Stay up to date with the world of independent bookselling.
Wednesday, July 20, 2022  
 
The ABACUS survey will pay off exponentially for your business
 

The July 26 deadline to complete the ABACUS survey is quickly approaching. This year we are delighted to offer a chance for a full scholarship to Winter Institute 2023 for all participating stores. A drawing will be held once the deadline has passed. 

What is ABACUS? ABACUS is a free annual report filled with detailed information highlighting how your store compares to other stores in a range of areas, including profitability, productivity, and financial management.

Why should I complete it? ABACUS can be one of the most useful tools for your business and for our industry. Stores use it to negotiate leases and analyze their financials; ABA uses it to lobby on stores’ behalf — and so much more! This data is critical to our industry.

How do I complete the survey? Have your Tax return and year-to-date Z report from your POS handy. It should take about 45 minutes to complete. Or, if you spend 10 minutes a day, you will finish in 5 days (Inputs save automatically).

Log in to ABACUSBenchmarking.com or refer to the email sent June 15 from [email protected] with the subject line “ABACUS Benchmarking Survey.” 

Help is available! That includes walking you through the whole process. Email ABA Chief Financial Officer, PK Sindwani at [email protected] or Sophia Rizzi at [email protected].

Short on time? Here’s everything you need to know in our ABACUS infographic.
 
Complete the ABACUS Survey
ABA Open House

Join us Thursday, August 11, at 3:00 pm ET for the first in a series of ABA Open Houses. This event is an opportunity for booksellers and bookstore owners to ask questions, share concerns or experiences, and/or express their needs for support with the ABA team. In attendance from ABA this week will be ABA's CEO Allison Hill, Marketing Manager Courtney Wallace, IndieCommerce Director Phil Davies, and ABFE (American Booksellers for Free Expression) Director Dave Grogan. Registration is required.

This event covers "means" as opposed to the "ends" that are covered by the Board at Town Hall and in Board Office Hours.
 
Register for ABA's Open House
Action Items

Introducing the Management Book Club! This monthly meetup — part business book club and part consult group — is intended for bookstore managers and owners to discuss selected management books, share best practices in staff management, solicit advice on staff development, and grow their skills as leaders in our stores. Each month, ABA Director of Education Kim Hooyboer will lead discussions on that month’s selection. Booksellers are encouraged to attend the session for their region to allow for geographic cohorts, but are welcome to join whichever fits their schedule. The first book up for discussion: The Making of a Manager by Julie Zhuo (9780735219564).

Register for one of the following meetings based on your geographical location or schedule:

You asked for it and now it's available! The redesign of the ABA Member window decal has been completed. Members who receive the bi-monthly box mailing or Indie Next List flyers will find it in their shipments this month. If you do not receive either of those and would like a decal, please send an email to [email protected].

We have compiled handouts of various holidays and observances for August and September as well as example captions and ways to share. See what makes sense for your store's displays, events, newsletters, and social media posts in celebration or observance of these dates. This is not intended to be used in place of your marketing plan but to supplement it. Refer to this list when you have space in your event and content calendars. The content ideas listed are not comprehensive. Get creative!

It’s always a prime time to contact your lawmakers in support of the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (S. 2992), Klobuchar’s Antitrust bill. Amazon is primed for another year of anticompetitive practices that will help the online behemoth grow at the expense of communities, jobs, local businesses, and our economy. In response, it’s time to get even; it’s time to even the playing field. Urge U.S. House and Senate lawmakers to bring The American Innovation and Choice Online Act (S. 2992) to the floor for a vote!
Save the Date

Note: There will be no Tech Meetups for July and August.

Save the date for these upcoming events:
What to Know

The IndieCommerce team is very excited to announce that starting July 25, 2022, we will begin a phased rollout of new IndieCommerce 2.0 websites to bookstores so that their staff can familiarize themselves with the new platform and start customizing their site to fit their needs. Read more about this exciting update!

Thank you for attending ABA’s Annual Meeting & Town Hall on Thursday, July 14! The recording is now available on BookWeb.org. Check back in the coming weeks in BTW for follow-up information from topics discussed.

Fall is around the corner and so is the launch of our new Fall Marketing Campaign! In early August, we will share more information in BTW about the campaign, digital assets, and how to communicate with customers about shopping early and shopping local this holiday season.

Here is the Indie Comics and Graphic Works Bestseller List, based on sales at independent bookstores nationwide for the eight-week period ending July 17, 2022.
 
 
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