Stay up to date with the world of independent bookselling.
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
This year's ABACUS is easier than ever!
 

“I saw the email about ABACUS starting: “ABACUS without a fuss” and lo and behold, that’s exactly what happened! The asks seemed easier this year. It also gave me a chance to look at some numbers I hadn’t previously analyzed, including freight on returns. I completed the whole thing in about two hours, and honestly it could have been quicker, but I wanted to be super deliberate.

Thanks so much for making it a bit easier.”

—Kira Wizner, Merritt Bookstore, Millbrook, NY

And, check out this lovely TikTok Kira made explaining her experience with the survey and encouraging everyone to fill out ABACUS!

Booksellers have until July 23 to submit their responses. Check your email for the subject line “ABACUS Benchmarking Survey” to get started! 

You can learn more about ABACUS on BookWeb or email ABA Chief Financial Officer, PK Sindwani.
 
Need Help? Register for a Workshop
Action Items
One Week Until Virtual Children's Institute

June 28 is Virtual Children’s Institute!

Join us for keynote presentations, education sessions, a virtual Galley Room, and opportunities to chat with booksellers from around the country. This is your last chance to see Ruby Bridges and Nikkolas Smith in conversation with ABA’s own Britt Camacho, a Children's Institute exclusive. 

As always, as many recordings as possible will also be available for free on BookWeb.
Register Now
Indies Introduce Adult Presentation

The Indies Introduce Adult Presentation will take place Tuesday, June 27. Hear from the panelists who curated this year’s Summer/Fall Indies Introduce list and listen to this season’s authors sharing passages from their debut titles. 
Register Now
July is Disability Pride Month

As part of our coverage, we want to center our booksellers with disabilities.

If you have a disability, visible or otherwise, we’d like to hear from you. How does your disability interact with your identity as a bookseller? Has it impacted how you operate your store? What do you wish more people knew? What does Disability Pride Month mean to you? 

If you want to share your story, please reach out to BTW at [email protected].
Share Your Story
Management Book Club

Join other bookstore managers and owners to discuss selected management books, share best practices in staff management, solicit advice on staff development, and grow your skills as leaders in your stores. The Management Book Club meets on the third Wednesday of every month at 3:00 pm ET.

The July selection is: Reverse Mentoring: Removing Barriers and Building Belonging in the Workplace by Patrice Gordon (9780306829611).
Join the Book Club
Senators Introduce Antitrust Legislation

Late last week, Senators Klobuchar and Grassley reintroduced the American Innovation and Choice Online Act (AICOA). This important bill is a first step toward promoting fair competition on the Big Tech platforms as it would outlaw some of the most anticompetitive tactics they use to exploit and undermine small businesses. AICOA prohibits Amazon, Meta, Apple, and Alphabet from preferencing their products over businesses that depend on them to reach customers online. ABA has been lobbying for the AICOA and will keep you updated as the bill moves forward. 
Save the Date

Save the date for these upcoming events:
What to Know
Take Your Dog To Work Day
 

June 23 is Take Your Dog to Work Day! We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share some photos of ABA’s canine coworkers.  

Maisy and Chiva (top left) keep Chief Operations Officer Joy Dallanegra-Sanger company as she works. Gus (top right) is the trusty assistant to Gen de Botton, Senior Manager of Children's Bookselling Programs & Education. Reese (middle left) always lends an ear to Design & Production Manager Linda Ford. And Olive and Fiyero (bottom left and right) rest outside after a long day of helping Chief Communications Officer Ray Daniels.
Prepare for Possible UPS Strike

ABA has been in conversation with publishers and Ingram about the possibility of a UPS strike beginning August 1. Unfortunately, given the distribution bandwidth as well as the labor shortage, there is no "backup" if the strike occurs.

In some cases, shippers will switch to FedEx but we don't anticipate FedEx or the contractors who handle FedEx Ground being able to handle all of the overflow. That said, we are hopeful that an agreement will be reached in the weeks ahead as progress has already been indicated.

If there's no resolution as the date grows closer, the best thing you can do is stock up on inventory, when and if possible, and make sure you have a FedEx account as a backup (but expect delays). Enroll now in ABA's PartnerShip program to save 50% on FedEx Express and 30% on FedEx Ground.
Indies Introduce Q&A with Thao Thai

Thao Thai is the author of Banyan Moon, a Summer/Fall 2023 Indies Introduce selection. Here, Thai and Thu Doan of East Bay Booksellers in Oakland, CA, discuss Banyan Moon.
Indies Introduce Q&A with Gabi Burton

Gabi Burton is the author of Sing Me to Sleep, a Summer/Fall 2023 Indies Introduce Kids’ selection. Here, Burton and Kathy Burnette of Brain Lair Books in South Bend, IN, discuss Sing Me to Sleep.
Indie SciFi/Fantasy Bestseller List

Here is the Indie SciFi/Fantasy Bestseller List, based on sales at independent bookstores nationwide for the eight-week period ending June 18.
Indie-to-Indie’s July Playlist

Indie-to-Indie has created a playlist for July focused on climate change.
Congratulations to Charis Books and More!

Charis Books and More was awarded the Publishing Professional Award at the 35th Annual Lambda Literary Awards. This Southern independent feminist bookstore has been around since 1974 and works with its non-profit partner, Charis Circle, to support diverse and marginalized voices. 
 
Quick Links
Indie Next ListIndie Bestseller Lists
Follow ABA
“ABA”“ABA”“ABA” “ABA”
General inquiries and membership: [email protected]
IndieCommerce: [email protected]
Bookselling This Week (BTW) is a Publication of the American Booksellers Association.
Subscribe to Bookselling This Week. E-mail [email protected] to update your e-mail address. Unsubscribe from BTW.