Profitability Workshop

Coming in March 2026!

The next project at the Professional Booksellers School is an 8-session mastery workshop on Profitability, led by Erin Matthews of Last Word Books in Mt. Airy, MD. Booksellers will be learning new strategies for increasing income and decreasing expenses, working on changes within their stores, then returning to reflect/discuss with peers and instructors.

Each meeting is 90 minutes: 60 minutes of learning followed by 30 minutes of study hall to ensure you start pulling reports and putting plans into place.

Classes will be Mondays at 12:00 pm ET / 11:00 am CT / 9:00 am PT starting March 23rd. The cost will be $400, with discount codes available from most Regionals.

Registration will open Monday, January 26 at 1:00 pm ET / 12:00 pm CT / 10:00 am PT.

Schedule

Class 01 / March 23 - Introduction to Profitability Terms, Tools & Resources

Class 02 / March 30 - Increasing Income Part One: Passive Income, Inventory Mix, Increasing Impulse Sales

Class 03 / April 6 - Decreasing Expenses Part One: Using ABACUS to Understand Expenses, Negotiating Rates and Discounts

Class 04 / April 13 - Improving Margins Part One: Returns,  Diversifying Inventory

No class April 20 or 27 

Class 05 / May 4 - Increasing Income Part Two: Review of Strategies, Novel Income Streams

Class 06 / May 11 - Decreasing Expenses Part Two: Review of Strategies, Bulk/Pre-Pay Accounts, Outsourcing, Knowing Your Break-Even Number

Class 07 / May 18 - Improving Margins Part Two:  Review of Strategies, Ordering Direct, Using Promos, Co-op

Class 08 / June 1 - Review/Reflect: What's Working?, Recession-Proofing, Long-Term Goals