Dear Booksellers,

As the number of COVID-19 cases increases in some areas of the country and stores are forced to close, limit their operations, or implement new policies and procedures — in some cases for the first time during the crisis — we want to provide some resources for stores faced with these challenges:

Information

• Coronavirus Resources for Booksellers

• Keep current on cases, regulations, and COVID-related retail news in your state.

• Sign up for daily updates on COVID resources for retailers from the National Retail Federation.

• Know the laws surrounding face masks. Know the safety surrounding face masks.

Operations

• Turn to credible sites for business operations information related to cleaning, social distancing, and welcoming customers and employees back to your store.

• Keep communicating with your landlord about your operational and financial status and the support you may need from them.

• Inform ABA about your operational status. This information, which is posted publicly, is used for ABA’s lobbying and advocacy efforts with the government and publishers.

• Prioritize communication in general.

• Check to see if your POS system is now integrated with IndieCommerce.

• Reopening? Here are some safety tips as well as a list of where to source masks, hand sanitizer, signage, and more.

• Take advantage of publisher offers; they’re willing to work with you.

Staff

• As uncertainty and anxiety rises with the increase of cases, take care of yourself and your booksellers.

• Make sure your booksellers know about emergency assistance available to them through Binc.

• Recognize how COVID can affect every community differently.

Customer Service

• Stay connected with your customers through virtual events, the Indie Next List e-newsletter, and social media.

• Make sure you’re making the most of your e-commerce by adding a few high-demand non-book items to your website, like puzzles, cards, or chocolates.

• Communicate with your customers about what’s going on. Whether through your customer emails or other ways, follow the lead of stores like Bookworm of Edwards and their authentic, transparent communication with customers around their GoFundMe campaign.

Support

• Join ABA’s Coffee Breaks to talk with fellow booksellers. Meetings are held via Zoom every Tuesday from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET as well as the last Thursday of every month from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET. The meeting ID is 850 6348 6159. A passcode is required; check your email for information or email info@bookweb.org. ABA’s membership team moderates the forum.

ABA is here for all of you. Please reach out if there is anything we can help with.  

Best,
Allison