Trade Show Preview: UMBA

Trade Show Preview: UMBA

by Jill Tardiff, PW Daily for Booksellers -- Publishers Weekly, 9/1/2004

As the fall trade-show season approaches, PW Daily will be previewing a different show each day. Today, a look at what to expect at the gathering of the Upper Midwest Booksellers Association, scheduled to meet Oct. 1-3 at the RiverCentre, St. Paul, Minn.

At first glance, the show's venue seems familiar--but there have been significant changes to this year's program. The trade show exhibit is now a two-day event, Saturday and Sunday. Exhibit hours are 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and 9 a.m.-1 p.m., respectively. Note the earlier start and finish times on Sunday, staggered to accommodate those attending the author-packed luncheon. Autographing sessions are scheduled for Saturday afternoon (1-4 p.m.) and Sunday morning (10 a.m.-noon).

The doors to the Roy Wilkins Auditorium open at 10:30 a.m. Friday for show attendees picking up badges and meal tickets. Booksellers participating in the seminars, workshops and panels that comprise the all-day educational programming can make their way to adjacent meeting rooms located in RiverCentre. Fledgling booksellers will be grateful for the 45-minute "first-timer" orientation program at 11 a.m. At the same time, others can take advantage of the two-hour "picks of the lists" presentations, where sales reps get a chance to talk about their top fall titles.

At noon, get down to business with consultant-turned-trainer Bob Steele. His four-hour seminar begins with the question, "How does your store measure up?" Hear about the industry's best practices and learn how to better monitor your store's inventory to improve your bottom line. (There's a late afternoon follow-up planned on the finer points of buying.) At 1 p.m., hear academic-turned-author-turned-consultant Kenneth Stone as he offers strategies on competing with retail giants.

At 3 p.m., Ari Weinzweig, author of Zingerman's Guide to Giving Great Service, presents an intensive two-hour workshop on how to treat your customers like royalty. Another program covers making the most of the UMBA catalogue. At 4 p.m., step into the meeting room for a panel discussion on inventory management. Hop on a shuttle bus at 5:30 p.m. and head over to the official welcome party on board the Mississippi riverboat Anson Northrup.

You can start Saturday at 7:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast and your favorite regional writers. The annual Book and Author Breakfast features former local bookseller Dean Bakopoulos (Please Don't Come Back from the Moon), poet Phebe Hanson (Why Still Dance: 75 Years: 75 Poems), activist Wilma Mankiller (Every Day Is a Good Day: Reflections of Indigenous Women) and novelist Miriam Toews (A Complicated Kindness). An hour-long general membership meeting is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. The show floor opens at 10:30 a.m. for UMBA booksellers and exhibitors only; other attendees are welcome after noon.

All attendees are invited to the cocktail reception (5:30-7 p.m.) at the Radisson Riverfront Hotel, just a quick walk from the convention center. Dinner follows at 7:30 p.m. The after-dinner authors will include Diane Mott Davidson (Double Shot), Gretel Ehrlich (The Future of Ice: A Journey into Cold), Bob Greene (Fraternity: A Journey in Search of Five Presidents) and Marilynne Robinson (Gilead).

So popular is Sunday's Children's Book and Author Breakfast that attendees will gather in the RiverCentre grand ballrooms. Well-known kids' authors and illustrators James Howe (Bunnicula), Peter Sís (The Train of States), Mark Teague (Detective LaRue: Letters from the Investigation) and Rosemary Wells (My Kindergarten) are guest speakers. Doors to the trade show open at 9:30 a.m. and close at 1 p.m. Lunch begins at 1 p.m., with Patricia Hampl, author of I Could Tell You Storiesas the keynote speaker.

Contact: Susan Walker, 3407 West 44th St., Minneapolis, Minn. 55410; (800) 784-7522 or (612) 926-5868; UMBAoffice@aol.com; www.abookaday.com.