PubU | ECPA

This track is designed for professionals who want to increase sales for their company, develop new sales channels and learn about innovative new tactics in an ever-changing landscape.

Thoughtful and creative sessions are designed to inspire and equip sales professionals in ECPA Publishing houses to innovate and grow in their roles regardless of the size of their company. Each class will be taught by a sales practitioner with unique insight and experience in their topic area. Participants will gain valuable knowledge and ideas that will be immediately actionable in their own contexts. Topics will include event planning and management, international sales opportunities, direct to consumer strategies and creating a culture of sales in your company.

SESSION ONE | Monday, November 3 | 2 pm central

Innovating for Growth: Finding New Customers, Channels and Markets

With an ever-changing landscape of books, authors, customers and distribution channels, it is vital that we be able to innovate our sales plans and methodology. Change is the one constant that we can assume. Publishing industry veteran and sales leader, Jason Short, will provide creative ideas to consider as you plan for sales growth in your organization. Responding to change with inspiration and insight can make all the difference in enabling your organization to grow and succeed in marketplace. Jason will provide practical suggestions that can be implemented for both short term execution and long-range planning.

Jason Short

Publishing Consultant at Short Advisory Group

SESSION TWO | Tuesday, November 4 | 2 pm central

Bookstore Breakthroughs: Growth in the Trade Distribution Channel

Trade bookstore sales were once the largest channel of distribution for most publishing houses. With the massive shift in buying habits, most consumers are buying on-line today. While we cannot change that trajectory, we can impact the growth and development of remaining opportunities for selling books in physical locations. Geoff Dennis brings his years of industry experience and tenacity to this vital subject. He will share new insights and strategies to help you grow existing accounts and find new ones in this rapidly changing landscape.

Geoff Dennis

Director, Trade Sales, Crossway Publishers

SESSION THREE | Wednesday, November 5 | 2 pm central

Creating a Culture of Sales: Developing a Sales Mindset across your organization

Sales is the lifeblood of any business. That is certainly true in publishing. We face constant pressure to improve our topline in order to have a thriving bottom line. Unfortunately, it is all too common that our companies can be so siloed that only the sales department seems to care about this reality. What if our entire company began to focus on topline growth and everyone shared this burden? Dave Almack shares big and small ideas to make this dream a reality. It is possible for every department to contribute to sales growth and for every employee to have a sales mindset. This seminar will provide insights on cooperation, collaboration and creativity that will change the way you work each day.

Dave Almack

Director of Sales, Marketing and Acquisitions, P&R Publishing

SESSION FOUR | Thursday, November 6 | 2 pm central

From Booth to Bottom Line: Events that Build Relationships and Revenue

Events are a powerful part of a publisher's sales strategy, but only when they effectively build revenue and relationships. Whether you're at a conference hand-selling books to participants or connecting with bookstore buyers, the difference between a successful event and a frustrating waste of resources comes down to careful planning and execution. As book buyers attend more and more conferences in person each year, these are vital opportunities that demand a strategic approach. Nick will share practical insights and strategies to help you move beyond the booth or book table, ensuring every event you attend translates into tangible sales and lasting connections.

Nick Bannister

US Sales Director, The Good Book Company

SESSION FIVE | Friday, November 7 | 2 pm central

Sales: Industry Meet-Up

Maximize one of the best take-aways of PubU: meeting others in your publishing role. Join other sales professionals in this networking session over Zoom, to connect and discuss the week’s topics.

TRACK LEAD

David Almack

David Almack is an experienced and innovative leader in the Christian publishing and retail industry. He is the current Director of Sales, Marketing and Acquisitions for P&R Publishing in Phillipsburg, NJ and was previously the National Director for CLC USA and Publisher for CLC Publications for over twenty years. His time in CLC included oversight of their US based Christian retail stores and management of a store in Philadelphia whose sales quadrupled in a six-year time frame. He is also the Director of the Academy of Christian Editors, an avid reader and a fan of the Tottenham Hotspurs Football team in the Premier League.