Main Street/Shop Local

Booksellers must order by October 31 to take advantage of special terms from publishers who are showing their support for the Indies First campaign with unique offers on a wide array of frontlist and backlist titles.

Following his announcement of the Upstream initiative last week, Daniel Handler will be working with The Booksmith to provide customers with signed copies of his titles.

Booksellers can ramp up their publicity efforts for Small Business Saturday with free marketing materials from American Express/Shop Small.

Through October 30, booksellers can order a canvas tote bag designed by cartoonist Roz Chast for Independent Bookstore Day, to be held on a national level on May 2, 2015.

To encourage even more authors to support Indies First, author Daniel Handler, also known as Lemony Snicket, has unveiled Upstream, an initiative inviting writers nationwide to partner with independent bookstores to sign stock of their books to keep on hand.

Booksellers have the opportunity this month to take advantage of special offers from publishers looking to support the Indies First campaign. “We’ll certainly be taking advantage of these offers for Small Business Saturday,” said Carole Horne of Harvard Book Store, “and I hope indies all get the word.”

With the support of Indies First spokespeople Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer, social media is abuzz with excitement for Indies First events to be held on Small Business Saturday, November 29.

The bright-blue Indies First bags are back, and they’re the perfect way to celebrate with authors, readers, and favorite bookstore-loving friends on Small Business Saturday and beyond.

In a letter released this week, authors Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer are calling on their fellow authors to show their support for Indies First by signing up to be booksellers at their favorite independent bookstores on November 29, Small Business Saturday.

Binc grants encourage booksellers to attend regional shows; Find Waldo Local to be featured on MSNBC’s Your Business; SCIBA’s Goldman Scholarship winners announced; Changes made to Penguin Random House sales team

To help booksellers spread the spirit of the ever-growing Indies First campaign, ABA has created brand-new Indies First designs, which can be used to create in-store materials and to promote the movement online.

Small Business Saturday’s Neighborhood Champion program is accepting applications until October 16. 

The Indies First movement has grown into a full-time campaign with plenty of ways for ABA members to participate. This year’s celebration of all things local will again feature a variety of special offers from publishers, author events, and more. In addition, in response to booksellers’ input, the program’s message to consumers has been strengthened and streamlined and the participation process is easier.

ICSC poll finds support for e-fairness at all-time high; Chase and Google to award small business grants; Study analyzes reading habits of Millennials; Man Booker Prize shortlist revealed; Neil Gaiman to present lifetime achievement award to Ursula Le Guin; Ellen Chodosh named director of NYU Press

Advocates for Independent Business is launching the social media campaign #efairnessnow to encourage consumers to show their support for Main Street retailers by posting images on their Facebook and Twitter feeds.