Ask Us ANYTHING! CIBA Mentor Event for New Bookstores

Have you recently opened a bookstore or are you planning to open one soon? Here’s your chance to get some guidance from an experienced bookseller mentor. There won't be a formal presentation at this session – simply log on and ask all your burning questions!

Mentors: Penny and Scott Warris, owners of Analog Books, Lethbridge (AB)

Penny and Scott moved to Lethbridge in 2019 with the goal of opening an independent bookstore for southern Alberta. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, they successfully launched Analog Books on 2020, fostering a thriving community of authors, book lovers, and individuals dedicated to supporting local initiatives. Analog Books actively champions all art forms—visual arts, theatre, music, and literature—by hosting events in-store and sponsoring numerous external events.

Penny spends most of her time working "in" the store with staff and customers and curating the inventory. She loves talking about:

• managing events, and collaborating with other businesses
• curating sidelines
• power of staff picks

Scott spends much of his time working "on" the store in administration, networking and media. He loves talking about:

• thinking outside the box
• value of newsletters and word of mouth
• creating an atmosphere for the bookstore - lighting, music, displays, events etc.