Book Sense

Book Sense is pleased to welcome the recently launched Unbridled Books as its newest publishing partner. In February, industry veterans Fred Ramey and Greg Michalson announced the formation of Unbridled Books, a new house based on a longstanding publishing partnership.

Here is the latest news and an update on improvements from BookSense.com.

On May 26, BookSense.com sent an important e-mail to members in which it discussed the new inventory upload price reduction, new enhancements, BEA reminders, and fraudulent order vigilance.

For the four-week period ending May 23, 2004, and based on sales reporting by hundreds of independent bookstores across the U.S.

Past Category Bestseller lists are available at www.bookweb.org/read/5677.

Attention Media: Please contact Kristen Gilligan at [email protected] for reprint guidelines for your newspaper or magazine.

The ABA/Book Sense Lounge at BookExpo America (BEA) -- Room 401 at the McCormick Place Convention Center -- is the place to go to learn about Book Sense Bestseller reporting. ABA staff will be on hand from Thursday, June 3, through Sunday, June 6, to explain how easy it is to report your weekly sales figures through the Nielsen BookScan, ABA Upload, or ABA Web Data Form methods.

The second component of the June Book Sense Picks selections -- the downloadable PDF flier of "We Also Recommend" titles -- is now available (click here). The June Book Sense Picks, which were announced on May 6, can be reviewed at news.bookweb.org/read/2507.

In this most busy of times for booksellers, Book Sense sends a very short reminder of some key upcoming deadlines for the Book Sense Picks program.

June 4 -- August Book Sense Picks
July 9 -- Banned Books Top Ten
July 9 -- Fall Children's Book Sense Picks

Of special note is the July 9 deadline for the Book Sense Banned Books Top Ten list. This will be the first time we have compiled this list, and it is timed to coincide with the national celebration of Banned Books Week.

Book Nook of Warren, Ohio, turned 35 this month, but it's hardly complacent in its middle age.

Owned by Clyde and Jean Bolinger, Book Nook is open 78 hours a week, 362 days a year, and the Bollingers are working hard to succeed, especially since a major chain opened a store five miles away, four years ago. The store, originally 1,900 square feet, has expanded twice to reach its current 7,000 square feet. Adapting and thriving, the store just received the Pendleton Business Award from the Greater Youngstown-Warren Area Chamber of Commerce.

Partnership With BookstreamInc. to Bring More Content to Independent Bookstore Web Sites

Here are the Summer 2004 Book Sense Top Ten Audiobook Picks. The selections are based on the nominations of independent booksellers nationwide, and pads of Top Ten fliers for customers were included in the May Red Box mailing to independent booksellers in the Book Sense program. June is National Audiobook Month, and, along with the Top Ten titles, the flier includes a promotional message from the Audio Publishers Association.

The inaugural Book Sense "Red Box" -- actually a white box with a large red sticker -- should now be in the hands of all booksellers who regularly receive the White Box mailings.

The May White Box brings a bounty of pre-BEA goodies from our Publisher Partners. Here are just some of the highlights:

For the Children's Section:

Based on sales for the four-week period ending May 9, 2004, in hundreds of independent bookstores across the U.S.

Past Category Bestseller lists are available at www.bookweb.org/read/5677.

Attention Media: Please contact Kristen Gilligan at [email protected] for reprint guidelines for your newspaper or magazine.

There are just a few spaces left for booksellers participating in the Book Sense marketing program who wish to attend this year's Book Sense Book & Author Luncheon at BookExpo America. The free noontime event, which will be held on Friday, June 4, is one of the highlights of the ABA Convention and is currently almost filled to capacity. More than 30 authors whose books are past or present Book Sense Picks will share lunch with booksellers, who are sure to find this an enjoyable and inspiring event. Reservations are required and are limited to two per bookstore.

Here is a preview of the June "Book Sense Picks." Independent booksellers in the Book Sense program will receive the Picks fliers in the May Red Box.

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.