Today, ABA is launching a data survey to help us gain insight into how stores are doing, what you need, and how we can help. The results will inform our talking points when meeting with publishers and the media, and give us a better understanding of what bookselling looks like right now. The survey should only take 5 minutes, so please, help us help you! Individual data is 100% confidential. The deadline for the survey is Monday, July 19. Please only submit one survey per company.

Children’s Institute attendees: Register now for a special Ci9 workshop called “Empowered Listening: How to Hear, Accept, and Respond During Difficult Conversations,” led by Dr. Lauren Wadsworth and Dr. Stephanie Pinder-Amaker, authors of Did That Just Happen?! Beyond Diversity — Creating Sustainable and Inclusive Organizations (Beacon Press). To participate in this free workshop, booksellers must be registered for Ci9.

IndieLite Stores: Sign up to attend a Wednesday, July 21, webinar on keeping up with new features.

On Friday, July 9, President Biden issued an executive order on promoting competition aimed at reducing corporate concentration and expanding opportunity for independent businesses. Among other provisions, the order directs agencies to support small businesses through procurement and encourages the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice to develop stronger merger review guidelines. Time will tell exactly how the executive orders are implemented, but the directive is a promising indicator of a sea change around antitrust. Small Business Rising, a coalition of business groups including the ABA, applauded the executive order.

Here are the events happening this week (all times Eastern):

• July 13 at 3:00 p.m.: New(ish) Member Session: Intro to Benefits
• July 15 at 1:00 p.m.: Social Media Series: Getting Organized
• July 15 at 7:00 p.m.: LGBTQIA+ Meetup

Regional fall show dates have been announced! Take a look at what’s in store:

• California Independent Booksellers Alliance: Fall Discovery Lab (virtual), October 25–27. Live events held in San Francisco, October 24; Pasadena, October 28
• Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association and Midwest Independent Booksellers Association: Heartland Fall Forum (virtual); events held throughout August, September, and October
• New England Independent Booksellers Association: Fall Conference (virtual), September 21–23
• New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association and the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance: New Voices, New Rooms (virtual), September 27–October 1
• Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association: PNBA Tradeshow, Portland, October 3–5
• Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Association: FallCon, Denver, October 7–9