Ask the Bookseller: What I Learned from Opening My New Bookstore

A sunlit room, shelves full books, and a friendly bookstore cat…it’s the dream, right? But how do bookstore owners turn dreams into real (money-making) businesses? Join a panel of CIBA members as they share their experiences of launching their recently opened stores. This session is not designed as a “how-to guide for opening a bookstore”! Attendees will learn from the examples of successes and challenges faced by their peers (who are also still learning!) and walk away with things to consider and questions to ask yourself and answer if you’re planning to open an indie bookstore.

Who should attend this event: Bookstore owners with young businesses (less than five years old), or members planning to open a bookstore.

Host: Jo Treggiari, Block Shop Books (NS)

Panelists:

• Melissa Bourdon-King, Once Upon a Bookstore (BC)
• Carmela Vedar, The Book Wardrobe (ON)
• Penny Warris, Analog Books (AB)

Time listed is ET.