Marketing

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. 

The American Independent Business Alliance has released its holiday campaign graphics and event ideas, which booksellers can use alone or in conjunction with the many offerings in ABA’s Designs and Downloads, to promote shopping locally this season.

With Indies First just days away, the Indies First Facebook page has gone live, the final author and bookstore matchups have been made, and Indies First totes, which were spotted all over last week’s Miami Book Fair International, have been sent to participating stores.

Indies First tote bags make their debut; new author-bookstore matchups; deadlines for matching assistance and the Indies First map fast approaching; IndieBound buy buttons; bookstores get creative; tips for a successful Indies First; Indies First goes international

ABA member bookstores can once again purchase the popular Mary Engelbreit gift certificates, which bear the tagline “A Book Is a Present You Can Open Again and Again.”

Bookstores can add to the season’s festivities with Winter Holiday designs for banners, posters, and bookmarks archived in the Bookseller DIY’s Designs & Downloads. 

To date, more than 700 authors will be handselling their favorite titles at over 400 bookstores as part of Indies First, the grassroots movement launched by author Sherman Alexie.

The full catalog of limited-edition, word-based items developed exclusively for NCIBA and SCIBA bookstores to sell on California Bookstore Day, May 3, 2014, is now available. Orders are due no later than December 1.

ABA has created press release templates and sample social media posts and tweets that stores can use to create their own publicity outreach for Indies First and Small Business Saturday. An interactive map of participating Indies First stores and their visiting authors is now live.

Here’s both a look at some of the clever and creative ways ABA members rewarded customers during last year’s inaugural Thanks for Shopping Indie promotion and a peek at a plan or two for this year. Let us know what you’re planning for 2013!

Our annual holiday preparations checklist includes reminders about merchandising, marketing, and promotional efforts as well as updates to websites, blogs, and social media, along with other helpful hints.

More than 375 authors and 300-plus bookstores will come together to celebrate independent bookstores as part of the Indies First movement on Small Business Saturday, November 30. Sign up now to join in!

Based on input from booksellers on ABA’s Marketing Task Force, the logo and other materials for this year’s Thanks for Shopping Indie promotion have been totally redesigned. The new graphics include a new logo, web banners, and a letter-size poster.

Bookstores have just one more week to sign up for the Spring 2014 Indies Introduce Debut Authors promotion. Booksellers across the country have worked tirelessly to pick out the best and brightest of upcoming debuts for the spring selling season.

Starting today, BTW will be presenting a weekly Q&A with up-and-coming authors who are part of the Indies Introduce Debut Authors promotion. Indies Introduce is a multi-publisher promotion that highlights the top debut authors of the season, as selected by two panels of booksellers.