Pitch us your ideas for Spring Roadtrip 2020... |
When the snow melts and the sun starts to shine, what could be more fun than hopping in the car for a little roadtrip? For us, it's the MOST fun when the destination is an independent bookstore.
On March 25, 2019, booksellers from 20 bookstores throughout our region met at Dragonfly Books in Decorah, IA for a mini summit of independent bookselling. We had such a fabulous experience with this roadtrip, we're planning to do it again, and would like YOU to pitch us your ideas.
Booksellers: Pitch us your destination!
Points to consider:
Publishers: We would love to hear from you as well about collaborating with us on Spring Roadtrips. These meetings bring 40-50 independent booksellers who are eager to connect and learn from one another--and we want publishers to be a part of this authentic experience. Would you sponsor a meeting? Send us your author(s) and educational ideas? Please let us know if you're intrigued and we'll flush out a collaboration together.
On March 25, 2019, booksellers from 20 bookstores throughout our region met at Dragonfly Books in Decorah, IA for a mini summit of independent bookselling. We had such a fabulous experience with this roadtrip, we're planning to do it again, and would like YOU to pitch us your ideas.
Booksellers: Pitch us your destination!
- Read the recap of Spring Roadtrip 2019 to Decorah, IA to be inspired, and send us a pitch to re-create this type of experience in your store's town.
- Email your pitch to Carrie Obry (carrie@midwestbooksellers.org). The deadline for pitches is June 1. The destination will be selected in June and announced at the Heartland Fall Forum in Cleveland, OH this October.
Points to consider:
- When: The roadtrip will happen in the second half of March or first half of April
- Location: Your bookstore, along with surrounding venues for education, pre-event kickoff party, and lodging (preferably independent)
- Content: What does your store do best? What what you love to show off about your bookstore and your town to 40-50 of your bookseller friends and colleagues? The pitch doesn't have to include this description in great detail; just a taste of the programming is fine
Publishers: We would love to hear from you as well about collaborating with us on Spring Roadtrips. These meetings bring 40-50 independent booksellers who are eager to connect and learn from one another--and we want publishers to be a part of this authentic experience. Would you sponsor a meeting? Send us your author(s) and educational ideas? Please let us know if you're intrigued and we'll flush out a collaboration together.
Spring Roadtrip 2019
See the schedule belowRead Dragonfly Book's personal invite encouraging you to join us in Decorah
See Dragonfly staff's top picks for their favorite things to do in Decorah
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Confirmed AuthorsAttendeesBook your room at one of two options. Both of the room block deadlines have passed, but availability still remains.
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7:00 pm
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Dragonfly Books invites everyone to Pulpit Rock Brewing Co. for a Literary Open Mic Night. Prose, poetry, fiction, memoir -- all original work is welcome. Emceed by local KDEC radio host Jeni Grouws and featuring MIBA bookseller and author Danny Caine, the Literary Open Mic Night is a high-energy celebration of literary talent. Performers will have 3 minutes or less to share their original work. Performers can sign up online, call Dragonfly Books, or sign up at the door. Registration does not guarantee you a spot, but gets you on the list (and helps us start planning the evening!). Don’t want to read, but love a good literary performance? Grab a pint of local brew and enjoy the show! This free event is sponsored by Dragonfly Books, Decorah Bank & Trust, and the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association, and will be hosted at Pulpit Rock Brewing Co., 207 College Drive, Decorah, IA.
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Monday, March 25
Our meeting will be held in Hotel Winneshiek's stunning Opera House!
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9:00-9:45 am
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Visit Master's Touch
Before our meeting at Hotel Winneshiek begins, visit the bookstore Kate Rattenborg, owner of Dragonfly Books, recently purchased: Master's Touch. Read the press in Shelf Awareness and Decorah Newspapers.
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10:00-11:45 am
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Building a Strong Business Community
Dragonfly Books is joined by Decorah Chamber of Commerce Director Kristina Wiltgen and Decorah business owners to share creative ideas and programs for building strong business relationships and thriving business communities. Decorah’s business community actively engages chamber and business resources targeted to the business community as a whole. This includes collaborative advertising, coordinated communication, and shop local campaigns inspired directly from the ABA/Civic Economics Amazon and Empty Storefronts report. We’ll present strategies to build a strong chamber of commerce, identify ways businesses can be effective voices in their chambers, show how business-led initiatives can generate whole community sales boosts, and discuss steps towards building better business communication and collaboration. Following the formal education, we’ll crowdsource ideas for further small group discussion so booksellers can dig deeper into the successes and challenges in their own business communities. |
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11:45 am-12:30 pm
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Promoting Midwest Connections books, Dragonfly style
Midwest Connections is a co-op program that gives booksellers tools to display and merchandise participating titles as well as cash rebates for their promotions. Through branded displays, point-of-sale materials, and rebates for premiere placement, we help stores promote and sell regional titles of interest. Dragonfly Books is an active and creative Midwest Connections store. Sarah Krammen will walk us through the steps she takes to let her customers know about these great titles. |
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12:45-1:15 pm
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Lunch, and also, What's new at Midwest Booksellers?
Over lunch, Midwest Independent Booksellers Association Executive Director Carrie Obry will update you on important association information for you and your store. From new members to the Roadmap to Heartland going on the road, there's a lot of great things happening within your association. |
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1:15-2:00 pm
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Conversation: Spotlight on Dragonfly Books
Dragonfly Books has a small staff and isn't located in a big urban area, and yet owner Kate Rattenborg recently purchased a second store. What elements of running a bookstore has she spent time streamlining and what lessons can she share with you? This open Q&A-style conversation will be moderated by veteran bookseller Angela Schwesnedl (Moon Palace Books, Minneapolis, MN) and new bookseller Monty Stoakes (Indigo Bridge Books & Cafe, Lincoln, NE), asking Kate questions about store management and encouraging questions from the audience. Bring questions about your store management challenges (time management, drawing in customers, inventory, etc.) and join in on conversation. |
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2:00-4:00 pm
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Author presentations and book signing
The second part of the day is dedicated to meeting a group of authors whose books will feature well in independent bookstores, and likely be available for events in the upcoming season. Authors will individually present their new books, and we will follow up the presentations with a book signing and free galleys. |
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4:00 pm
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Reception at Dragonfly Books
After the author presentations and book signing, everyone head a few doors down to Dragonfly Books for wine, beer, and snacks! All attendees and authors are encouraged to attend. |
Attending Authors
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