Stay up to date with the world of independent bookselling.
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
The Future Is Indie!
 

“The Future Is Indie” campaign has begun!

ABA’s new indie bookstore campaign champions the vital role independent businesses play in shaping the future, launched just in time for Am*zon Pr*me Day.

Marketing assets and t-shirts are now available! Join us in celebrating our indie future.

ABA, Bookshop.org, and The Novel Neighbor are partnering with USA TODAY to spread the word about the value of independent bookstores to communities and to readers.

The return of the Best-selling Booklist includes a bestseller list that features all indie stores that report sales to ABA, a weekly highlight of an indie bookstore, and regular indie bookstore featured content.

Watch BTW for more announcements and new campaign initiatives rolling out this year.
Action Items
Winter Institute 2024 Scholarship Applications Open Today

ABA’s scholarship program aims to create a more equitable path to entry for booksellers who have or hope to make a career in the industry, and/or booksellers who might not be able to attend otherwise. 

Scholarship recipients receive waived event fees to in-person Winter Institute, a comped hotel room during the Institute, and up to $600 reimbursement for travel to and from the Institute. 

Applications are due by 5:00 pm ET on Friday, July 28, 2023.
Apply for a Scholarship
Complete Your ABACUS By July 23

ABACUS, ABA's free financial benchmarking survey, is a critical resource for our industry. Not only can you make better business decisions with a comprehensive report of how your store compares to others, but ABA can use ABACUS data to better understand and advocate for your needs.

This year the survey is shorter and easier than ever! Log in to ABACUSBenchmarking.com or refer to the email sent June 9 from [email protected] with the subject line “ABACUS Benchmarking Survey.”

If you’re ready to take the survey but still need a little help, sign up for one of our step-by-step ABACUS workshops led by ABA CFO (and former bookstore owner) PK Sindwani.
Learn More About ABACUS
July is Disability Pride Month

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

If you are a bookstore owner with a disability, we’d love to feature your store.

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?

To share your story or have us feature your store, please reach out to BTW at [email protected].
Email BTW
Save the Date

Save the date for these upcoming events:
What to Know
Indies Introduce Q&A with John Milas

John Milas is the author of The Militia House, a Summer/Fall 2023 Indies Introduce selection. Here, Milas and Beth Shapiro of Skylark Bookshop in Columbia, MO, discuss Militia House.
Indies Introduce Q&A with Anna Sortino

Anna Sortino is the author of Give Me a Sign, a Summer/Fall 2023 Indies Introduce Kids’ selection. Here, Sortino and Abby Rice of Title IX: A Bookstore in Mystic, CT, discuss Give Me a Sign.
A Q&A With Michael Finkel, Author of July Indie Next List Top Pick “The Art Thief”

Independent booksellers across the country have chosen Finkel’s The Art Thief as their top pick for the July 2023 Indie Next List. Here, Bookselling This Week and Finkel talk about The Art Thief.
AMIBA Independents Month

July is also National Independent Retailer Month, and the American Independent Business Alliance is looking for partners for their Independents Month campaign. Part of their Choose Indie Local Initiative, this campaign aims to inspire communities to celebrate local businesses. 
Brilliant Books Pushes Back Against Texas HB900

In response to Texas HB900, Brilliant Books of Traverse City, MI, is offering a free membership to all K–12 Texas students.

In their statement, Brilliant Books criticized HB900 and announced they would no longer be selling to schools in Texas, as they refuse to rate their books. Instead, Brilliant Books is bypassing the schools and getting books directly to the students who want them. Every K–12 student in Texas can claim a membership discount by mentioning their school in the comments when they place an order. 

Take a moment to read Brilliant Books’ full response to HB900. 
Small Business Administration Webinars

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering dozens of webinars this summer to help you improve your business. Some of these include: 

Register for any of the events above, or visit the SBA events page to see the full lineup.
Small Business Rising Letter Supporting CCCA

Today, Small Business Rising sent a letter to the White House and congressional leaders in support of the Credit Card Competition Act. The letter was signed by more than thirty organizations, including the American Booksellers Association.

You can read the full letter on the SBR website.
 
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