- MEMBERSHIP
- Join
- Renew
- About Membership
- Membership Types
- Benefits Chart
- Dues Information
- Opening a Bookstore
- Member Directory
Edelweiss+Analytics is excited to present the new Shelf Report, created to help bookstores succeed against competitive pressures by providing unique decision intelligence. This new tool provides benchmarks for your store’s inventory, using the aggregate performance of hundreds of other independent bookstores on four key measures of sales and inventory health – across genres. Join us to learn more about how this tool can help you view your store from the outside-in and point to where you can focus your attention to make sure your inventory is working its hardest for you.
Edelweiss+Analytics is excited to present the new Shelf Report, created to help bookstores succeed against competitive pressures by providing unique decision intelligence. This new tool provides benchmarks for your store’s inventory, using the aggregate performance of hundreds of other independent bookstores on four key measures of sales and inventory health – across genres. Join us to learn more about how this tool can help you view your store from the outside-in and point to where you can focus your attention to make sure your inventory is working its hardest for you.
On April 28, indie booksellers will celebrate the fifth annual Independent Bookstore Day (IBD). In this panel, new concepts and a new ordering system will be revealed. Attendees will hear from booksellers who have figured out how to make the most of IBD and increase their sales dramatically. It takes a little effort and imagination, but having a highly successful Independent Bookstore Day doesn’t have to tax your staff or break the bank. Booksellers will learn:
On April 28, indie booksellers will celebrate the fifth annual Independent Bookstore Day (IBD). In this panel, new concepts and a new ordering system will be revealed. Attendees will hear from booksellers who have figured out how to make the most of IBD and increase their sales dramatically. It takes a little effort and imagination, but having a highly successful Independent Bookstore Day doesn’t have to tax your staff or break the bank. Booksellers will learn:
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
How to Make Bookstore Day a Smashing Success (PDF) | 300.39 KB |
Independent Bookstore Day Presentation (PDF) | 4.79 MB |
Graphic novels can be a useful springboard into reading for reluctant readers, but they can also serve as a vehicle to launch readers into the symbiotic relationship between text and visuals. In this session, attendees will learn from booksellers and experts:
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Graphic Novel Additional Recommendations pdf | 493.48 KB |
Graphic Novel Additional Resources pdf | 86.22 KB |
Graphic Novels Guide for the Classroom pdf | 1.53 MB |
Experiential Reading - Graphic Novels Presentation (PDF) | 1.44 MB |
Scenario: your store's children's bookseller is out sick and not one general bookseller has even an inkling about kids’ books. Never fear! Geared towards general booksellers with ZERO experience in the kid’s department, children’s frontlist booksellers on this panel will provide a crash course to prepare any bookseller to head into the children's department. In the session, general booksellers will learn:
Scenario: your store's children's bookseller is out sick and not one general bookseller has even an inkling about kids’ books. Never fear! Geared towards general booksellers with ZERO experience in the kid’s department, children’s frontlist booksellers on this panel will provide a crash course to prepare any bookseller to head into the children's department. In the session, general booksellers will learn:
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Kids' Books Recommendations pdf | 445.72 KB |
Reference Books for Children's Booksellers pdf | 165.83 KB |
Children's Literature Awards pdf | 245.42 KB |
Crash Course in Kids' Bookselling Presentation (PDF) | 2.26 MB |
Bookstores that sell direct to schools are an invaluable resource to the local community and a successful strategy for increasing cash flow and profits. Bookseller panelists who have worked closely with their school districts will share with Institute attendees how they too can foster a relationship with school districts and add to their stores’ bottom line. In this session booksellers will learn:
Bookstores that sell direct to schools are an invaluable resource to the local community and a successful strategy for increasing cash flow and profits. Bookseller panelists who have worked closely with their school districts will share with Institute attendees how they too can foster a relationship with school districts and add to their stores’ bottom line. In this session booksellers will learn:
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Ahead of the Curve Subscription Service (PDF) | 116.35 KB |
Cynthia Lord Appearance Pre-Order Form Price List pdf | 94.12 KB |
Book Fair Template docx | 14.72 KB |
Candace Fleming author order form (docx) | 146.08 KB |
Eric Dinerstein author order form (doc) | 53 KB |
ABC Group Selling Direct to Schools Presentation (PDF) | 1.48 MB |
Pre-orders are becoming an increasingly important way in which books are sold and marketed in 2018, and indie bookstores can and should take part in this growing business. Heavily influenced by television and social media, the months before a title’s publication are critical, and pre-orders are a growing component of a book’s ultimate sales. By working with publishers to take full advantage of pre-order opportunities, indie bookstores can avoid lost sales, lost PR, and lost market share. In this session, panelists will discuss ways that stores can successfully promote and sell pre-orders to become an integral partner to publishers and authors. Learn about new methods developed and tested by a task force of indie stores--including processes and protocols for stores using various POS systems--that all stores can use to maximize pre-orders through marketing, tracking, and reporting. The session will include bookseller participation from the pre-order task force.
Pre-orders are becoming an increasingly important way in which books are sold and marketed in 2018, and indie bookstores can and should take part in this growing business. Heavily influenced by television and social media, the months before a title’s publication are critical, and pre-orders are a growing component of a book’s ultimate sales. By working with publishers to take full advantage of pre-order opportunities, indie bookstores can avoid lost sales, lost PR, and lost market share. In this session, panelists will discuss ways that stores can successfully promote and sell pre-orders to become an integral partner to publishers and authors. Learn about new methods developed and tested by a task force of indie stores--including processes and protocols for stores using various POS systems--that all stores can use to maximize pre-orders through marketing, tracking, and reporting. The session will include bookseller participation from the pre-order task force.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Reporting Pre-Orders POS Cheat Sheet pdf | 162.53 KB |
Maximizing and Marketing Pre-Order Sales Presentation (PDF) | 6.49 MB |
Being an independent bookstore in today’s retail environment means working tirelessly to stay connected with your community while also promoting yourself online as an alternative to other online retailers. All independent retailers, not just booksellers, are meeting this challenge in various ways. Come to this session to hear from Albuquerque’s independent retailer stars, ask questions, and discover ideas to apply to your bookstore.
Being an independent bookstore in today’s retail environment means working tirelessly to stay connected with your community while also promoting yourself online as an alternative to other online retailers. All independent retailers, not just booksellers, are meeting this challenge in various ways. Come to this session to hear from Albuquerque’s independent retailer stars, ask questions, and discover ideas to apply to your bookstore.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Stars of Albuquerque Indie Retail Presentation (PDF) | 2.52 MB |
Join your colleagues for a discussion on creating events and opportunities to highlight women's voices in the store and larger retail community. Hear from booksellers who are fostering women entrepreneurs, cross-promoting with women-owned businesses, creating dynamic in-store programming, and more. ABA members know that a diverse business district promotes a thriving local economy, and they are finding ways to ensure their stores, their communities, and their business districts are as dynamic and profitable as possible.
Join your colleagues for a discussion on creating events and opportunities to highlight women's voices in the store and larger retail community. Hear from booksellers who are fostering women entrepreneurs, cross-promoting with women-owned businesses, creating dynamic in-store programming, and more. ABA members know that a diverse business district promotes a thriving local economy, and they are finding ways to ensure their stores, their communities, and their business districts are as dynamic and profitable as possible.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Bookshop Santa Cruz Women's Voices pdf | 1017.14 KB |
Yes She Can: Programs and Partnerships to Empower Women Presentation (PDF) | 3.69 MB |
Community educators are important bookstore allies. They work closely with children, and children need books! Making sure bookstores are carrying what teachers are recommending is essential to strengthening the relationship between the two. In this session, event planners and buyers will share how they have implemented and had success hosting Educator Nights. Booksellers will learn:
Important topics to discuss at these events
Community educators are important bookstore allies. They work closely with children, and children need books! Making sure bookstores are carrying what teachers are recommending is essential to strengthening the relationship between the two. In this session, event planners and buyers will share how they have implemented and had success hosting Educator Nights. Booksellers will learn:
Important topics to discuss at these events
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Educator Night Passport pdf | 54.7 KB |
Hosting A+ Educator Nights Presentation (PDF) | 2.65 MB |
If the thought of playing board games brings up childhood memories of Monopoly and Risk and not much else, you have some catching up to do. Board games are a hot trend and a growing business. And they’ve grown a lot more sophisticated than what you might remember. The popular digital games that have made the leap to board games, the games inspired by viral internet challenges, and the traditional games of your childhood all have something in common: face-to-face social interaction, which is a key component of successful independent bookstores. Come hear from booksellers who have integrated board games and play nights into their sales and events. An independent board game seller joins the panel to discuss the aspects of his business and how booksellers can bring games -- and customers -- into the bookstore.
If the thought of playing board games brings up childhood memories of Monopoly and Risk and not much else, you have some catching up to do. Board games are a hot trend and a growing business. And they’ve grown a lot more sophisticated than what you might remember. The popular digital games that have made the leap to board games, the games inspired by viral internet challenges, and the traditional games of your childhood all have something in common: face-to-face social interaction, which is a key component of successful independent bookstores. Come hear from booksellers who have integrated board games and play nights into their sales and events. An independent board game seller joins the panel to discuss the aspects of his business and how booksellers can bring games -- and customers -- into the bookstore.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Game Day Flyer pdf | 241.32 KB |
Bringing Play and Revenue into the Store: Board Games are Back Presentation (PDF) | 3.15 MB |
Never has there been a greater need for diverse and international voices in the American market. In this session, panelists will discuss practices they have brought back to their stores from their experiences with Bookselling Without Borders, a fellowship program that sends U.S. booksellers to foreign book fairs as part of a book industry professional exchange program. Among other things, the Bookselling Without Borders program seeks to help booksellers develop concrete ideas for increasing sales of diverse and international literature in the indie market.
Never has there been a greater need for diverse and international voices in the American market. In this session, panelists will discuss practices they have brought back to their stores from their experiences with Bookselling Without Borders, a fellowship program that sends U.S. booksellers to foreign book fairs as part of a book industry professional exchange program. Among other things, the Bookselling Without Borders program seeks to help booksellers develop concrete ideas for increasing sales of diverse and international literature in the indie market.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Selling International and Diverse Books Presentation (PDF) | 6.6 MB |
Maximizing Pre-Orders focuses on how indie bookstores can take full advantage of pre-order opportunities and boost their sales, PR, and market share. In this presentation, booksellers will also discover ways to successfully promote and sell pre-orders including new methods developed and tested by ABA’s Pre-Orders Task Force of indie stores.
Maximizing Pre-Orders was presented at the 2018 Fall Regional Shows.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Maximizing Pre-Orders 2018 PPT pdf | 5.06 MB |
Reporting Pre-Orders POS Cheat Sheet pdf | 162.53 KB |
The romance genre has one of the highest shares of fiction sales in the U.S. market at 23 percent (NPD Book 2016). Now is the time to take a closer look at marketing and selling this dynamic genre. In this session, bookseller and publisher panelists will discuss best practices for developing a successful relationship with the romance reader as well as tips for marketing this genre in a general bookstore.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Reliable Recommendations (PDF) | 57.29 KB |
Romance Reader Stats (pdf) | 392.91 KB |
Judgement Free Badge (pdf) | 559.82 KB |
The recent resurgence of interest in travel books is one more reason to take a closer look at the marketing of certain genres. Bookseller and publisher panelists will cover creative marketing, merchandising, events, and handselling to help put your store on the map for customers seeking books on travel, religion, and cooking.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Ingram Travel and Outdoor Sell Sheet | 10.74 MB |
Workman Cookbooks Sell Sheet | 4.81 MB |
Multiple programs are available to help booksellers work with local self-published authors. Panelists, including representatives from the Independent Book Publisher Association and Ingram Spark as well as booksellers who have created mutually beneficial relationships with self-published authors, will discuss existing programs and tips for successful relationships.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Village Books Event Info (pdf) | 280.73 KB |
Village Books Event FAQs (pdf) | 515.21 KB |
Village Books Event Package Description (pdf) | 95.58 KB |
Village Books POD Submission Guidelines (pdf) | 180.06 KB |
Village Books POD Pricing Specs (pdf) | 244.92 KB |
Village Books Event Questionnaire (pdf) | 197.01 KB |
Village Books Consignment Sales Agreement (pdf) | 99.59 KB |
Village Books Consignment Agreement Info (pdf) | 404.63 KB |
Village Books Author Agreement Form (pdf) | 251.37 KB |
Malaprop's Consignment Intake Form (pdf) | 198.71 KB |
Village Books Sample Press Release (pdf) | 372.67 KB |
IBPA Checklist (pdf) | 520.33 KB |
IBPA Industry Standards (pdf) | 238.24 KB |
Working with self-published authors can be a profitable endeavor. In this session, a panel of booksellers will discuss how to create partnerships with self-published authors to benefit both the author and the bookstore's bottom line.
A strong backlist inventory is the cornerstone of book sales. Bookseller panelists who have learned to successfully curate their selections will share their knowledge on the importance of backlist, how to choose and display books, which titles continue to sell well, and which children’s categories to invest in to maintain a robust backlist collection for customers.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Backlist Perennial Favorites (PDF) | 944.94 KB |
Allison Risbridger, client development specialist at NPD Book, will present a review of the most recent data on the U.S. children’s book market with a deep-dive into the latest trends in genres, formats, buyer behavior, and more. Attendees will emerge with plenty of new insights to help them better understand their business in the coming year.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Trends and Findings in Children's Bookselling (PDF) | 2.49 MB |
One day she is a child and the next day an adult: hand-selling to middle-grade and young-adult readers can be a challenge. In this session, a panel of experts will share information about learning styles and cognitive behavioral development to assist booksellers in negotiating the tween and teen brain and recommending appropriate books to create readers for life.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Understanding Development and Reading Styles to Connect with Middle Grade and YA Readers (PDF) | 2.23 MB |
Bookseller Suggestions Development and Reading Styles Title List (PDF) | 1003.21 KB |
Social media is here to stay, but no one platform is invincible. Algorithms can change overnight. For example, if Facebook disappeared tomorrow, your following would evaporate with it. Luckily, you are already investing in one online presence you do control: your website. This panel will review how to use social media to drive traffic to your website and e-newsletters --regardless of which social media platforms you prefer or how they can change -- and how to leverage your social followings to meet your store's marketing goals.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Fountain Bookstore Strategy Guide pdf | 212.96 KB |
As we continue to see the effects of climate change throughout the world, booksellers are asking what they can do -- both to keep their customers and communities informed on this critical issue and to become involved in climate change grassroots activism. Booksellers on this panel will share examples of store activities - from title lists and in-store activities to advice on how to work with climate change activists, both in your community and nationwide.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Climate Change Reading List xlsx | 19.29 KB |
Building upon findings in a recent Nielsen Book study that showed a significant rise in sales of active nonfiction for children and the potential for even greater growth, booksellers who have successfully increased their nonfiction business will discuss the keys to broadening their inventory and maintaining a diverse selection to complement the subjects driving this category.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
ABC Presents Using Nielsen Data to Expand Nonfiction Sales pdf | 5.26 MB |
Bringing used books into your store can improve your margins and help your bottom line, but it also brings a new set of considerations to your already established business procedures. This 101 introductory session will help you navigate issues such as buying, sourcing, and tracking your used inventory.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Gottwals Books Best Practices pdf | 125.13 KB |
hello hello books Best Practices pdf | 222.55 KB |
Loganberry Books Best Practices pdf | 219.82 KB |
Magers & Quinn Booksellers Best Practices pdf | 217.52 KB |
hello hello books Used Books Brochure pdf | 1.9 MB |
Loganberry Books Glossary pdf | 34.54 KB |
For booksellers, there are few greater triumphs than placing the right book in the hands of any reader, but that is especially true for kids who rarely if ever read for their own pleasure. How can we reach these non-readers and what can be done to turn them into readers? Booksellers and educators who have been successful in the ongoing struggle to reach reluctant readers will be joined by bestselling author and literacy advocate Jon Scieszka to share their passion to make a difference and discuss what they have learned works best for inspiring children to want to read.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Suggested Titles to Help Reach Reluctant Readers (PDF) | 321.43 KB |
This session was presented at Children's Institute 2014.
It is clear that age compression -- or the marketing of titles for older children to younger children -- is having an effect on the sales and popularity of picture books among elementary school children. But the benefits of reading picture books to older children are many. How can you educate customers about the importance of picture books for children ages 5 and up?
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
Timeless Picture Books for Every Age (PDF) | 1.93 MB |
American Booksellers Association is a national trade association that supports and advocates for the success of independent bookstores. We provide members with education, networking opportunities, advocacy, resources, and technology. In turn our members support local schools through book fairs, donations and author visits; promote literacy; provide inclusive community centers; connect readers and books; add character to neighborhoods; champion and center diverse and new voices; and contribute to the local economy. We feel honored to support them in their work.
PRESS INQUIRIES: [email protected]
INDIECOMMERCE: [email protected]
ALL OTHER INQUIRIES: [email protected]
Copyright 2024 American Booksellers Association. BookWeb is a registered trademark of ABA.
Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Accessibility Statement