The heart of a bookstore is the bookseller in the stacks, on the floor, behind the counter, or in the back room. These are the dedicated professionals who create the welcoming environment your community experiences every day. How do you keep this team? This session will cover important factors that impact employee retention today. You will be asked to consider your store culture, the openness of store-wide communication, your diversity and inclusion efforts, and conditions around compensation, among other important factors that drive employee satisfaction and retention. Come prepared to listen, engage, and leave with the beginnings of an action plan.

Speakers

• Suzanna Hermans, Oblong Books - Millerton, NY
• Jamie Thomas, Women & Children First - Chicago, IL
• DJ Johnson, Baldwin & Co. - New Orleans, LA
• Lyn Roberts, Square Books - Oxford, MS

Files & Links

• Video Recording
• Slide Deck

Recorded February 14, 2024 at Winter Institute 2024 in Cincinnati, OH

Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org.

Theme song by Constant Companion