Trade Show Season Continues at MBA, MPIBA & SIBA

The fall trade show season continued with shows hosted by the Midwest Booksellers Association (MBA), Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association (MPIBA), and Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA).

ABA staff were at each to celebrate independent bookselling, visit with booksellers, and to share some updated and innovative education sessions. In addition, all three shows had Edelweiss demonstration and education sessions presented by Above the Treeline. Edelweiss is the new free interactive catalogs system for stores and their publisher reps.

At each of the shows, numerous booksellers took the opportunity to stop by the ABA tables on the show floor to discuss their concerns and to find out about ABA programs and services that can help them better manage their businesses. In addition, many dropped off their business cards at the ABA booth to earn an extra chance at winning one of more than two-dozen publisher-sponsored scholarships to the Fifth Annual Winter Institute, to be held at the Doubletree San Jose in San Jose, California, from February 3 - 5, 2010. Scholarships cover the cost of reasonable airfare and up to a four-night hotel stay at the Doubletree San Jose.

Here is a brief look, in words and photos, at each of the three shows. Look for a wrap-up on all of the regional trade shows in Bookselling This Week in October.

Midwest Booksellers Association (MBA)

ABA's table on the trade show floor. Booksellers who stopped by the ABA tables on the show floor found out about important ABA programs and services.

Jennifer Geraedts of Beagle Books in Park Rapids, Minnesota, shows off one of her store's Eat Sleep Read sweatshirts (and dog shirts!), which were fashioned by a local embroidery shop.

The MBA trade show was held Friday, September 25, and Saturday, September 26, at the RiverCentre and nearby venues in St. Paul, Minnesota. The show was attended by ABA CEO Oren Teicher, and Paige Poe, IndieBound outreach liaison.

Among the educational highlights of the show were the ABA sessions on Friday: "Going Digital: The Case for E-Books"; "Social Media & the Independent Bookseller"; and "Conversation on Local First Campaigns in the Midwest."

Among the many programming highlights were MBA's "5th Annual Midwest Booksellers' Choice Awards Reception," Book & Author Dinner, and Children's Book & Author Breakfast.

Look for more on the MBA show in an upcoming regional trade-show wrap-up in Bookselling This Week.

Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association (MPIBA)

This year's MPIBA Fall Trade Show was held Wednesday, September 23, through Saturday, September 26, at the Crowne Plaza Denver International Airport in Colorado. The show provided many educational offerings, geared to bookselling veterans and newcomers alike.

At the Gordon Saull Awards on Friday, Bookseller of the Year Catherine Weller of Sam Weller's Zion Bookstore in Salt Lake City (left) and Sales Rep of the Year Meg Sherman of Norton were honored.

ABA COO Len Vlahos attended the show and led the ABA education sessions "Surviving Tough Times"; and "ABA IndieCommerce: The New System."

Other programming highlights included "The Author Reception and Gordon Saull Awards"; "Book Distribution 2.0"; and "Indie Publishers and Indie Booksellers Working Together"; among many others.

Look for more on the MPIBA show in an upcoming regional trade-show wrap-up in Bookselling This Week.

Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) Trade Show

The SIBA Trade Show was held from Friday, September 25, through Sunday, September 27, at the

Meg Smith, ABA chief marketing officer, provides information on ABA services at the ABA table on the SIBA trade show floor. Among the many educational highlights of the SIBA trade show was the ABA session "Social Media & the Independent Bookseller."

Carolina First Center in Greenville, South Carolina. Among the show's many highlights were the SIBA booksellers school, Thursday's courtyard author signing, followed by the SIBA supper, and Saturday evening's "The Writers' Block -- SIBA Book Award First Ever Feed-an-Author Auction & Reception."

ABA Chief Marketing Officer Meg Smith attended the show and presented the ABA education sessions "Social Media & The Independent Bookseller"; and "Independents Week: Creating a Community-Wide Local First Celebration."

Also in the lineup on Friday was a Local First session; an author panel; and the "Kick Off Kids Lunch." There was also a series of programs focused on Southern writers.

Look for more on the SIBA show in an upcoming regional trade-show wrap-up in Bookselling This Week.