Find Waldo Local 2015 Preregistration Begins

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Preregistration for the fourth annual Find Waldo Local campaign opened on Thursday, January 22. 

The 2015 campaign, which runs the entire month of July, unites small business communities nationwide in hosting scavenger hunts for the elusive, red-and-white stripe-wearing picture book character. Hunts lead searchers through participating stores in their local shopping districts.

ABA member stores have until March 15 to go online and sign up at IndieBound for the campaign, which is co-sponsored by the American Booksellers Association and Candlewick Press. Participation is capped at 250 stores.

“Waldo has served as an intrepid ambassador for Shop Local initiatives for three summers running now, with over 400 indie bookstores and over 10,000 local merchants having participated,” said Elise Supovitz, executive director of independent retail and Canadian sales for Candlewick Press. “Candlewick is thrilled to bring Find Waldo Local back for yet a fourth summer in July 2015 and we welcome all ABA members to join in.”

The inspiration for Find Waldo Local came from a successful Waldo scavenger hunt hosted by Eight Cousins Books in Falmouth, Massachusetts, in August 2011. The endeavor takes its cue from the perennially popular Where’s Waldo? series, created by English illustrator Martin Handford in 1987.

This year, as always, Waldo hunters will be eligible for new prizes throughout the month and the celebration will culminate in a closing ceremony at participating bookstores.

Candlewick will once again be providing bookstores with a kit containing everything they need to launch their own Find Waldo Local events in their communities, including mini Waldo standees, window clings, prize buttons and books; reproducible passports, coupons, posters, bag stuffers, and activity sheets; as well as sample pitch letters, press releases, and social media materials.

Booksellers can download the campaign brochure here for full details and registration requirements.