The Booksellers Association (BA) and Gardners have today announced the programme for the Annual BA Conference and Gardners Trade Show, which will take place on 1^st and 2^nd October 2023 at Leonardo Hotel in Hinckley Island, Hinckley, Leicestershire.
 
The 30^th annual Gardners Trade Show on Sunday 1^st October will open with an introduction delivered by Nigel Wyman, Sales and Marketing Director at Gardners, followed by talks from Katherine Rundell, Ade Edmonson and Caroline Quentin. A series of signing sessions will mean booksellers can get their hands on personalised copies or signed. There are over 60 exhibitors representing over 100 imprints this year, the largest show yet. The Gardlink team will be on-hand for introductions, demonstrations and advice too. Following the Trade Show, Gardners will sponsor the BA Conference allowing Booksellers to attend for free!
 
Immediately after the Gardners Trade Show there will be a BA Afternoon Tea and New Voices session, sponsored by HarperCollins, presenting three exciting debut authors, followed by an Independent Alliance Conference Dinner for all delegates. 
 
Chaired by author Cathy Rentzenbrink, the BA Conference on the 2^nd October will open with an Author Breakfast, sponsored by Bloomsbury, followed by a welcome and introduction by Hazel Broadfoot (Village Books, Dulwich), President of the Booksellers Association. Meryl Halls, Managing Director of the Booksellers Association, will provide an update on the BA, followed by a keynote speech journalist and presenter Clive Myrie.
 
Bookshop.org will present the findings from a new survey, commissioned by the BA, looking at booksellers’ digital footprint and their digital marketing strategy. Lunch will follow, sponsored by Penguin Random House.
 
In the afternoon, the Booksellers Association will host two Skills Labs streams, which will offer professional development for booksellers, with topics including PR for bookshops, pay-it-forward schemes, authorless events, dealing with anti-social behaviour and more. The afternoon will also see publishers present their key Autumn and Spring titles to booksellers, with the day closing with the Conference Awards and a drinks reception. A closing night dinner will be held for BA members only, sponsored by Oxford University Press.
 
Nigel Wyman, Sales & Marketing Director at Gardners, said: “This year we celebrate 30 years of The Gardners Trade Show and have been working on a fantastic line up to celebrate this. We celebrate 30 years of supporting book sellers enabling them to network with likeminded people throughout the industry. This year’s show has the highest number of exhibitors stands we have ever had, as well as an exciting line up of authors. We are delighted to be working with the BA on this cohesive event again in 2023, and to be sponsoring the conference to allow booksellers to attend for free. It’s one of the most exciting events in our calendar and we are counting down the days!”

Meryl Halls, Managing Director at the Booksellers Association, said: “It’s often in challenging times that the benefits of gathering really pay off, and booksellers in the UK and Ireland have had an unpredictable year so far. This year’s programme has pulled together a topical and rich range of relevant topics, as well as building in time for booksellers to dwell together and chat between activities – key ways to help booksellers strategize through the current challenges, and gain mutual support and reassurance from each other. We’re delighted to be working with Gardners again on delivering this unique joint event for our members, and are very appreciative of their ongoing support in bringing booksellers together.”  

Additional details will be announced to delegates shortly, including information on the new Conference and Trade Show Attendee App once again sponsored by Edelweiss.
 
For more information, please follow this link, and ticket registration for any delegates coming to the Conference only, or Trade Show and Conference is available at this link. For more information on the Trade Show, and for any booksellers coming to the Trade Show only, please follow this link.