Stay up to date with the world of independent bookselling.
Wednesday, July 5, 2023
5 Ways to Prepare for the UPS Strike
 

Though there’s been significant progress in the Teamsters/UPS negotiation, a strike beginning July 31 is still possible. Here are a few ways you can prepare: 

  1. Prioritize returns for July. Even if you don’t ship returns with UPS, expect the system to be backed up. Prioritize returns ahead of the potential bottleneck to ensure your return credit.
  2. Order up on inventory before August (cash and space permitting).
  3. Order books for fall author events before August (cash and space permitting).
  4. Request an increase in publisher account credit limits to allow for #2 and #3.
  5. If a UPS strike occurs, FedEx will be handling overflow and will likely experience delays. Make sure you have a FedEx account as a backup and enroll in ABA’s PartnerShip program to save on FedEx Express and FedEx Ground.
Action Items
This Prime Day, Switch to Libro.fm

This Prime Day, encourage readers to support your store through Libro.fm! In partnership with Danny Caine, owner of Raven Book Store, they’re making his audiobook How to Resist Amazon and Why free to download on July 11–12.

Plus, new members will receive an extra audiobook credit when they use code SWITCH (meaning they’ll have two credits to redeem from the start).
Switch to Libro.fm
Best Books for Young Readers Catalog

Stores can now place orders for the 2023 ABA Children’s Group Best Books for Young Readers catalog via the order form on BookWeb.

The catalog will feature nearly 200 frontlist and backlist titles for children and teens suggested by ABA member booksellers.

Additional details are available on BookWeb.
Order Now
Virtual Bookstore Tours

It’s time for our next round of Virtual Bookstore Tours! On Thursday, July 13, we’ll be touring Rediscovered Books in Boise, ID, and Libros Bookshop in Taylor, TX. Register now to take a peek behind the scenes at these stores.

If you’d like to look back at other virtual tours, videos are available on BookWeb.

We look forward to touring a variety of store models, from traditional to pop-up to mobile, urban to rural, and all across the country.

Email [email protected] to submit a proposal for your store!
Register Now
Sign Up for the INL
E-Newsletter Program

Don't miss out!

ABA occasionally hears from potential indie customers looking to receive the Indie Next List via email. If your store isn't signed up to send it, we can't direct them to you! Sign up now at no cost. 

The Indie Next List e-newsletter program sends the monthly adult Indie Next Lists, the every-other-month Kids’ Indie Next List, the quarterly Reading Group Guide, and the yearly Gift Guide to your customers. Each e-newsletter includes your branding and links to your e-commerce site. 

Already sending it? Make sure there is a clear, easy way for people to join your mailing list through your website.
Get the INL E-Newsletter
Time to Complete ABACUS

There’s just a few weeks left to complete ABACUS, ABA’s free financial benchmarking survey!

Log in to ABACUSBenchmarking.com or refer to the email sent June 9 from [email protected] with the subject line “ABACUS Benchmarking Survey.” 

Need some help? Sign up for our remaining ABACUS Workshops on July 6, July 12, or July 17 to get step-by-step instructions!

We are delighted to offer a chance for a full scholarship to Winter Institute 2024 for all participating stores! A drawing will be held once the deadline has passed.
Start the Survey
Q2 Board BTW Edition

The Q2 Board BTW Edition was released Friday, June 30.

It featured a letter from Board President Tegan Tigani, information on upcoming Board Office Hours, and more.

If you missed it, you can read it (and previous Board BTW Editions) on BookWeb!
Read the Board Edition
ABA Affinity Groups Hiatus

ABA’s Affinity Groups will be taking a brief hiatus this summer. We will be exploring ways to improve future meetings. 

Keep an eye on BTW for the return of Affinity Groups in the fall!
Save the Date

Save the date for these upcoming events:

Affinity Groups are on hiatus for the summer and will resume in the fall.
What to Know
Disability Pride Month

It’s Disability Pride Month! Throughout July, BTW will feature coverage and stories to celebrate and uplift people with disabilities in our industry.

We’re starting this month’s Disability Pride coverage with a list of books by authors with visible and invisible disabilities.
July/August KNL Q&A with Jon Klassen

Independent booksellers across the country have chosen Jon Klassen’s The Skull (Candlewick Press) as their top pick for the July/August 2023 Kids’ Indie Next List. Here, Bookselling This Week and Klassen talk about The Skull.
August Indie Next List Preview

Here are the 25 Indie Next List and 6 Now in Paperback picks on the August 2023 Indie Next List flier. Top pick? Shark Heart by Emily Habeck. And, to mark the start of a new month, July Indie Next List and July/August Kids’ Indie Next List social media assets are live on BookWeb.
Indie Travel Literature Bestseller List

Here is the Indie Travel Literature Bestseller List, based on sales at independent bookstores nationwide for the eight-week period ending July 2.
“Owning a Bookstore: A Day in the Life” Training

The Bookstore Training Group will offer a multi-day workshop this August. “Owning a Bookstore: A Day in the Life” will cover training on store design, merchandising, curating inventories, marketing, staffing, and more.

This workshop will be on-site in Story & Song Bookstore Bistro on Amelia Island, FL, August 27–29. Visit the Bookstore Training Group event page to learn more and register.
 
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