Beginning in 2018, The Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) Discovery Show will share the roof with the national Great American Bargain Book Show (GABBS) and international AmericasMart Atlanta (MART) in March in Atlanta. The new partnership is the result of several years of collaboration and brainstorming for ways to better serve the needs of each show’s target audiences in a rapidly changing market while sharing the costs for developing new programming.

 

“We are more than excited,” said Larry May, owner of The Great American Bargain Book Show (GABBS), “SIBA’s decision to join efforts with us and move the SIBA show from its traditional Fall venue to a Spring venue will be a boon to all involved.” The combined shows will be housed in AmericasMart in downtown Atlanta, GA.

 

“Wanda Jewell, executive director of SIBA, and I have been talking about this for years and the timing just seems right to make the move,” May explained.

 

This accomplishes several things,” continued May. “It is taking two decent shows and making a bigger show. SIBA’s strong established attendance, combined with GABB’s bargain book buyers and AmericasMart store and gift buyers will put Exhibitors’ product in front of a much larger attendee and customer base,” said May.

According to May, this opens up new worlds to all involved. Exhibitors will have the opportunity to introduce their product to new buyers, while buyers will have new opportunities to look at “sideline” and “cross-over” product. “Then you top all of this off by offering SIBA’s outstanding educational programming. Like I said, we are more than excited.”

 

SIBA will meet in the Fall both this year (September 16-18) and next year and will join GABBS in the Spring of 2018 at AmericasMart in Atlanta.

 

"I’m so excited to move SIBA in this way and to partner with these folks. My mind is abuzz with all of the opportunities this move opens up for us. And in sharing the costs with GABBS, it frees up dollars for more immersive education and professional speakers in addition to our seasoned industry contributors,” says SIBA’s Executive Director, Wanda Jewell.

 

 

 

The Discovery Show will focus on bringing top bestselling authors to the South, providing easy access to gifts and bargain books, and creating opportunities for stores to increase profit margins. SIBA’s core members will enjoy a vibrant literary city that is centrally located and an easy flight or drive from all corners of SIBA’s territory. Exhibitors will enjoy access to GABBS & MART attendees in addition to all of SIBA’s regulars. SIBA will have access to booksellers across the nation who attend GABBS and will increase the vitality of SIBA’s education. Being off-season from the other shows will allow for publishers and exhibitors to focus on the SIBA show and SIBA booksellers. SIBA booksellers will have the opportunity to plan for the year, seeing both what is currently available and what is forthcoming, not to mention the opportunity for gift buying for summer, fall & winter that will be possible. Perhaps most importantly for the region, Southern football will no longer prevent many bookseller members from attending the SIBA Discovery Show.

 

SIBA’s core booksellers will be able to count on SIBA to deliver quality education, top-notch author events, plus the incentives and scholarships to attend the 2018 SIBA Discovery Show that are always available. Exhibitors will be have the option to participate in a one-day or two-day exhibit, will have access to attendees outside of SIBA, and will enjoy a more vibrant show floor. Admission to the SIBA Discovery Show will include admission to the MART and GABBS.

 

For more information contact Larry May, President of GABBS at lbmay@gabbs.net or Wanda Jewell, Executive Director, SIBA, at wanda@sibaweb.com