Whether you’re playing Chickyboom, Scrabble, or Jishaku, or holding a literary trivia contest, bookstore game nights can draw regulars and boost sales.

A consignment arrangement with small presses has enabled Farley’s Bookshop in New Hope, Pennsylvania, to build a deeper inventory selection that has grown customer interest and the store’s bottom line.

To counter the increasing number of customers who come to events after purchasing the featured book elsewhere, some booksellers are creating alternative ways to ensure a profit.

Naomi McEneely, the events coordinator at Lake Forest Book Store, explains why the bookstore’s partnership with area libraries has been beneficial on every level.

Dealing with customers who are obviously browsing the store to buy elsewhere can be tricky. To steer them toward the cash wrap instead of the door, booksellers are engaging customers in conversations and using videos, signage, and fliers with QR codes.

Here’s an action kit of marketing ideas and strategies that can help spread the word that indie bookstores are alive, well, and very much open for business, both in-store and online.

Noted retail expert Bob Phibbs talks about The Retail Doctor’s Guide to Growing Your Business, what not to do during an economic downturn, and his upcoming keynote address at ABA’s Winter Institute.

Selecting titles, buying, pricing, and shelving used books is admittedly a labor-intensive process, but five booksellers who spoke to BTW agreed they’re a valuable part of their business.

Six indie booksellers offer insights on how a café can benefit the entire bookstore, its effect on the bottom line, and whether – after tallying all the added responsibilities and costs – they still think adding a café was a good idea.

If you play music in your bookstore, you need to understand what your legal responsibilities – and rights – are. Here's an up-to-date look at the major performing rights organizations, what they do, and the factors that dictate their licensing fees.