Resources

Bookseller Gary Robson of Red Lodge Books & Tea, working in collaboration with ABA, has created two boards on Pinterest where booksellers can share ideas about displays and discover innovative ways to showcase books and sidelines in their stores.

“I never thought I’d be in this position” is the most repeated phrase from booksellers submitting grant applications to the Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc), a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting booksellers in need.

Here is a list of Edelweiss best practices for book buyers, complied by Robert Sindelar of Third Place Books and annotated with links by Above the Treeline’s Joe Foster.

Minimizing expenses is key to running a successful business. Here, PartnerShip, the manager of ABA’s free discount shipping program, explains how members can choose the right FedEx service for their needs as well as how to use other tips and tricks to get the best price.

ABA members are eligible for discounted individual and/or company-wide insurance benefit packages through Asset MarketPlace, an independent insurance wholesaler with a wide selection of policies.

Want to put the call out to other booksellers for suggestions on how best to promote eBooks and eReaders? Looking to share best practices for handling personnel matters? BookWeb’s online discussion forums are a great place to bring these and other issues to the attention of other booksellers or ABA and IndieCommerce staff members.

This morning, ABA launched its redesigned trade website, BookWeb.org. The site’s brand-new look and user-friendly navigation functions make it easier than ever to access the important information and tools critical to the world of indie bookselling.

The SBA has launched SizeUp, a free tool that helps businesses both identify new customers and compare their performance against like-businesses using data collected from hundreds of private and public sources.

For booksellers and librarians who were among the first users of Small Demons, the new web resource has proved valuable in helping them respond to patrons seeking a title, or a list of titles, in which a particular person, place, or thing is mentioned.

In celebration of Small Business Week, from May 20 - 22 the Small Business Administration will be offering educational programming on social media, federal contracting, selling to large companies, and business matchmaking with major corporations and government agencies.

The IndieCommerce Publisher Promotions page currently features five active promotions.

Several booksellers recently reconsidered the art of the display.  Their efforts include a new take on the monochromatic, inspired by Christopher Moore; a twist on family reading time; and a new location for overlooked picture books.

E-newsletters still get top ranking for being an in-depth, tailored format to communicate with customers about store news, but they can be a time sink. Here are few quick tips for adding readymade content.

Here’s a quick reminder of some of things booksellers do and don’t need to do in the run-up to the April 23 celebration of books and reading.

Hiring the right firm to conduct a telecom audit can take the pain out of analyzing system inefficiencies and fees, lead to a phone company and Internet provider that better suit your business needs, and save you thousands of dollars.