The WBRA took the summer bookfair to Sidney, BC and it was a hit!
With the reception held at the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre
Last year, the inaugural Authors for Indies Day gave participating bookstores an average boost of 18.5% in sales, a phenomenal result! CBC even listed the event as one of the 10 Biggest Book Stories for 2015.
On April 30, 2016, authors will be once again showing their appreciation for independent bookstores by volunteering as guest booksellers. Lots of local indie bookstores and authors are participating—check the Authors for Indies website’s FIND A STORE function.
The latest Books for Everybody catalogue features some great quotes from a couple of local booksellers—Bolen Books and Hager Books.
Books For Everybody showcases publishers’ books for the holiday season and supports the work of independent booksellers across the country.
The 2016 submission deadline for the Gift Guides is upcoming on May 16. View the PDF for submission schedule and rates.
Thanks to everyone who joined us. A lovely time was had by all.
Dot, Jim & Lee
Joedi & Aydin
In Kelowna
Lovely Booksellers
The Jen’s and Pen!
Our congratulations to our friends and colleagues at BookManager on a successful inaugural event.
As part of the WBRA’s Summer 2015 Book Fair, BookManager partnered to extend our 3-day event with 2 days of business-related education. Dubbed the BookManager Academy, the event included workshops on BookManager and general bookselling education, round table discussion, and social events to meet and network with fellow booksellers.
In the article on Quill & Quire (29 June 2015), TBM BookManager founder Michael Neill says that the event achieved his goal of getting booksellers together to network and talk informally.
“The common thread in the comments received was the intangible benefit of everyone being together to talk about the book business,” Neill says.
Read the full article on Quill & Quire.
Make plans and come out to the Western Book Reps Association’s Summer Book Fair 2015. Taking place in beautiful Kelowna, BC, from Sunday, June 14 to Tuesday June 16, 2015, it will be your chance to come and meet your reps to see the hottest offerings of books for the fall season.
This is the largest semi-annual bookfair in Western Canada, with booksellers and librarians visiting from across BC and Alberta. All the key book publishers will have representatives at the fair so don’t miss out!
WBRA Trade bookfair
Taking place at the Coast Capri Hotel Kelowna
Trade show hours:
Sunday June 14: 12pm-5pm
Monday June 15: 9am-5pm *
Tuesday June 16: 9am-5pm
* Note: The evening of Monday June 15 is the Bookfair Social event at the Yacht Club from 5:30–10:00 pm (see details below).
Bookfair Registration is open: Register Now. Please be sure to contact your rep for an appointment and make plans to attend.
Group Buying sessions:
There will be group buying sessions offered throughout the fair, and the schedule is posted on the WBRA website.
Western Book Reps Association Yacht Club Event:
Don’t miss the publishing dinner party of the season, being held at the Kelowna Yacht club in their brand new location. This free event hosted by the WBRA will include dinner and wine (thanks to our sponsors) and will allow fellow reps, booksellers and publishing partners to mingle at this exclusive lakeside setting.
Please make sure to register at our website or by email to Jennifer Fyffe, space is limited, so act quickly!
Accommodation:
WBRA has secured a fabulous rate on rooms at the Coast Capri Hotel starting at $130 per night, which includes: breakfast, parking, Wi-Fi and airport transfer (make sure to reserve the free airport shuttle when you make your booking).
View booking and rate details on our Event Page.
To book: Contact hotel at (250) 860-6060 and use the Group Block Name: 2015 Western Book Reps or the Group Block Confirmation Number: CCH-GFC18520 to access the our special rates.
ROOMS ARE LIMITED so please book early.
Flights:
BookManager has secured a rate with WestJet offering 10% off posted rates
To book: use the promo code YLW01 and coupon code K7BE8GK.
Travel any time 7 days before or after the retreat to qualify. Book at Westjet.com
Additional Incentives and Bookseller Education:
Book Manager is hosting a series of subsidized Education Days and social events on the 2 days leading up to the fair (June 12-13) : See details on BookManager for more information.
This will be the bookfair you won’t want to miss, so register now!
Save the Date for Spring 2016:
The Spring 2016 Book Fair will be held February 14– 16, 2016 at the Inn at Laurel Point in Victoria.
Do something wonderful, support Canada’s Independent Bookstores.
Authors for Indies Day is Saturday, May 2, 2015.
Authors: contact a store and volunteer to be there for the day. Booksellers: the single most important thing you can do is invite authors to your store. And for everyone else: visit a bookstore on May 2 to buy books and talk to authors; Make sure to tell your friends, or go on a bookstore crawl.
Thanks to everyone who came to the Spring 2015 Book Fair. It was a great event.
Here are some photos we took—enjoy!
Barb and Nancy
Erin and Mary-Ann
Aydin Virani and Susan Travis
James and Dot
Margaret and Ruth
Speed dating event
Speed dating event
Orca Books authors Sean Rodman & Robin Stevenson
Welcome Alice!
BookManager is hosting a free Bookselling Education Day on Saturday February 14, 2015 at the Inn at the Laurel Point, Victoria, BC., in the Merino Room from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
For more details View the Event Page and come and join us!
Jim Munro, founder of Munro’s Books, is retiring after 50 years in the book business. Munro’s Books celebrated 50 years as well in September 2013, and we’re happy to note the much-loved bookstore will live on. The Globe and Mail reports “the successors will be store manager Jessica Walker, senior buyer Carol Mentha, comptroller Sarah Frye and operations manager Ian Cochran.” Congratulations to Jim on his retirement, and here’s to the next 50!
