Industry News

On Neighborhood Toy Store Day, this Saturday, November 8, American Specialty Toy Retailing Association members — including California’s BookSmart and Virginia’s Givens Books & Little Dickens — will be celebrating the joy of play and the importance of shopping locally.

From his unique perspective as both a bookseller and an author, Book Passage co-owner Bill Petrocelli has identified several ways that booksellers can take action to promote the Upstream program and to feature their ongoing relationships with authors.

In his memoir, Not My Father’s Son, actor Alan Cumming shares the details of his difficult youth and the discovery of his family’s true history. Cumming recently spoke to BTW about the decision to share his story.

While the status of federal sales tax legislation may be up in the air at present, an E-Fairness Map released this week by ABA makes one thing abundantly clear: The number of states tackling e-fairness on their own continues to grow.

With the ordering deadline for Indies First publishers’ specials now passed, it’s time for stores to focus on the next phase of this year’s Indies First celebrations as well as the creation of long-term Upstream partnerships.
 

Deck your walls and website with four new winter/holiday designs for banners and posters available now, along with past favorites, in the Bookseller DIY’s Designs & Downloads.

American Express/Shop Small is accepting requests from retailers for free Shop Small merchant rally kits through Friday, November 14, or while supplies last. The kit includes a welcome mat, 15 reusable tote bags, stickers, and more.

Following last week’s announcement of a holiday price drop on the Kobo Aura HD, this week Kobo added two promotions just for the Kobo Aura.

Responses to a short online survey will help ABA understand how bookstores use the Book Buyers Handbook and its searchable database of key publisher contacts, ordering and returns information, and more.

Booksellers can find a wide range of new products and take advantage of special ABA member savings at eight Urban Expositions gift shows, to be held in locations around the country in the coming months.

Retailers setting earlier shipping deadlines this holiday season; Report highlights top cities supporting African American literature; Marvel Comics now available on Kobo; 2014 Kirkus Prize winners announced

The American Booksellers Association’s Board of Directors met from October 19 to October 21 in Santa Rosa, California, and covered a range of business.

ABA and the grassroots organization We Need Diverse Books are working together on educational kits for bookstores, learning opportunities at the Winter Institute, and other efforts to keep the need for non-majority narratives in the spotlight.

Katie Washington, director of Shop Small and Small Business Saturday at American Express OPEN, talks about the origins of the program, new resources available to participating businesses, and what makes the event so popular.

Booksellers have until the end of the day today, October 30, to place their orders for specially designed Independent Bookstore Day canvas tote bags, featuring an illustration by 2014 National Book Award nonfiction finalist Roz Chast.