 30; Concourse Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center; 12:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.)
    Booksellers participating in ABA’s Book Sense marketing program are invited to break bread with dozens of Book Sense-nominated authors at a gala lunch. This free event is always a highlight of BookExpo America. Reservations are limited to two people per bookstore and are on a first-come, first-served basis. Reserve now via an online form. Questions should be addressed to Mark Nichols at mark@bookweb.org.

  • ABA's Bookseller Lounge
    (Friday, May 30 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. so that all members and staff can attend ABA's Town Hall Meeting, which is followed at 4:00 p.m. by the Annual Membership Meeting; Saturday, May 31 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; and on Sunday, June 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Room 515 A in the West Building of the LA Convention Center)
    ABA's Bookseller Lounge at BookExpo America will offer member booksellers light refreshments and a place to relax, check e-mail, meet colleagues, and learn about ABA products and services, including a band-new initiative to be announced at this year's Celebration of Bookselling. During the three days of the trade show -- from Friday, May 30, through Sunday, June 1 -- the lounge will feature 24 of independent booksellers' favorite authors autographing their latest titles. Representatives from ABA affinity partners Above the Treeline, Bank of America, BookScan, Constant Contact, and PartnerShip will be on hand to provide information about money-saving services available to all members. Also featured will be information about ABA's gift card program and e-commerce solution, the member-owned LIBRIS insurance program, and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression. The ABA Lounge will once again feature the Booklog Internet Cafe, where ABA member booksellers can check their e-mail accounts or browse the web. The cafe is provided courtesy of Booklog, a point-of-sale and inventory management solution for booksellers for more than 20 years. A sign-up sheet for booksellers who wish to speak at ABA's Town Hall meeting will be prominently displayed in the ABA Lounge, beginning Friday morning. Sign up is on a first-come, first-served basis, though the ABA Board will do its best to make sure all members with questions or issues have the opportunity to speak. Booksellers will be called upon in the order in which they signed up.

Special Services & Programming

  • ABA's Bag Check (Friday, May 30 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, May 31 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, June 1 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.; Room 510 in the West Wing of the convention center -- across from the ABA Lounge)
    Harper Mass Market is sponsoring a Bag Check Room at the L.A. Convention Center for the exclusive use of ABA bookstore members who are staying at Hotel ABA. Rather than carrying books and other materials back to the hotel or from booth to booth at the trade show, Hotel ABA guests will have the added convenience of storing materials at the Bag Check Room from Friday, May 29, through Sunday, June 1. When booksellers drop off materials at the Check Room, an attendant will ask to see their BEA badge, which carries ABA membership identification. They will then be given a claim ticket that will be required in order to retrieve items left in the room. Although there will be 24-hour security for the Check Room, booksellers using the Check Room agree that neither ABA, the L.A. Convention Center, nor Harper Mass Market are responsible for any missing items. Please note: At the close of the Bag Check (4:30 p.m. on Sunday), all items must be picked up. Any items remaining after 4:30 will be donated or subject to disposal.

  • ABA's Discount Shipping Desk (Saturday, May 31 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Sunday, June 1, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; Room 510 in the West Wing of the convention center -- across from the ABA Lounge -- same room as ABA's Bag Check)
    ABA members who participate in the association's Discount Shipping Program will be able to send packages from BookExpo America at a discounted rate via a FedEx® Shipping Center set up exclusively for them. ABA Discount Shipping Program participants can save up to 31 percent* on FedEx Express shipments, up to 30 percent on FedEx Ground shipments, and up to 10 percent on FedEx Home Delivery shipments. A $7 per box handling fee, which includes the box and tape, is less than other convention center shipping service charges. Members who provide a FedEx account number at the Shipping Center will be billed after the show. Those without an account can pay either by Visa, MasterCard, or AMEX. ABA members who sign up now  will be able to take advantage of discount shipping rates even before the show begins. Those who sign up at the show will still be able to ship from BEA at the program's special rates. To learn more about the ABA Discount Shipping Program, including small package shipping with FedEx, large freight shipments with UPS Freight and Yellow Transportation, and services at FedEx Kinko's, visit http://www.partnership.com/07aba, or send an e-mail to sales@partnership.com. (*Rates include a bonus 5 percent online processing discount. Full details available at http://www.partnership.com/07aba/discounts.asp.

  • Paperback Dreams Screening and Q&A (Saturday, May 31; Room 511 ABC in the West Building of the LA Convention Center; 1:30pm - 3pm)
    ABA will host a premiere of Paperback Dreams, a documentary that follows the history and struggles of Cody's Books in Berkeley and Kepler's Books in Menlo Park, California. The bookstores' stories are chronicled via interviews with Andy Ross and Clark Kepler, Joan Baez, Morgan Entrekin, Malcolm Margolin, Michael Powell, and others, as well as with archival film footage and photographs. Following the screening, director/producer Alex Beckstead will lead a Q&A discussion, to which he has invited Ross and Kepler.

ABA's Annual Meetings

  • ABA Town Hall Meeting (Friday, May 30; Room 502 A in the West Building of the LA Convention Center; 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m)
    Outgoing ABA President Russ Lawrence and incoming President Gayle Shanks will field questions from association members about ABA business, products, and services. A sign-up sheet for booksellers who wish to speak at ABA's Town Hall meeting will be prominently displayed in the ABA Lounge, beginning Friday morning. Sign up is on a first-come, first-served basis, though the ABA Board will do its best to make sure all members with questions or issues have the opportunity to speak. Booksellers will be called upon in the order in which they signed up.

  • ABA Annual Meeting
    (Friday, May 30; Room 502 A in the West Building of the LA Convention Center; 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m)
    The ABA Board and Chief Executive Officer, Avin Mark Domnitz, will report on the association’s activities during the prior 12-month period. Members are encouraged to attend. Voting cards will be available immediately outside the meeting room.

User Group Meetings

  • ABA's E-commerce Program Users Group (Friday, May 30, 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.; Room 512 in the West Building of the L.A. Convention Center)
    ABA's e-commerce program (formerly known as BookSense.com) is undergoing a major overhaul, planned for fall 2008 release. The site is migrating to the open-source platform Drupal, which will provide users with new and improved administrative tools, better performance and reliability, and a shorter path to new features and functionality. Participants in the users group have an opportunity to meet with and provide feedback to ABA's ecommerce staff. (Non-participants are also welcome to attend.)

  • ABA's Gift Card Program Users Group (Friday, May 30, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.; Room 513 in the West Building of the L.A. Convention Center)
    An informal meeting to discuss, and provide feedback to ABA staff about, changes, new card designs, and reports. Information and feedback shared at past users group meetings have been invaluable both to booksellers and ABA staff and have helped guide the program's development. (Non-participants are also welcome to attend.)

  • Above The Treeline -- Publisher Demo (Saturday, May 31, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.); Room 511ABC in the West Building of the L.A. Convention Center)
    If you've never seen Above The Treeline, or if you are using it every day, you'll still learn something new at this session where Treeline staff will share the latest developments. Above The Treeline is a powerful online solution providing a way to optimize any available retail sales and inventory data for use through a single portal. It consolidates store-level data from hundreds of independent bookstores, and now also accepts and normalizes additional retail data publishers are already receiving from other sources. Then, Treeline presents the data on the site graphically as well as at the most detailed level, so publishers can start with the big picture, and drill down to details -- from nationwide trends, down to which stores are short on a hot title. The latest version has some dramatic enhancements and opens up some interesting new perspectives on the retail market. Staff will show the new and expanded reporting and communication tools of this version, as well as overhauled versions of many of the time-tested Treeline favorites.

  • Above The Treeline -- Prospective Users (Saturday, May 31, 9:00a.m. - 10:00 a.m.; Room 512 in the West Building of the L.A. Convention Center)
    Retailers not currently Above The Treeline are invited to expand their perspective with this leading provider of collaboration-based business intelligence tools in the book industry. Above The Treeline offers retailers the ability to share and analyze information online and make faster, smarter inventory decisions. Any business not on Above the Treeline yet is invited to come and see how joining the Above the Treeline community of stores can help them see the view from above.

  • Above The Treeline -- Users Group (Saturday, May 31, 10:30 a.m. - Noon; Room 512 in the West Building of the L.A. Convention Center)
    Current Treeline subscribers are encouraged to join this users group meeting to share tips and tricks with one another on how to best utilize the new Above the Treeline. Above the Treeline staff will monitor the session and share some TreeTips of their own.

ABA Information Sessions
ABA has a rich history of scanning the business and retail landscape to provide members with exciting, provocative programming on a wide range of subjects. Past topics have included coping with disaster, building local business alliances, and partnering with other independent retailers.

Hotel ABA Bookseller Member Accommodations
Hotel ABA, an exclusive hotel for ABA Bookstore members, is carefully chosen for its affordability and convenience: you’ll enjoy lovely accommodations, the proximity of your fellow booksellers, and on-site ABA educational sessions and publisher-sponsored events!

  • Hotel ABA Welcome Desk
    Wednesday, May 28 from 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Thursday, May 29, from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Friday, May 30, from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.; second-floor mezzanine level of Hotel ABA, the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel)
    A special ABA Welcome Desk will be set up for ABA members who will be able to pick up their BEA trade show badge and an admission ticket for the Day of Education, badge holders, a BEA exhibitors' guide, the latest details about ABA programming and information about other convention-related events and the L.A. area, including a copy of eat.shop los angeles (Cabazon Books). In an effort to become ecologically responsible, rather than printing education handouts and shipping binders across the country, ABA is providing all of its education session materials to every member bookseller in advance of the show via BookWeb.org. Additionally, ABA is encouraging booksellers to bring a bag from home to fill with trade show-related information that will be available for pick up at the Welcome Desk. Rather than provide another bag, the association is asking booksellers to recycle and reuse one of their older bags. Boku Books is once again providing a spiral notebook that booksellers can use for note-taking. The first few pages of the notebook will include the Day of Education schedule, a hotel map, and other details. At the Hotel ABA Welcome Desk, members will also be able to pick up one single-day L.A. Metro Card, compliments of Wiley. Because morning rush hour in Los Angeles can be challenging at best, ABA is encouraging booksellers to take the L.A. Metro system on Friday morning to get to and from the convention center quicker than by shuttle bus or taxi. Directions to the convention center will be printed on the Metro Card sleeve. In the coming weeks, BTW will also feature a "photo journey" of the trip to and from the convention center. (Metro Cards will be given out one per person and on a first-come, first-served basis.) Wilderness Press will be raffling off a basket full of goodies from local independent businesses at ABA's Welcome Desk. The raffle is open to all ABA member booksellers who drop off a business card anytime on Wednesday or on Thursday morning. The drawing will take place during Thursday's Day of Education lunch. The winner must be present. BEA will be providing live registration at the Welcome Desk on Wednesday and Thursday. Remember to bring your own tote bag and to print out the educational materials ahead of time.

American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression
ABA’s separately endowed non-profit foundation, ABFFE, is dedicated to promoting and protecting First Amendment rights for booksellers. ABFFE hosts a series of special events during BEA, including the Saturday night gala, and lively informational programming at the LA Convention Center. Watch the ABFFE website, Bookselling This Week, and BookWeb.org for details.

ABA's 2008 Prospective Booksellers School
Tuesday, May 27 – Thursday, May 29 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel (Hotel ABA). This workshop for new and prospective booksellers, sponsored by ABA and facilitated by Donna Paz and Mark Kaufman of Paz & Associates, will explore strategies for opening and growing a profitable bookstore. Students will spend Thursday attending ABA’s Day of Education. This school always sells out, so reserve your space early! More info and registration form.

Children's Programming at BEA 2008

College Store Programming at BEA 2008

  • College Store Literary Luncheon
  • Education sessions and discussions
Topics: BookExpo America