THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13
registration desk & exhibits open at 8:00am
join us for coffee & pastries with exhibitors from 8:30am-9:00am

#PubWest2025

9:00am-10:00am

Concurrent Workshops

Where Does The Money Go and How to Get It Back!
In the world of publishing, every dollar counts. This session will provide publishers with a comprehensive understanding of how cash flows through an income statement and balance sheet, offering insights into where your money is going—and more importantly, how you can reclaim it. We'll start with a brief overview of the financial statements, explaining how revenue and expenses are tracked and how assets, liabilities, and equity are represented. But the real focus will be on innovative strategies to reduce overhead costs and improve your bottom line. Moderated by Curtis Key (Books International). Key topics include:

• Cash Flow Fundamentals: Understand how money moves through your company, from income to expenses, and how it reflects on your financial statements.

• Innovative Cost-Cutting Techniques: Dive deep into creative and effective ways to reduce overhead. Whether it’s streamlining production, optimizing marketing budgets, or renegotiating vendor contracts, we’ll explore practical strategies that can help you save money without sacrificing quality.
  
  
• Maximizing Financial Efficiency: Learn how to use financial data to identify inefficiencies and implement changes that drive long-term savings. We'll discuss how to balance short-term cost reductions with sustainable financial health.

By the end of this session, you’ll not only have a clearer picture of where your money is going but also a toolkit of strategies to bring it back into your bottom line.

The Finances of Retail Distribution

Join David Borgenicht (Quirk Books), Brad Farmer (Gibbs-Smith), Holly Smith (Expansive eCommerce) and moderator Angela Engel (The Collective Book Studio) to discuss the unique financial challenges small publishers face when navigating retail distribution. This session delves into the intricacies of managing finances in this specific sector, offering practical insights and strategies tailored to the needs of small book publishers. Attendees will explore cost-effective distribution channels, understand the financial implications of different retail partnerships, and learn how to maximize revenue while minimizing expenses.

10:00am-10:30am

Take a Brief Break 

Meet the Experts
Immerse yourself in an exclusive opportunity to connect with leading professionals in the publishing industry at our "Meet the Experts" session. Designed for personalized interaction, this session offers attendees the chance to engage in one-on-one meetings with some of PubWest's most respected experts. Whether you're seeking advice on the latest industry trends, looking to solve specific challenges, or simply wanting to expand your professional network, this intimate setting provides the perfect platform

12:30pm-2:00pm

Networking Lunch with Exhibitors

1:30pm-2:45pm

Concurrent Workshops

Strategies and Processes for Meeting Royalty Challenges
Join Alex Murphy (Stison), and moderator Karen Pavlicin (Elva Resa Publishing), as we discuss common challenges and complexities publishers face in managing royalties and explore effective solutions to overcome them.

Topics include tracking royalty agreement details (advances, formats, editions, escalators, rights, etc), proactively managing subrights licenses and renewals, accounting accrual and cash sales data from multiple inputs, addressing discrepancies and delays in distribution and rights reports, and more. Through examples and tips, this panel will share effective strategies and systems for complex royalty management and author/artist/creator support, offering practical guidance and expert advice to streamline processes for accurate royalty management

Maximizing Revenue from Your Existing Products 
Join Brooke Dobson (Shimmr AI), Django De Gree (Wrote By Me), Sarah Walden (World of Books), and moderator Todd Stocke (Sourcebooks) to learn how to unlock the hidden potential of your existing titles and discover new ways to generate revenue in this essential session for book publishers. Learn innovative strategies to capitalize on your current catalog and expand your market reach.

3:00pm-3:30pm

Take a break and connect with our exhibitors!

Closing Keynote/Fireside Chat

Join Ed Nawotka (Publishers Weekly) as he leads a conversation with Keith Riegert (Ulysses Press, Perfect Bound) and Pete Schiffer (Schiffer Publishing) on the unique challenges faced by publishing companies during periods of growth.

As publishers expand, managing cash flow and scaling human resources become critical concerns. How many additional people can you afford to add and how quickly? How do you maintain or improve margins without holding too much cash into inventory? What are some effective metrics and tools for inventory turn, sales forecasting, and staff capacity to inform growth decisions? Hear from publishers who have navigated significant or rapid growth about their best cash flow strategies, growth challenges, and lessons learned. 

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