BTW News Briefs

Worcester Tatnuck Closes

After 30 years in business in Worcester, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, January 3, Larry Abramoff closed Tatnuck Bookseller & Sons, Inc., as reported by the Worcester Telegram. Abramoff told the Telegram that the business would be consolidated at Tatnuck's Westboro store, which has "bigger space, a less complicated operation, and fewer employees."

Abramoff told the Telegram that sales had dropped significantly over the past 15 to 18 months. "The economics are competing against us, the major chains, the Internet," he said. "It has grown increasingly competitive and difficult to operate. We are saddened and devastated ourselves, but we hope that people will remember the good years."

Davis-Kidd Booksellers Closes in Jackson, Tennessee

On December 28, Cincinnati-based Joseph-Beth Group announced that it was closing Davis-Kidd Booksellers & Cafe in Jackson, Tennessee, as reported by the Jackson Sun. The bookstore had opened in 1995. Liquidation of the store's inventory will ... probably run through January, manager Chad Davis told the Sun.

Neil Van Uum, Joseph-Beth's owner, told the Sun that the store was "built too big" for the Jackson market and struggled to be profitable from day one. He noted to the Sun that store sales suffered since Books-A-Million opened nearby more than two years ago, and Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble have "taken the possibility of large growth pretty much out of the bookselling business."

Tina Jordan Named AAP Vice President

Tina Jordan, the director of public relations and special events for BookExpo America (BEA), has been named vice president of the Association of American Publishers, effective January 17. Jordan replaces Kathryn Blough who is leaving to pursue a teaching career.

Jordan has been a key member of BEA's management team since 1997, when the event became wholly managed by Reed after its acquisition from the American Booksellers Association. As special events and public relations director for BEA since 2000, Jordan has worked closely with ABA and AAP and has been instrumental in strategic planning and in developing BEA's special programming and author-related events.

Jordan's responsibilities at AAP are expected to encompass the activities of the Trade Executive Committee, the Smaller and Independent Publishers Group, the Get Caught Reading campaign, AAP's industry statistics program, and the Association's educational programs.

Sales Rep of the Year Nominations Sought

Publishers Weekly is asking booksellers to send in nominations for its PW Rep of the Year Award, to be presented at this May's BookExpo America. Nominations should be sent via e-mail by midnight Thursday, January 19, to the award coordinator, Donna Paz Kaufman at [email protected].

"Please tell us about your rep and what makes that person valuable to you and your business," said Kaufman. "Share a story or provide an example of your rep's commitment to excellence. Just a few moments of your time could result in the recognition your rep so richly deserves yet may seldom receive."

Pannell Nomination Deadline January 16

The Women's National Book Association (WNBA) is seeking nominations for the Lucile Micheels Pannell Awards to be presented at BookExpo America 2006. The awards are presented in the categories of general bookstore and specialty children's store. The winners receive a check for $1,000, plus a framed piece of original art by a children's book illustrator.

Nominations should include the store's name, address, and phone number, the name of a contact person at the store and an e-mail address, as well as a brief statement explaining why the store is worthy of the award. The deadline for nominations is January 16, 2006. Nominations should be sent to Eileen Hanning at [email protected] or to Pannell Award Nomination, 5200 South 6th Place, Arlington, Virginia 22204.