Industry News

Independent Apple Book Center Struggles for a New Lease on Life

Sherry McGee may be in her last days as an independent bookseller. After signing yet another loan, dumping her 401(K) fund into her beloved Apple Book Center, and facing debts totaling $300,000, she told her staff in late February that she would close the doors this month.

It’s doubtful that either Nancy Pearl, executive director of the Washington Center for the Book at the Seattle Public Library (WCB), or Chris Higashi, associate director for WCB, realized just how influential an idea they had conceived when they launched "If All of Seattle Reads the Same Book" in 1996. Today, over 50 cities, counties, or states have begun programs that encourage communities to read the same book at the same time and then to discuss it in numerous venues.

Now is the time for bookstores interested in participating in the 2002 Prescription for Reading marketing program to sign up and receive promotional kits, along with 200 copies of this year's book, Sylvia Long's Mother Goose, published by Chronicle Books.

Many independent bookstores are looking for ancillary business to increase profits, and record labels are constantly seeking new outlets to promote established, and up-and-coming, artists. Enter, the Book Music Network [BMN]: a company that’s hoping, with assistance from Book Sense, to offer a marketing solution to both industries. In April, BMN will begin mailing to independent bookstores free monthly compilation CDs showcasing a large selection of artists.

Programming for children’s booksellers looks stronger than ever at this year’s BookExpo America (BEA), as, for the first time, the Association of Booksellers for Ch

In conjunction with ABA’s 2002 Spring Bookseller Forums scheduled in March and April, Avin Mark Domnitz, ABA CEO, will be leading four special financial sessions for booksellers. The sessions, "Basic Bookstore Finances," will discuss operating within a system of financial controls to help predict performance and measure outcomes against those predictions, and cash flow control. Attendees will receive a computer disk with worksheets, which will help them integrate the session’s ideas into their everyday business.

A substantial majority of independent bookstores participating in the Book Sense national marketing program saw sales increases in 2001 over 2000, according to a recent ABA survey. Among those stores in the Book Sense program responding to the survey, 63 percent reported sales increases for the year. Over half of the stores noted increases of more than five percent. For the 2001 holiday season, 66 percent of the bookstores reported increases over a strong 2000 holiday season.

Booksellers are reminded that by now they should have received by mail from ABA ballots for both the 2002 ABA Officers/Board of Directors and the Book Sense Book of the Year Awards.

Appearing on the ballot for members’ ratification is the slate of officers elected by the ABA Board at its January meeting. The Board chose:

Driving down Highway 2 in Leavenworth, Washington, tourists might pull off the road, thinking their eyes are playing tricks on them. Nestled in the majestic North Cascade Mountains is a small village that belongs in southern Germany.

For Get Caught Reading Month in May, Book Sense is supplying numerous ideas for booksellers. This month, expect the information about a "Community Wish List" program to help stores work with local groups in need of books.

By Robin Whitten

Awards bring a useful focus to audiobook recommendations, and spring produces a fine crop. On February 27, the Recording Academy’s Grammy Awards were splashed across the entertainment press, soon to be followed by the Academy Awards.

"Book Club Night," held Monday, March 4, at Newton, Massachusetts-based Newtonville Books was an event that the store hoped would achieve a number of goals. First, the store hoped to bring book clubs, and people interested in joining them, together. Second, it wanted to show book club members the importance of a knowledgeable bookseller in choosing a title. Third, it was an opportunity to find out what the clubs wanted from Newtonville Books.