Publisher, Wholesaler, and Vendor Support

The American Booksellers Association is in ongoing conversation with publishers, wholesalers, and vendors lobbying for support for members during the COVID-19 crisis, but we strongly encourage booksellers to contact their reps with individual requests. Publishers are asked to contact ABA CEO Allison Hill to share details about support they can offer; additionally, booksellers are invited to contact Hill with requests for the type of support that would be most helpful and ABA will relay that to publishers.

Additional information is available in the Book Buyer’s Handbook.

Book Publishers

• Abrams is offering standard 120 dating for all indies. And, as a distributed client of Hachette, the following terms will apply to all ABRAMS titles: Additional Dating: +30 days additional payment dating on top of current terms; Minimum Orders: all minimums orders are now $40 retail; Additional Discounts: +2.5% additional discount for books delivered curbside and +5% additional discount for books delivered to customers homes. Abrams is also extending event returns: Call tags will be sent for any event return whenever stores are able to get to it. Call tag requests, and any other questions, can be sent to Wendy Ceballos.
• Arcadia Publishing is encouraging stores to contact their sales rep (888-313-2665 x1) for information about additional discounts; the company is also offering direct-to-customer orders shipped from Arcadia to customers, with co-op dollars to advertise. Stores that have had to cancel an author event can contact Arcadia about rescheduling; for stores offering curbside pickup, Arcadia can send tote bags (while supplies last).
• Blackstone Publishing is offering all indies extended payment terms of Net-60 days and 55% discount across the board until further notice, with continued free shipping and no minimum order requirements. We also want to stress that anyone having an issue paying your bill at this time can put this aside through April while stores are shut down. In addition, we would also like to offer free direct drop-shipping service to any of your customer's home address who place online orders through your website. This will also include books for any virtual author events set up through Facebooks, Skype, Zoom or other online video teleconferencing platforms.
• Hachette is offering an extra 5% for accounts that deliver Hachette books to their customers; curbside pickup earnings additional per-ship locations; additional 30 days dating; new lower minimums. All details on the HBG Indie offers can be found in ABA’s Book Buyers handbook. Contact your sales rep with questions. The following clients have agreed to participate in these offers: ABRAMS, Disney, Hachette UK – Including Mobius & Nicholas Brealey, Lonely Planet, Kids Can Press, Marvel, Moleskine, Phaidon Press, Quarto Publishing Group, Yen Press, Octopus, Phoenix International - pikids. HBG is also doubling its 2020 Binc commitment. Visit the Book Buyer's Handbook for Hachette's shipping updates.
• Hachette (reopening program) and participating client publishers are offering reopening and recovery terms to independent bookstores in the U.S. and Canada. The terms of the Hachette Independent Bookstore Reopening and Recovery program, available on the COVID-19 Publisher Special Offers page in the Book Buyer’s Handbook, include invoice payment amortization, extended dating, additional discounts, and a returns shipping credit. (Added 5/22)
• HarperCollins donated a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal to promote shopping local. Bookstores are strongly encouraged to contact their sales rep and/or credit rep with questions and requests.
• Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has identified 135 books that are the most commonly used in the classroom and is offering a discount for business to business orders of those titles. See details on the COVID-19 Publisher Special Offers page in the Book Buyer’s Handbook. (Added 5/27) HMH is also offering 120-day dating on future invoices, through December 31, 2020. The terms have been automatically applied to bookstore accounts. (Updated 6/16)
• Island Press is allowing accounts to request extended payment terms by contacting their A/R manager at Chicago Distribution Center.
• Macmillan has added a special offer to the Book Buyer's Handbook. Bookstores are strongly encouraged to contact their sales rep and/or credit rep with questions and requests.
• Macmillan (reopening program) and participating distribution publishers are issuing promotional terms to help independent bookstores in the U.S. recover from the significant impacts of COVID-19. The terms of the Macmillan Promotional Offers, available on the COVID-19 Publisher Special Offers page in the Book Buyer’s Handbook, include additional discounting, extended dating, and a longer timeline for repayment of outstanding balances. (Added 5/22)
• Norton is strongly encouraging bookstores to contact their sales rep or credit rep. They are very willing to work with bookstores on their current situation.
• Oxford University Press is offering independent bookstores extended credit as well as call tags for cancelled author events. Stores should contact customer service for assistance.
• Penguin Random House asks that stores requesting call tags for cancelled author events reach out to customer service rather than their sales rep for the most efficient support. Bookstores are strongly encouraged to contact their sales rep and/or credit rep with questions and requests.
• Scholastic has launched an indie bookstore exclusive campaign. More details are in the Book Buyer's Handbook.
• Simon & Schuster has asked booksellers to contact their sales rep or customer service to request call tags for cancelled events. For other business questions, booksellers can contact their sales rep or credit representative.
• Workman is offering a new no-minimum special with discount and dating, using the promo code “FLATN,” as follows: additional discount, free freight, 120-day dating, no minimum. This offer is available to independent retailers and multiple orders are allowed. Additionally, all backlist stock-up orders placed using promo code BK (or BK1, BK2, BK3) will get 180-day dating. Valid until further notice.

Wholesalers/Distributors

• Bookazine is operating under normal business hours with no disruption in services. Booksellers with questions or requests can contact Steve Goldberg.
• Chicago Distribution Center will allow accounts to request extended payment terms by contacting their A/R manager.
• Gardners has temporarily suspended business, excepting digital sales. Gardners will be looking to see what further key services it can bring back online as soon as possible. Further information is available on its website.
• Ingram:
  • In places where public health and governmental authorities have issued shelter in place, lockdown, or other instructions regarding COVID-19, Ingram’s wholesale, distribution, print on demand, and digital services fall into exceptions in the directives. Ingram Content Group’s operations are, therefore, considered essential and we are encouraged to remain open.
  • Is currently committed to keeping its warehouses open even if other Ingram staff works from home. If someone on the warehouse team gets sick, Ingram may have to close that warehouse but would still be able to ship from the other warehouses. Ingram is keeping staffing levels high to handle the anticipated increase in volume from online and direct-to-home orders.
  • Is helping stores shift to direct-to-home sales for customers by offering a promotion for the next few weeks. Stores that increase their direct-to-home business with Ingram will receive a credit back from Ingram. For stores that have not used direct-to-home with Ingram before, instructions are on Ipage. Click on Help --> FAQ --> Direct to Home. Some POS vendors, such as Booklog, have a DTH interface built into their mail order module. Check with your POS vendor.
  • If stores have any issues with making payments they should communicate with their Ingram credit rep as soon as possible. 
  • Stores with specific requests should contact their Ingram sales rep or Ingram Sales Director Ron Smithson.
  • Ingram Retailer Offers (updated 4/16)
    • Direct to Home: Direct to Home allows bookstores to offer an alternative to the in-store experience by shipping books directly from Ingram to customers. Booksellers can easily access Ingram’s entire inventory for immediate shipping 24/7.
    • Ingram is helping brick and mortar independent bookstores shift to Direct to Home sales by offering a 1% rebate given in the form of a credit for the month of March and April. Stores that have not used Direct to Home before can find instructions are on ipage®. Click on Help --> FAQ --> Direct to Home.
    • For more information on our exclusive programs for Indie bookstores such as Booklove, Indie Vault, non-book product, and other programs and services designed to fit each independent bookstore’s unique needs, visit www.ingramcontent.com/indiebookservices or contact your Ingram sales representative or Customer Care.
    • For more information on our vast inventory, shipping capabilities, ipage®, free freight eligibility, and more, visit www.ingramcontent.com/retailers.

Vendors/Other Partners

• Bookshop.org increased affiliate store commissions 30% (from 25%) for eight weeks.
• Eventbrite funds are available if stores need to issue refunds to event attendees. Eventbrite is holding back scheduled payouts for all published and future events in Eventbrite accounts. This only impacts payouts stores are scheduled to receive before an event ends. Going forward, payouts will process five days after the event ends (Eventbrite’s typical policy). See Eventbrite’s webinar on canceling/postponing events. Updated 4/21: Eventbrite has reduced its staff and is no longer offering 24/7 support. Customer support continues for live chat, email, and phone support through the Customer Experience team 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Access to the Eventbrite Online Support Center and Eventbrite Blog remains unaffected.
• FedEx is considered an essential business and may continue to operate under state of emergency and shelter in place orders recently issued in the U.S.
• GoFundMe has launched a small business relief initiative that includes a small business centralized hub that lets users browse or search for fundraisers and invites businesses to sign up to start a fundraiser; the Small Business Relief Fund to benefit small businesses, where supporters can make a donation and GoFundMe will provide matching grants to small businesses; Intuit QuickBooks integration; Yelp integration; and GoDaddy integration.
• The Independent Publishers Caucus steering committee has passed a resolution to send 10% of all income received from dues and other sources as donations to Binc to support stores in need.
• Mailchimp is offering COVID-19 price relief to its small business customers that have been affected by the crisis. Fill out the application here.
• PartnerShip, ABA's shipping partner, is monitoring the situation and sharing information here.
• Rakuten Kobo launched its digital solidarity campaign “Reading from home” on March 25. Marketing assets will be made available to support the campaign. On the Rakuten Kobo Deals Page, customers will find up to 70% off ebooks in all genres. Questions can be directed to Natalie Jefferson or Siobhan Padgett.
• UPS has suspended the UPS Service Guarantee for all shipments to any destination, at all service levels.