To experience all that’s involved in owning a bookstore, as well as best practices for daily operations, join us for three days of hands-on training at Story & Song Bookstore Bistro on Amelia Island, Florida.
Here’s the agenda and what you’ll learn:
- Store design sets the tone
- Bookstore computer system options
- Buying routines
- Inventory management and vendor returns
- Organizing back room office and receiving operations
- Bookkeeping
- Staffing, scheduling, delegating and getting all the work done
- Marketing to gain customer loyalty
- Essential book industry tools: ABA, Edelweiss, Ingram, Shelf-Awareness
Stay another half-day if you’re interested in learning about cafe operations.
Sunday, August 24, 2025 3 pm EST to Tuesday, August 26, 2025 3 pm EST
The August session is SOLD OUT!
Registration is now open for our March 2026 class. Class sizes are limited, so please register early.
March 22-24, 2026.
If you have any questions, please call 904-277-2664
Tuition: $1895 USD, includes Planning Guide and online training programs.
Credit will be issued for prior purchase of training materials
ABA Members: Tuition: $1695 USD, includes Planning Guide and online training programs.
Credit will be issued for prior purchase of training materials
"The workshop was an incredible experience and definitely gave me the knowledge and tools to make my store more than just a dream."
- Sandy Loomis
"Many thanks again for conducting such an informative and enjoyable workshop. It was exactly what I was looking for and clearly a lot of thought and care went into it."
- Melissa Crispin
"I know we wouldn't be this far along without the Paz & Associates help, training, and Guide. This and networking with fellow Paz Graduates have been immensely worth the investment."
- Jay Jackson, Absolutely Fiction Books
"I am so very happy I found you ... without you
the store would just be a dream."
- Melissa DeMotte, The Well-Read Moose
"I simply cannot end this day without sending you a brief note of thanks for the fantastic experience that I had this week at our workshop / boot camp.
I learned so much and had a great time in the process. You provide all of us with such a wealth of information and practical tools."
- Margi Watters
"You have been 100% fabulous and are helping me make this exhilarating, exciting, and sometimes terrifying trip very doable. And I can pretend I have complete confidence in all my dealings because I can get all the answers from Paz & Associates when I don't know something :)"
- Laurie Donelson Gillman, East City Bookshop
"[the training] was a life changer ... I would not be doing this if I hadn't gone to the workshop. It really taught me what I needed to know.
It makes you understand and appreciate just how
many moving parts there are in a business like this."
- Erika VanDam, RoscoeBooks
"The Guide exceeded my expectations! The mentor from SCORE was extremely impressed with the information I am able to bring to our meetings. I am incredibly impressed with your training materials. I can only imagine what kind of valuable information I could glean from you in person."
- Lindsay Persohn, Prospective Bookseller
"Your Guide has been an invaluable resource in my planning and decision making process and quite honestly, I couldn't imagine starting down this part without it. The Guide contains a wealth of information."
- Dan Byers, Prospective Bookseller
"I honestly don't know how I would have pulled this off without your help."
- Sally Bradshaw, Midtown Reader
"Wow, the Owning a Bookstore Guide is fabulous! I'm impressed at its weight and thoroughness. My two partners and I thought we'd rotate it, but no way. I need two more!"
- Sandy Koropp, Prairie Path Books
"Once again I want to thank you guys a million times for the best training. I enjoyed myself and learned so much. I am amazed at how much I have used from just that one week from class..."
- VaLinda Miller, The Booksmith
"Whenever anyone asks me for advice about opening a bookstore, I tell them the best thing I ever did was take your class. I knew I loved books, but here the realization that I was taking on a business truly became a reality. Not only did I learn so much from your workshop, I use all of your invaluable resources to this day." - Rita Maggio, BookTowne
"The workshop was an incredible experience and definitely gave me the knowledge and tools to make my store more than just a dream."
- Sandy Loomis
"Many thanks again for conducting such an informative and enjoyable workshop. It was exactly what I was looking for and clearly a lot of thought and care went into it."
- Melissa Crispin
"I know we wouldn't be this far along without the Paz & Associates help, training, and Guide. This and networking with fellow Paz Graduates have been immensely worth the investment."
- Jay Jackson, Absolutely Fiction Books
"I am so very happy I found you ... without you
the store would just be a dream."
- Melissa DeMotte, The Well-Read Moose
"I simply cannot end this day without sending you a brief note of thanks for the fantastic experience that I had this week at our workshop / boot camp.
I learned so much and had a great time in the process. You provide all of us with such a wealth of information and practical tools."
- Margi Watters
"You have been 100% fabulous and are helping me make this exhilarating, exciting, and sometimes terrifying trip very doable. And I can pretend I have complete confidence in all my dealings because I can get all the answers from Paz & Associates when I don't know something :)"
- Laurie Donelson Gillman, East City Bookshop
"[the training] was a life changer ... I would not be doing this if I hadn't gone to the workshop. It really taught me what I needed to know.
It makes you understand and appreciate just how
many moving parts there are in a business like this."
- Erika VanDam, RoscoeBooks
"The Guide exceeded my expectations! The mentor from SCORE was extremely impressed with the information I am able to bring to our meetings. I am incredibly impressed with your training materials. I can only imagine what kind of valuable information I could glean from you in person."
- Lindsay Persohn, Prospective Bookseller
"Your Guide has been an invaluable resource in my planning and decision making process and quite honestly, I couldn't imagine starting down this part without it. The Guide contains a wealth of information."
- Dan Byers, Prospective Bookseller
"I honestly don't know how I would have pulled this off without your help."
- Sally Bradshaw, Midtown Reader
"Wow, the Owning a Bookstore Guide is fabulous! I'm impressed at its weight and thoroughness. My two partners and I thought we'd rotate it, but no way. I need two more!"
- Sandy Koropp, Prairie Path Books
"Once again I want to thank you guys a million times for the best training. I enjoyed myself and learned so much. I am amazed at how much I have used from just that one week from class..."
- VaLinda Miller, The Booksmith
"Whenever anyone asks me for advice about opening a bookstore, I tell them the best thing I ever did was take your class. I knew I loved books, but here the realization that I was taking on a business truly became a reality. Not only did I learn so much from your workshop, I use all of your invaluable resources to this day." - Rita Maggio, BookTowne