BTW News Briefs

Ohio Supreme Court Hears Free Speech Case

On Tuesday, October 20, in the Ohio Supreme Court, a coalition led by the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression expressed their contention that a law aimed at protecting children from online pornography and predators will inhibit protected, legal speech, as reported by the Associated Press.

AP reported that the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in Cincinnati asked justices to sort out two legal questions before moving forward on the Ohio lawsuit. The questions involve what is meant by the technical terms contained in the law: "mass distribution" and "personally directed devices," AP noted. Ben Mizer, the Ohio solicitor general, argued that the state law on distributing material harmful to minors was revised in 2004 to apply only to one-on-one communications by adults knowingly targeting kids. At issue Tuesday before the court was the 2004 revision.

ABFFE President Chris Finan told AP that the group is challenging the law because of fear it would have a chilling effect on online merchants. "Booksellers shouldn't be exposed to criminal liability for posting materials on the Web that they would have on sale in their stores," he said. Other groups joining the lawsuit are the National Association of Recording Merchandisers, the Video Software Dealers Association, the Sexual Health Network, the Association of American Publishers, the Ohio Newspaper Association, the Freedom to Read Foundation, and Web del sol, an online literary arts community.

IBNYC to Celebrate First-Ever Indie Bookstore Week

The Independent Booksellers of New York City (IBNYC) is hosting the first ever Indie Bookstore Week NYC from November 15 through November 21. Special author appearances, events, and promotions are planned throughout the city, and a special pre-week party will take place on November 11 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at PowerHouse Arena.

Featured authors will include: Kurt Andersen (Heyday), Jennifer Egan (The Keep), Michael Greenberg (Beg, Borrow, Steal), Josh Neufeld (A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge) and Sharon Zukin (Naked City: The Death and Life of Authentic Urban Places) The party will include refreshments, giveaways, and live music. It is open to the public, with a suggested donation of $10 to IBNYC at the door.

Sen. Landrieu to Introduce Bill Increasing Loan Limits for Small Businesses

The U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship chair, Mary L. Landrieu, (D-LA), has announced plans to introduce a bill increasing limits on small business loans. The bill comes after months of talking with small business owners and lenders and in conjunction with an announcement by President Obama that new measures are underway to increase small business access to capital and create jobs.

"As Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, I have held several hearings, roundtables, and other events and have heard from lenders and small business owners that the current loan limits do not adequately meet their needs," Sen. Landrieu said in a statement. "That is why today I am introducing legislation to raise the limits on small business loans to as high as $5.5 million. Coupled with lower-cost capital available to community lenders, these higher loan limits will spur small business growth and aid in our nation's continued economic recovery."

The bill being introduced: increases the maximum 7(a) loan to $5 million (up from a maximum of $2 million); increases the maximum 504 loan to $5.5 million (up from a maximum of $1.5 million); increases the maximum microloan to $50,000 (up from a maximum of $35,000); enhances refinancing of 504 loans; and allows ARC loans to be used to help borrowers with existing 7(a) loans, among other things. For more information go to http://sbc.senate.gov.

Online Retailers to Emphasize Free Shipping, Social Media This Holiday Season

The economy is not only impacting shoppers, it's affecting online retailers, too. According to the results of Shop.org's eHoliday Study, conducted by BIGresearch, shoppers will see changes in retail marketing and promotions this holiday season in response to economic uncertainty.

The study noted that, with an understanding that many of today's shoppers use Facebook and Twitter regularly, and because these tools are more cost-effective than traditional advertising, 47.1 percent of retailers surveyed will be increasing their use of social media this holiday season. More than half of retailers said they have added or improved their Facebook page and Twitter pages this year, while two-thirds have added or enhanced blogs and RSS feeds. In addition, to provide consumers with an extra incentive to start shopping, one-third of retailers say they will offer holiday deals earlier this year.

Moreover, free shipping offers will abound this holiday season. Four out of five online retailers will offer free shipping with conditions at some point during the holiday season, while more than half also plan to offer free shipping without conditions. More than one-third said their budgets for free shipping are higher than last year, and nearly as many said free shipping offers will start earlier than a year ago. Online retailers are also compensating for the economy by making operational changes to help them protect their profits. According to the survey, 41.4 percent of retailers have scaled back on inventory levels and 22.9 percent have hired fewer people in their stores.

While online growth is expected to slow this holiday season, it remains a bright spot in retail. According to the survey, 45.8 percent of online retailers expect their holiday sales to increase at least 15 percent over last year, while one-third expect sales to grow up to 14 percent.

Economy to Impact Two-Thirds of Families' Holiday Shopping

Retailers are about to embark on the holiday season of the serious bargain hunter. According to the National Retail Federation's 2009 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, U.S. consumers plan to spend an average of $682.74 on holiday-related shopping, a 3.2 percent drop from last year's $705.01. "While last holiday season was filled with chaotic confusion, adjusting to uncertainty has now become routine for many Americans," said NRF President and CEO Tracy Mullin in a statement. "This holiday season will be a bit of a dance between retailers and shoppers, with each group feeling the other out to understand how things have changed and how they must adapt."

According to the survey, 55.2 percent of adults would like to receive a gift card this holiday season, with clothing, books and DVDs, and electronics among other popular choices.

More than half of holiday shoppers say that sales and price discounts or normally low prices will be the most important factor when deciding where to shop. Most holiday shoppers will purchase from discounters this year, though more than half will also shop at department stores. Grocery stores, the Internet, clothing stores, and electronics stores will also be popular destinations. In addition, one in ten holiday shoppers (11.4 percent) will buy gifts or other holiday-related merchandise at thrift stores or resale shops. Retailers are compensating for soft sales this holiday season by cutting back on inventory.