Advisor Communications Buys Boston-based Great American Bargain Book Show

January 6, 2013

The Boston-based Great American Bargain Book Show (GABBS) was bought by Framingham, Mass.-based Advisor Communications and will be renamed the Boston Remainder & Overstock Show.

The show was founded and owned by Larry B. May, who will retain ownership of the Atlanta-based GABBS event.

“GABBS has been supporting the Boston market for the past three years and with the new management team based in Massachusetts the event can expand and address the specific needs of the bargain book distributors and book buyers in the Northeast better,” May said.

He added, “We’ve enjoyed working with the companies in Boston and will continue to support the event in the future as both an exhibitor and marketing partner.”

The Boston event will move from its home at the John B. Hynes Convention Center and be held Aug. 14-15 at the Cyclorama Boston, part of the Boston Center for the Arts in Boston’s South End neighborhood.

Bill Sell, managing partner of Advisor Communications, which is an affiliate of the Portfolio Media Group, will lead the team and help drive the event in to new product lines and services, according to show management.

“We are looking forward to continuing to work with Larry and the entire GABBS Network team,” Sell said.

He added, “They’ve come a long way with their various programs and Larry’s insight in to the remainder and bargain book industry is second to none.”

The Atlanta GABBS event also is making some changes, moving to AmericasMart Atlanta and being collocated with the Atlanta Spring Gift, Home Furnishings & Holiday Market.

“This is a major audience expansion program for GABBS Atlanta and will open up the market opportunities for our customers to potentially hundreds of new gift shop buyers, new to the bargain book business,” May said.

He added, “We are developing joint marketing programs with AmericasMart and will have new training programs for both book store owners and gift shop owners, taught by the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance.”

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