| The 2006 Independent Amazon Booksellers' | | | | some of things he liked about your book, but he tells |
| Convention began last Friday (8/11/06) and just | | | | you that he learned a few things from it too. I was |
| ended a few hours ago. In attendance were online | | | | even asked by one of Amazon.com's Product |
| booksellers representing the entire spectrum of | | | | Managers to show him my "Bookkeeping for |
| inventory levels, product and service providers for | | | | Booksellers" software and asked to schedule a visit |
| online booksellers, and a host of personnel | | | | to present it to a gathering of engineers. I cannot tell |
| representing | | | | you how much I appreciate the feedback and |
| We had a "get to know one another" social gathering | | | | comments I got from all of these people. |
| on Friday evening followed by presentations and | | | | Anyway, if you are serious about online bookselling I |
| working group meetings on Saturday. Sunday we | | | | want to encourage you to put this event on next |
| were given a number of presentations by | | | | year's calendar. It doesn't matter if you have 200 |
| representatives covering many of the topics of | | | | books in your inventory or 10,000,000, there are |
| interest to independent online booksellers. Monday | | | | people at this event that can not only teach you a |
| (today), we were given the undivided attention of | | | | thing or two, they are genuinely nice and supportive |
| six vice presidents during the morning session, and | | | | of one another. For example, I had the great privilege |
| we were visited by Jeff Bezos. This afternoon, we | | | | of meeting Dave Anderson, the owner of ScoutPal |
| were shown some of the new products/services | | | | and Kevin O'Brien, the owner of SpaceWare (the |
| that will be releasing in the future. | | | | provider of AMan Pro). Both are highly respected in |
| I don't think I can overemphasize the value of this | | | | the online bookselling community, both have great |
| convention in terms of information exchanged or | | | | products/services, and both are very nice guys that |
| how much I learned. I wrote the book, "Online | | | | provide fantastic support regardless of your |
| Bookselling: A Practical Guide with Detailed | | | | inventory level. I spoke with both of them at length, |
| Explanations and Insightful Tips," but it was clear to | | | | and until later in our conversations, neither had a clue |
| me that there is even more to learn. I think it | | | | who I was even though both later acknowledged |
| demonstrates the fact that even the author of what | | | | knowing about the existence of my book. |
| has been referred to by many customers as the | | | | As a result of the many presentations, interactions, |
| most comprehensive book available on the topic of | | | | and discussions I was a part of over the past few |
| online bookselling can still learn more. This is exactly | | | | days, I will have a lot to discuss in my upcoming |
| the type of "continuing education" I plan to | | | | newsletter. I even have a few wholesale/remainder |
| incorporate into my newsletter and I appreciate the | | | | book distributors to add to the already exhaustive list |
| information contributions that I have been getting. | | | | that is given in my book, and there were some new |
| Some of the things that stood out to me were the | | | | third-party solution providers at the convention that I |
| quality and quantity of independent booksellers | | | | will be discussing. |
| represented, the outstanding third party vendors of | | | | The newsletter will be covering all facets of the |
| products and services oriented to assist independent | | | | convention except those parts that presented and |
| online booksellers, and the level of interest and | | | | asked that we not reveal things about their upcoming |
| participation that played in the convention. That said, | | | | product/service releases. I do not wish to jeopardize |
| the highlight of the event to me personally was the | | | | the confidence of or the convention organizers. |
| opportunity to meet so many of my book | | | | Incidentally, I would like to express my sincere |
| customers and the supportive and appreciative | | | | thanks to Rhonda S., and Robert G., for all the work |
| feedback I got from them. It is flattering to learn | | | | they put into organizing the entire evvent, as well as |
| that one of your first customers actually has over | | | | Thomas P. of Amazon for his coordination efforts. |
| 2,500,000 books online and he not only tells you | | | | |