Earlier this month Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, Vt., hosted the kind of gathering that happens all too infrequently in the book world, a dinner with no agenda other than to bring publishers and booksellers together.
"People really traveled to be here," said Barbara Morrow, noting that more than 100 publishers, many from New York, attended, including heads of houses, editors and v-ps of sales, marketing and/or publicity. "We had two things in mind for this party. First, it was an opportunity to bring publishers and Independent Booksellers Consortium [a co-operative of 23 independent bookstores] together and, second, to show publishers our new store. We're proud of it." The evening also included a book presentation by local author John Irving, who spoke about his 11th novel, Until I Find You, which is due out from Random House next summer.
The gathering overlapped with the fall meeting of IBC, which includes many of the country's top bookstores, including Olsson's Books and Records in greater Washington, D.C.; Page One Books in Albuquerque, N.Mex.; Harry W. Schwartz Bookshops in Milwaukee, Wis.; and Northshire. Originally founded as a remainder-buying consortium in 1993, IBC, which is an invitation-only organization, has since evolved into a bookselling group that complements the work of ABA and the regional trade associations, to which most stores also belong.
Six years ago, Lori Tucker-Sullivan was hired as executive director, and she organizes the group's three-day fall and spring educational sessions, which are held near a member store, and a third annual meeting after BEA. Although remainder buying as a group didn't pan out, members do purchase some services and products together, such as security labels and bags.
"The purpose of IBC is to exchange ideas in a confidential way, which deepens the ability to improve our own stores," explained president Fran Keilty, co-owner with her husband, Michael, of the Hickory Stick Bookshop in Washington Depot, Conn. "We brainstorm ideas, which can have a positive impact on store margin and performance. We also look at industry issues and trends and occasionally invite speakers to further [the group's] decisions." Some of the subjects raised in recent meetings, which take place over the course of three days, included how to train managers, how to reward floor staff if sales are declining and how to best promote children's books?
