The behind the scenes work of putting together the New Voices New Room Conference each year sometimes feels like a whirlwind, as new authors are confirmed, new exhibitors are signed on, and new ideas for education sessions are added almost every day. There is method to the madness, however. The planners work hard to create programming that meets the needs of booksellers, and to incorporate some of the great ideas suggested from the feedback they are given.
Every NVNR follows a basic pattern. The first day is given to bus tours of area bookstores. Day two is dedicated to bookseller education and development. The exhibit hall opens on the third day, and all the events in the program are focused on title discovery. The fourth and last day is all about bookseller to bookseller networking, and is given over in large part to bookseller retreats for owners, managers, children’s booksellers, and front-line staff. And every day there are meals, receptions, and panels where booksellers can meet authors, editors, and conference sponsors.
New for 2025, in response to many, many bookseller requests, NVNR has added "tracks" to its programming, for booksellers who want to focus on a specific goal:
Children’s Bookseller Track: a wide-angle look at different aspects of the unique nature of children’s bookselling. Some of the topics include Book Fair Alternatives, Affordable Kid Lit, Literacy, and Stories for All Ages. There is also the always-a-blast "50 Ideas in 60 Minutes" event, designed for rapid-fire idea sharing.
Industry Deep Dive Track: Both NAIBA and SIBA are thrilled to have a host of newly-opened bookstores in their membership ranks. This track looks at some of the cornerstone skills booksellers need to be successful: Establishing Term Accounts, Presenting Yourself and Your Business, Using Marketing Platforms. There will also be an "ask me anything" panel of industry professionals ready to answer questions.
Profitability Track: Especially important in the current economic climate, this is a nuts-and-bolts track focused on ways to control pricing and costs. There are sessions on product categories like Remainders and Sidelines, on bringing in new customers, "Beyond Book Clubs," and on better understanding the metrics of profit in the bookstore — Inventory Turns, and Key Metrics to track.
There are a wealth of skills on offer at NVNR 2025 for both new and veteran booksellers. The skills learned here, and the ideas you bring back, can be key to making your business resilient and able to weather any challenges ahead.
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