About Bookselling

The 11th annual Winter Institute, held from Saturday, January 23, through Tuesday, January 26, at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, was ABA’s biggest standalone education event yet. Close to 600 ABA member booksellers took part, along with more than 100 authors, 160 publishing professionals, 35 Consultation Station service providers, and 40 international guests from eight countries.

ABA’s CEO reflects on booksellers’ busy holiday season and the continuing vitality of indie bookstores, as well as the association’s ongoing efforts online and at educational events, such as the upcoming Winter Institute, to provide actionable information to help members operate more profitably.

Indie booksellers who spoke to BTW reported an energetic and prosperous holiday season and strong overall sales in 2015, spurred by creative store promotions during the holidays, popular local and regional titles, and in-demand nonbook items.

Sarah Bagby, the owner of Watermark Books & Café, talks about her early experiences with books and reading, what motivated her to become a bookstore owner, and her goals as an ABA Board member.

Annie Philbrick, co-owner of Bank Square Books and the forthcoming Savoy Bookshop & Café, talks about her early reading experiences, her goals as an ABA Board member, what she’s reading now, and more.

Bernie Tushaus, the longtime co-owner with his wife, Jane, of Prairie Books & Gifts in Hastings, Nebraska, died in October. In a letter to ABA, his son, Michael Tushaus, recently paid tribute to his father and his 40-year career in independent bookselling. 

ABA Board member Matthew Norcross of McLean & Eakin Booksellers talks about his early experiences with books and reading, his beginnings as a bookseller, important changes in the book industry, and more.

As the holidays approach, ABA CEO Oren Teicher highlights some key points that he hopes will help make the coming weeks as successful and profitable as possible for ABA member stores.

When it came to the cover of the galley for The Mirror Thief by debut author Martin Seay, independent publisher Melville House went in an unusual direction: an ARC completely covered in bookseller blurbs.

John Evans, the co-owner of DIESEL, A Bookstore in Oakland, Brentwood, and Larkspur, California, talks about his early experiences with reading and books, his goals as an ABA Board member, and more.

Joe Foster, Edelweiss/Treeline education and outreach coordinator, explains how booksellers can ensure they’re not missing out on crucial titles by choosing to allow publisher sales reps access to their Treeline data to look for gaps in the store’s inventory.

Here is BTW’s annual holiday preparations checklist, offering reminders to help smooth day-to-day operations at your store during the upcoming season.

European Commission rules against tax advantages given to Starbucks, Fiat; 2015 Kirkus Prize winners announced; Beyond Lolita to raise money for PEN America’s Writers’ Emergency Fund

Five booksellers who hold elected office in their local communities have found their bookstore experience has made them well-suited for their political positions.

The past month was a busy time, full of planes and trains and automobiles, for ABA President Betsy Burton, who reflects here on the conversations and meetings she had with booksellers during her travels.