Industry News

12 May

ABA Town Hall and Annual Membership Meeting Set for BEA

Once again, ABA members attending BookExpo America will have an opportunity to get a full update on ABA activities, share their concerns, and voice their opinions to the association's leadership.

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11 May

BTW Hitches a Ride With Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet, the independent travel publisher, began its tour of independent bookstores on Saturday, May 8. The Lonely Planet RV, decked out with large side panels advertising the "Lonely Planet 2004 Independent Bookstore Road Trip," was baptized by fire, starting the tour in Manhattan, where navigating the 32-foot behemoth presented some parking and navigational difficulties. However, that didn't stop the intrepid Lonely Planet (LP) crew of Gary Todoroff, U.S.

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11 May

Midnight Special Bookstore to Close Its Doors

Six months ago, Santa Monica's Midnight Special bookstore opened in a new location after leaving its former space on the Third Street Promenade in February 2003 due to high rent. The hope was that the lower rents in the new location, less than a half-mile from the Promenade, and generous donations from its loyal customers would help the store climb out of its financial hole, but it was not meant to be.

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11 May

Booksellers Urged to Send Petitions by May 17

Booksellers should note that phase one of the Campaign for Reader Privacy (CRP) (http://www.readerprivacy.com/) petition drive will soon culminate with a CRP presentation during BookExpo America, which will be held from June 2 - 6 at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.

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06 May

BookTrends Study Shows Independents Buck Trend & Gain Market Share

Recently released findings from Ipsos BookTrends brought good news to independent booksellers. In 2003, independent bookstores fared well on a unit basis with demand outpacing the overall trade book industry. As a result, the independent/small chain bookstore channel's market position reached a five-year share high of 16 percent (vs. 15 percent in 2002).

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06 May

Lonely Planet Embarks on Independent Bookstore Road Trip

Lonely Planet, the independent travel publisher, will begin a whirlwind, grand scale tour of independent bookstores on Saturday, May 8. A Lonely Planet RV, decked out with large side panels advertising the "Lonely Planet 2004 Independent Bookstore Road Trip," will tote Lonely Planet staff and, intermittently, trade press reporters, to visit over 100 independent bookstores throughout the eastern half of the U.S.

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06 May

ABA Forum Tour Concludes in North Carolina

On Wednesday, May 5, ABA's winter/spring Booksellers Forum tour concluded in Pittsboro, North Carolina, with a program that was postponed in January due to inclement weather. ABA CEO Avin Mark Domnitz and COO Oren Teicher conducted the forum, which was held in conjunction with the Southeast Booksellers Association (SEBA) at McIntyre's Fine Books at Fearrington Village. Topics at the forum ranged from the Book Sense Gift Card Program to the BookSense.com Co-op Reimbursement Program to the Campaign for Reader Privacy (CRP).

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06 May

WNBA Announces Children's Bookseller Award Winners

The Women's National Book Association (WNBA) has announced the winners of the 2004 Lucile Micheels Pannell Awards.

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06 May

BTW News Briefs


Sale of Dartmouth Bookstore Close

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06 May

Phase I of Reader Privacy Campaign Continues Through Next Weekend

The first phase of the Campaign for Reader Privacy (www.readerprivacy.com/) -- a nationwide grassroots petition drive calling for an amendment to Section 215 of the USA Patriot to ensure the privacy of bookstore and library records -- continues through the weekend of May 15. ABA has been asking booksellers to send in signed petitions whenever they have collected a few hundred signatures, and then on May 17 to mail in all remaining petitions.

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06 May

ABA Unveils 2003 Revenue Survey Results

The results of ABA's semi-annual annual revenue survey of bookstore members indicate that almost 65 percent of the 243 reporting stores saw their sales increase, as compared to 2002. Meanwhile, 35 percent experienced a decline in sales in 2003, as compared to 2002.

Just over 26 percent of respondents saw sales increases of five percent or less, while 20.6 percent saw sales increases of more than five, but less than 10 percent, and 17.7 percent saw sales rise more than 10 percent over 2002.

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06 May

Gift Cards -- Buy, Use, Repeat

As Book Sense gift cards gain in usage, booksellers are looking for ways to maximize the benefits of the program that for many has resulted in increased sales. In addition to new gift card sales, booksellers are finding that some customers continually replenish their cards, and others bring their card accounts to zero and return the cards to the store. To take full advantage of the Book Sense Gift Card Program, booksellers can legitimately increment the used card for a new cardholder.

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05 May

Hamilton, Montana's Chapter One Turns 30

April Fool's Day is not the precise day that Chapter One Book Store in Hamilton, Montana, opened 30 years ago. But it is close enough, as well as being the wedding anniversary of co-owners Russ Lawrence and Jean Matthews and a great day for a celebration. On April 1, over 100 people attended an evening of festivities at the store, which included eating, drinking, Celtic music, dancing, and a book signing.

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05 May

May 12 Final Deadline for Book Sense Book of the Year Ballots

Balloting to choose the winners of the 2004 Book Sense Book of the Year Awards ends on Wednesday, May 12, the final day that ABA member bookstores may fax the ballot to KPMG, the association's accountant. All ABA member stores are eligible to vote, but only one ballot per store is allowed (the first form received from a store will be the official ballot). A ballot was sent to all stores in early April and is available in a downloadable PDF format by clicking here.

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05 May

Talking Shop in East Syracuse, New York, on May 18

The New England (NEBA) and New Atlantic Booksellers (NAIBA) associations will be holding a Shop Talk at the Holiday Inn Carrier Circle in East Syracuse, New York, on Tuesday, May 18, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The regional associations are co-sponsoring the event in an area in central New York State where independent booksellers -- many of whom are members of NEBA or NAIBA or both -- have a tough time attending regional meetings due to the travel distances.

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About ABA

The American Booksellers Association, a national not-for-profit trade organization, works with booksellers and industry partners to ensure the success and profitability of independently owned book retailers, and to assist in expanding the community of the book.

Independent bookstores act as community anchors; they serve a unique role in promoting the open exchange of ideas, enriching the cultural life of communities, and creating economically vibrant neighborhoods.

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