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Andrew Weinstein, vice president and general manager of retail solutions at Ingram Digital
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This week, the American Booksellers Association began sending customized reports to member bookstores that participated in the 2009 ABACUS Survey. The individualized reports analyze the store's financial results and include comparisons with other businesses based on multiple criteria (such as sales level, store size, and community type) in addition to year-to-year trending information. All stores that participated in the 2009 study should receive an e-mailed report before the end of next week.
The American Booksellers Association will be holding its first Booksellers Forum of 2010 on March 12 in Orlando, Florida, in conjunction with the National Association of College Stores' (NACS) Campus Market Expo (CAMEX), where forum participants will be able to take advantage of special housing and registration offers. All ABA member booksellers are invited to the forum program, which is being held in conjunction with NACS and the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance.
This week, the American Booksellers Association presented IndieCommerce members with a roadmap of upgrades and new features planned for the first half of 2010. ABA also assured members that, in the wake of the staff reorganization announced last week, IndieCommerce remains an extremely high priority and that the recent changes would put staff in a stronger position to respond to customer service questions and to implement new features.
Once again, the American Booksellers Association is partnering with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, and a wide range of other indie business groups on a national post-holiday survey of independent businesses.
Booksellers can finally exhale after a holiday season that, for the most part, was an improvement over a dismal 2008. The season saw sales dips at some indie booksellers, but these declines were outnumbered by modest, and sometimes robust, gains at others. Booksellers from across the country reported that the Local First movement was bearing fruit, and several reaped the benefits of creative, homegrown marketing campaigns.
Continuing a holiday tradition, ABA senior staff members were encouraged by CEO Oren Teicher and COO Len Vlahos to spend time working at member stores during the crucial rundown to the New Year.
Bestseller Reporting Remains Unchanged
To get a jump on the Christmas holiday, next week's edition of Bookselling This Week will arrive in your inbox on Tuesday, December 22. There will be no BTW the following week (the week of New Year's Day). However, the Indie Bestseller Lists will be produced and e-mailed as usual on Tuesday, December 22, and Tuesday, December 29; they will also be posted to BookWeb late Tuesday afternoon.
The Bestseller reporting period for both weeks remains unchanged:
ABA Hotel Will Be Located Just North of Javits Center
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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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The American Booksellers Association's Governance Review Committee has completed its most recent report, which is