Dear Booksellers,

Tropical Storm/Hurricane Isaias was the newest challenge of 2020. Several of us at ABA lost power and internet, some are still without, and ABA’s server and internet are still down. We apologize for any delays or inconveniences this week. We hope booksellers affected are safe and powering back up!

Events

• Coffee Break: Current Wage & Labor Requirements
  Tuesday, August 11, 3:00-4:00 PM ET
  Next week’s coffee break will focus on wage and labor requirements during COVID. We’ll take general questions and address some of the specific challenges stores are facing, like considerations when a bookseller or someone they live with travels to and returns from a hotspot or some states’ quarantine mandates restricting entering from out-of-state. Guest speakers include Tom Jardim and Scott Salmon, experts in employment and labor law from the law firm Jardim, Meisner & Susser, P.C, and Stephanie Steinberg, human resources director at Hachette Book Group. Please email your questions ahead of time to [email protected] before Monday, August 10. Email [email protected] for Zoom details.

• Technology Meetup: Crowdcast
  Thursday, August 13, 1:00-2:00 PM ET
  Steve Fisher, Crowdcast specialist and a general fan of indie bookstores, has offered his time to provide a brief demonstration of how to create an effective virtual event through Crowdcast as well as best practices for virtual events. He will also answer questions regarding the platform during this session. Learn more and sign up for ABA Meetups here.

Inspiration & Ideas

• Susanne Konig, co-owner of POWERHOUSE Arena and PowerHouse on 8th, and kids’ book specialist Brittany Jarvis recently launched POWERHOUSE Summer Lit Camp, a virtual middle grade reader camp hosted on Zoom. The six week program costs $250 and includes six brand-new middle grade novels shipped to the participants’ homes. Each session includes a virtual author visit and Q&A, followed by a discussion led by Jarvis. The demand for children’s programming is significant during COVID and expected to remain high even after school starts. Playdates, after school clubs, and holiday break camps are all potential opportunities for stores to connect with customers and sell books with tickets in the month ahead.

• Mark and Donna Paz Kaufman of Story and Song Neighborhood Bookstore Bistro recently launched The HAPPY PLACE Club, a one-year loyalty program with three levels of participation: $100, $250, and $500. Each level offers the store’s branded HAPPY PLACE merchandise, including car decals, face masks, stemless wine glasses, hot/cold thermal mugs, and burlap market totes. Additional special perks will be announced throughout the year. In two weeks 70 customers signed up. The deadline for enrollment is September 30. Making this a limited opportunity makes the club feel more special, drives customers to sign up early, and brings in cash needed to gear up for the holidays.

• Google has added a support option for stores’ Google My Business page: the ability to add a message and gift card or donation link. Cultured Books is a great example. Check out their Google listing on the right-hand side of the search page, then scroll down for the message and donation button. This is low-hanging fruit as you consider initiatives to prepare your store for 4th quarter.

ABA is here for all of you. Please reach out if there is anything we can help with. Members can contact me directly or email the Membership, Advocacy, or IndieCommerce teams.

Best,
Allison