March 18: Firestorm in Asheville, NC is a collectively-owned radical bookstore and community event space. Since 2008 they’ve supported grassroots movements in Southern Appalachia while developing a workplace on the basis of cooperation, empowerment and equity. Last year Firestorm achieved a milestone for their store mission when they purchased a new building (a former gas station) and arranged to donate the land to a community land trust. They will discuss how they operate as a worker co-operative without a traditional management structure, as well as what it's like being a queer / feminist / radical bookstore in the South.

March 19: 44th & 3rd Bookseller in Atlanta, GA opened in 2017. And although the store name sounds like it might be an address, in fact it is a tribute to the values of owners Warren and Cheryl Lee. "44th" in honor of the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama, and "3rd" for the three founding principles representing by the books they carry: Life, literature, and Legacy. The store is one of the early adopters of the Batch for Books invoice management platform, and will present on their Invoice and Statement Management strategy. They will discuss their starter invoice management system and how Batch has made accounts payable more efficient and managable. Nathan Halter, the Program Manager of Batch for Books US will also be present to answer questions, and help folks get started with Batch.

March 20: Bookish in Fort Smith, AR, located in a building that used to be a bakery, thinks of its mission as providing cultural food for their community. They will discuss their approach to building community partnerships, including their successful Stems & Stories and Readers to Leaders programs. In January of 2020, Bookish went from a partnership to a sole ownership. In an effort to feel less isolated while continuing to fulfill their mission, Bookish reached out to others in the community who believed in the power of an independent bookstore. Through partnerships with small business owners, nonprofits, and corporations, they have been able to uncover their unique bookstore personality while meeting community goals and hosting some really fun and lucrative events.

March 22: Books & Books in Coral Gables, FL has been on the frontlines of the fight against censorship and book banning. They will discuss their recently launched nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, Books & Books Literary Foundation and how their non-profit foundation helps them achieve their store's mission to nurture readers, cultivate community, and promote free expression. They will also talk about working with the Spanish language book market, and how to bring these books into your inventory and reach Spanish readers.