Main Street/Shop Local

At last week’s Winter Institute, Civic Economics and ABA released a groundbreaking new study, “Amazon and Empty Storefronts,” which details the overall negative impact that Amazon has had on Main Street retailers and jobs, and the communities in which they are located, across the country.

The IndieBound Refresher pack, which was created at the request of booksellers looking to re-familiarize themselves with the IndieBound program, contains bookmarks, decals, rally cards, and pins that promote the power of shopping local.

This week, Independent Bookstore Day announced that author Lauren Groff will serve as the 2016 Author Ambassador for the April 30 event. Merchandise orders for booksellers planning to participate are due February 1.

Booksellers can now sign up for the 2016 celebration of Find Waldo Local. Preregistration opened on Monday, January 25, and is capped at 250 ABA member stores.

While more consumers are choosing to shop locally to support their communities, a number of challenges remain for local economies, as presenters will discuss during three education sessions on localism at Winter Institute 11.

The IndieBound Refresher pack, created at the request of booksellers looking to re-familiarize themselves with the IndieBound program and its adaptable designs, contains bookmarks, decals, rally cards, and pins that promote the power of shopping local. 

A recently updated study by Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business drives home the point that the competitive advantage Amazon gained from not charging sales tax was as significant as Main Street retailers claimed — if not more so.

ABA is urging member bookstores to submit their responses to the eighth annual post-holiday survey, conducted by the Institute for Local Self Reliance and Advocates for Independent Business, before the January 27 deadline.

Online preregistration for the 2016 Find Waldo Local campaign opens on January 25. Participation in the fifth annual small business scavenger hunt is capped at 250 ABA member stores.

American Small Business Championship contest opens; Berkley becomes part of Putnam/Dutton; ALA joins Penguin Random House in support of National Readathon Day; We Need Diverse Books announces inaugural mentees; William Johnson named Lambda Literary program director; Winners of 2016 Pacific Northwest Book Awards revealed; The Story Prize finalists announced 

ABA bookstore members are strongly encouraged to participate in the eighth annual post-holiday survey, which aims to find out how independent businesses are faring, what their key challenges are, and whether the localism movement has had a positive impact in their communities.

ABA is encouraging member stores to complete the eighth annual post-holiday survey conducted by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and Advocates for Independent Business. A link to the survey was sent via e-mail on Tuesday, January 5.

Sourcebooks Landmark, publisher of The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, the #1 Indie Next List Pick for January, is inviting readers to vote for their favorite bookstore for the chance to win a prize for themselves and for the three indie bookstores garnering the most votes.

Baby Boomers featured as pillars of indie bookselling; Utah goes local during “Shift Your Spending” week; Unabridged Bookstore to mark 35 years; Battenkill Books opens new children’s room

On November 28, nearly 500 independent bookstores across the country celebrated the third annual Indies First on Small Business Saturday. Stores reported a range of experiences at the culmination of the event, with the majority citing strong customer interest and engagement and some citing a rise in sales.