Industry News

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.

On Monday, May 24, at a ceremony at Chelsea Piers in New York City, two women who helped organize a grassroots campaign to amend Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act will be among those honored with the Playboy Foundation's 2004 Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award. Trina Magi, past president of the Vermont Library Association (VLA), and Linda Ramsdell, owner of the Galaxy Bookshop in Hardwick, Vermont, will receive the First Amendment Award in the field of Education. "I'm excited and honored that we're recognized," said Ramsdell.

As part of its extensive educational programming at BookExpo America (BEA), ABA is sponsoring a three-day booksellers school facilitated by Donna Paz and Mark Kaufman of Paz & Associates. "Fundamentals of Independent Bookselling: Strategies for Opening & Growing a Profitable Business" will be held from Wednesday, June 2, to Friday, June 4, at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center.

Limited edition button (above) and T-shirt (below) that urge people to "Fight for Harry Potter and Free Speech for Kids!"

On May 12, the American Bookse

Redstone, a large open-air development of residences, offices, and retail establishments in Park City, Utah, is looking for an experienced, independent bookseller to open a store in the heart of the commercial activity. The center, which will be fully operational by the fall, is home to a variety of businesses -- some local, some national chains. Bed Bath & Beyond, PetCo, Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, and the Redstone 8 Cinema, are up and running.

This week, ABA announced that it has added a new session, "2003 ABACUS Results Review," to its programming at this year's BookExpo America (BEA). The ABACUS seminar will be held on Sunday, June 6, from 9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. in Room 402A at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center.

White Birch Books, a 12-year-old fixture in the resort community of North Conway, New Hampshire, has been put up for sale by the store's founder, Donna Urey. Urey told BTW that this decision has not been made impulsively nor as a result of any misfortune, personal or financial. "The store is happy and healthy and so am I," Urey said. "My husband and I have reached the point where we want to spend more time with our grandchild, and with the one on the way.

Once again, ABA members attending BookExpo America will have an opportunity to get a full update on ABA activities, share their concerns, and voice their opinions to the association's leadership.

Lonely Planet, the independent travel publisher, began its tour of independent bookstores on Saturday, May 8. The Lonely Planet RV, decked out with large side panels advertising the "Lonely Planet 2004 Independent Bookstore Road Trip," was baptized by fire, starting the tour in Manhattan, where navigating the 32-foot behemoth presented some parking and navigational difficulties. However, that didn't stop the intrepid Lonely Planet (LP) crew of Gary Todoroff, U.S.

Six months ago, Santa Monica's Midnight Special bookstore opened in a new location after leaving its former space on the Third Street Promenade in February 2003 due to high rent. The hope was that the lower rents in the new location, less than a half-mile from the Promenade, and generous donations from its loyal customers would help the store climb out of its financial hole, but it was not meant to be.

Booksellers should note that phase one of the Campaign for Reader Privacy (CRP) (http://www.readerprivacy.com/) petition drive will soon culminate with a CRP presentation during BookExpo America, which will be held from June 2 - 6 at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.

Recently released findings from Ipsos BookTrends brought good news to independent booksellers. In 2003, independent bookstores fared well on a unit basis with demand outpacing the overall trade book industry. As a result, the independent/small chain bookstore channel's market position reached a five-year share high of 16 percent (vs. 15 percent in 2002).