Industry News

The February Indie Next List’s 12 “Now in Paperback” titles are featured with bookseller quotes on a downloadable flier and shelf-talkers.

As our abbreviated edition of BTW arrives in your inbox today, more than 500 ABA member booksellers and almost 30 international guests from a dozen countries are well into their second day at Winter Institute 2014. Here, in photos, are a few highlights of the first day and a half.

On February 1, Amazon will begin collecting and remitting sales tax in North Carolina. The news is not only a victory for sales tax fairness proponents, but also for the North Carolina Department of Revenue.

Last Thursday, Kobo announced a price drop that went into effect immediately on all on-hand inventory of 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB Kobo Arcs. The special pricing is in effect until supplies run out.

On Wednesday, January 22, preregistration opened for the third annual celebration of Find Waldo Local, co-sponsored by the American Booksellers Association and Candlewick Press.

FedEx accepting entries for Small Business Grant Contest; George Coe named B&T president and CEO; Binc Foundation announces new board members

For the third year in a row, ABA is partnering with Candlewick Press to bring the Find Waldo Local campaign to hundreds of communities nationwide. Booksellers will be able to sign up online beginning next Wednesday, January 22.

Flintridge Bookstore hosting postal service counter; Rizzoli Bookstore to relocate; Slideshow highlights children’s bookstores; North Jersey bookstores featured

Biblio is extending a limited-time offer to indie booksellers who join the Biblio community before January 31, 2014. Stores that sign up before the end of this month will receive a $50 BiblioBucks bonus.

NBCC awards finalists announced; Holiday sales numbers as predicted; IBM says e-commerce will lose to bricks-and-mortar; S&S to launch Simon 451 imprint; Deadline approaching for NBF’s Innovations in Reading Prize; Macmillan to distribute Guinness World Records; Laurie Muchnick named fiction editor at Kirkus

ABA is calling on booksellers to provide either a written or video testimonial in support of federal sales tax fairness legislation, which the association will then share with the House Judiciary Committee before legislative hearings on the issue begin.

ABA is urging member stores to complete the seventh annual post-holiday survey, which was sent in an e-mail from ABA CEO Oren Teicher on Monday, January 6. The deadline for completing the survey is midnight PST on Tuesday, January 21.

Publishers Weekly is seeking nominations for its annual PW Bookstore and PW Sales Rep of the Year awards, which were created more than two decades ago to honor the country’s best independent booksellers and sales representatives.

California Bookstore Day has tallied 80 bookstores that will be participating in its inaugural celebration on May 3, 2014. Thirteen special word-based items to be created especially for the day are now in the works. 

ABA’s suggested itinerary for Winter Institute 2014 provides a day-by-day look at educational programming and special events highlights, as well as some important reminders.