Moderator: Dan Brewster, Prologue Bookshop Educators: Andy Holcomb, Fujii Associates; David Hollabaugh, Bookery; Gary Lovely, Abraham Associates; Julia Breakey, Tomorrow Bookstore Designed specifically for new and aspiring bookstore owners, the Owner’s Retreat offers focused support and practical education for those in their first five years of ownership. This halfday retreat blends peer discussion, expert guidance, and mentorship opportunities. The retreat begins with roundtable conversations where owners share and unpack their top challenges, followed by an in-depth educational session covering essential topics: • HR for Hiring, • Using ABACUS for early business planning • Ordering Direct with Publishers and Building Publisher Relations The retreat ends with an optional lunch, where owners break into roundtables by store model, non-traditional store models, stores not open yet, owner run stores, stores with staff and stores in transition offering tailored peer support. In the final hour, experienced owners from the 5+ Year Owner’s Retreat join in to offer insights, answer questions, and connect across experience levels. This retreat is a must attend for new owners looking to strengthen their foundation, build community, and gain real world knowledge from both peers and seasoned booksellers. Format: Phase 1: (10:00 am - 10:45 am): Roundtables Owners round-robin and discuss their top two most pressing concerns in roundtables. Phase 2: (10:45 am - 1:00 pm) Presentation Classroom style education and discussion covering the topics above. Phase 3: (1:00 pm - 2:00 pm) Roundtables and Optional Lunch Lunch served at 1:00 pm Owners return to roundtables for the last hour and are divided into roundtables based on the following store models: non-traditional store models, stores not open yet, owner run stores, stores with staff, stores in transition. The owners that attended the 5+ year Owners Retreat join the 0-5 year owners for the last hour for lunch and have the option to volunteer and stay to answer questions for the newer owners.