Dear Booksellers,

I love watching booksellers ride the wave of attention the indies are getting from the #BoxedOut campaign. Congratulations to Becky Anderson at Anderson’s Bookshop on her WGN Chicago radio interview, Rebecca Fitting and Jessica Stockton-Bagnulo of Greenlight Bookstore on their op-ed in Crain’s New York Business (read on Bookweb),  and Village Books on their upcoming KING 5 News appearance.

ABA is continuing to work with a publicist to pitch local media all over the country. Please reach out if you have a good contact for us to pursue (Thanks, Zenith Bookstore. We’re working on it!) or if you want help pitching local media or writing an op-ed. It helps to have a visual, so take advantage of the assets we’ve created -- even an image of booksellers holding a sign or one poster in your window -- or do something on your own like the below display from Page 1 Books in Albuquerque.

Other ways to ride the wave: 

  • Share the NYT article about the indies on your social media asking people to #ShopIndie and sharing #BoxedOut. We’re seeing a lot of engagement with that article online. This potentially means more shares and more reach beyond your existing customers.

  • Ask around for free ads or remnant ad space (ad space a publication was unable to sell) in local magazines and newspapers. ABA has two free ads coming out in the next couple of weeks to promote indies. That we received for free because we asked!  

  • Share video on social media. Video, even a quick clip from your phone, will earn more social media engagement than a regular post. This potentially means more shares and more reach beyond your existing customers.

  • And though this campaign may not be right for your store you can still ride the wave: I did a SiriusXM radio show yesterday and most of the conversation was about the value of independent bookstores and supporting your neighbors. #BoxedOut was the way in, but the conversation was about so much more. 

  • We’re also seeing that though October is the New December isn’t a “story” unto itself, combined with #BoxedOut it may get some renewed interest like we saw with Forbes. 

  • Share October is the New December and #BoxedOut with other local retailers to build momentum in your community.

New Social Media Assets for #BoxedOut

  • We’ve created a new customizable image for you to add a photo of your store and then share on Instagram and Twitter. This image is available along with the other other social media assets for the #BoxedOut campaign on BookWeb.

IndieCommerce/IndieLite

  • For Assistance: The IndieCommerce team is resolving an average of 100 IC requests/issues for site assistance a day from member stores! We appreciate your patience as they work to respond to everyone as quickly as possible. For non-emergency IndieCommerce issues email staff@ bookweb.org. For emergency issues please check the IndieCommerce status page first. If your issue has not been reported submit a critical outage report and staff will be alerted immediately. 

  • New Feature: The IndieCommerce team has created a new feature that allows IndieCommerce and IndieLite stores to mark titles as "not for sale" or create blank pages with custom text when certain titles are entered in a search. This allows stores to effectively exclude titles in the database as part of the curation for their store. See the help document on BookWeb for assistance. 

Workman’s “Shop Local Now So You Can Shop Local Forever” Holiday Campaign 

  • Booksellers can download the author videos promoting this campaign for independent bookstores via this folder or use the YouTube URL links to post the videos to their store’s social media channels. In addition to the videos, booksellers can find digital assets associated with this campaign here. 

  • An 11" x 15" foam core sign featuring the message “Shop Local NOW So You Can Shop Local FOREVER” is also available via the Shop Local FOREVER Materials Request Form. Signs are available while supplies last. Stores are also free to download the file and use on their site, or to print and use in-store as needed.  

2020 Small Business Saturday Coalition 

  • Sign up is now open! Sign up for Small Business Saturday to receive sample social media, email, and newsletter messaging for customers; guidance on taking advantage of all the benefits offered through ShopSmall.com; and recognition on the Shop Small website. 

  • Contact sbscoalition@wipp.org or 415-878-1571 for questions or support. 

  • The hashtags for this year are #ShopSmall and #SmallBizSat.  

Assistance for Booksellers

  • Binc is there for you. Binc may be able to help owners or employees with personal household expenses related to the Colorado wildfires or any natural disaster. In addition, Binc can assist with expenses directly related to the store in certain cases. Here are a few ways that the Binc Foundation may be able to help:

    • If you have been displaced and need financial assistance to move into a new or temporary residence and are unable to cover the associated expenses, you can apply for assistance.

    • If you lost more than 50% of your weekly work hours due to the fires and this is causing financial hardship, you qualify to apply for assistance.

    • If your store is damaged and must close due to the storm, Binc may be able to help with certain expenses to help you reopen more quickly.

Next Week’s Events

  • Coffee Break: Tuesday, October 27, at 3:00 p.m. ET
    Join us for an opportunity to share support, ask questions, and trade best practices. All booksellers are welcome. If you’ve never attended this event before, it’s a great way to hear what’s working well at other stores and crowdsource solutions to any challenges you’re facing at your store. Email for Zoom login details.  

  • Evening Coffee Break: Thursday, October 29, at 6:00 p.m. ET
    Join us for an opportunity to share support, ask questions, and trade best practices. All booksellers are welcome. If you’ve never attended this event before, it’s a great way to hear what’s working well at other stores and crowdsource solutions to any challenges you’re facing at your store. Email for Zoom login details.    

  • De-escalation & Non-Violent Communication Workshop Tuesday, October 27, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.
    The Center for Anti-Violence Education will present a workshop for all members on the importance of non-verbal communication, common communication practices that fuel conflict between individuals, and the stages of escalation. This session will cover a range of de-escalation techniques that are particularly relevant in the context of our current political and social environment and issues that may arise related to customers refusing to wear masks, racism, or political friction. Participants will have an opportunity to pool their own expertise of lived experiences and practice nonviolent and de-escalation skills through relevant scenarios in breakout groups. All Members Welcome. Register here. Note: This session has limited capacity. Registration will be open on a first-come, first-served basis, but a recording will be available on BookWeb for one week following each session.

  • Punching the Air Reading Series: Wednesdays in October at 2:00 p.m. ET
    See Bookselling This Week for details.

  • Non-Violent Communication & De-escalation Companion Workshop: Physical Empowerment Self-Defense 101: Thursday, October 29, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.
    The Center for Anti-violence Education will offer a basic self-defense workshop through a trauma-informed lens to provide practical ways to respond to the spectrum of violence, from footwork and blocks to active shooter tips. This workshop is for all members and will cover self-defense and the emotional aspects of self-defense, as well as concrete steps to take in order to stay safe when under threat. All Members Welcome. Register here. Note: This session has limited capacity. Registration will be open on a first-come, first-served basis, but a recording will be available on BookWeb for one week following each session.

ABA is here for all of you. Please reach out if there is anything we can help with. Members can contact me directly, or email the Membership, Advocacy, or IndieCommerce teams.

Best,
Allison

Allison Hill
Chief Executive Officer

American Booksellers Association
333 Westchester Ave., Suite S202 
White Plains, NY 10604 | 800-637-0037 
info@bookweb.org • www.BookWeb.org

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