BTW Articles

This month, reporting to the Book Sense Bestseller List has gotten a lot easier. Booksellers in the Book Sense program have begun reporting their store sales by uploading a file from their POS systems directly into the ABA system and by using an improved online Bestseller data entry form. [For an earlier BTW story about new reporting options, click here].

According to many booksellers, independents can now transmit the data for the Book Sense Bestseller List before you can say "Kingsolver." Since the list debuted in November 1999, its importance to book buyers, publishers, and media analysts -- as well as booksellers -- has increased dramatically.

The American Booksellers Association's Board of Directors and senior staff held meetings from Sunday through Tuesday, January 31 - February 2, 2010, just prior to the Fifth Annual Winter Institute, at the Doubletree hotel in San Jose, California.

Among its activities during the two and a half days of meetings, the Board:

Michael Barnard of Rakestraw Books in Danville, California, recommends booksellers be proactive in handling credit and debit card transactions. He'll discuss managing the complicated fee structure of credit and debit cards to reduce risk and save money at "The Business of Accepting Credit & Debit Cards," an ABA Day of Education session, on Tuesday, May 25, at at BookExpo America.