Sign-ups to participate close in two weeks on March 31*. You must be a logged-in ABA member** to access the form. If you do not know your login credentials please email us at [email protected]. *If you have already ordered exclusives or signed up already, you do not need to complete this form again. **Independent Bookstore Day is open to those who are members of ABA, as well as their regional booksellers association. What's New: Openings for 2026–2027 Indie Bookstore Day Advisory Committee Have ideas for next year’s Independent Bookstore Day? We have openings in the Indie Bookstore Day Advisory Committee! The Advisory Committee provides feedback on ideas for proposed items as well as promotional aspects from now through next April. It is made up of one or two booksellers from each of the regional associations. To learn more and submit your name for consideration, complete this Google Form by Monday, April 8. Our first meeting will be mid-May with the current committee, where we’ll debrief about this past year! You must be a member of a regional association to participate. March To-Dos:- Start marketing Indie Bookstore Day.
- If you ordered the free Indie Bookstore Day bookmarks, they will arrive in your March Box Mailing.
- Mention the day and any details in your newsletter and on social media. Make your announcement using the digital assets and exclusive item images on BookWeb.org.
- List special events in your events calendar.
- Post images/graphics of exclusive items and other teasers on social media.
- Add exclusives to your IndieCommerce 1.0 or 2.0 sites.
- Join a member of the IndieCommerce team for a live, online, instructional webinar on March 19 or 20 (see “Key Dates to Know” below for registration). They will cover how to manage the exclusive product listings and other content for the event, displaying on-hand quantities, adjusting the on-sale date and time for products, managing orders through your IndieCommerce/IndieLite site, and other resources available.
- A Help Document will be made available for adding exclusives as well.
- Send a Press Release to your local media.
- Download the template, enter your specific bookstore information (we provided examples!), and you’re ready to send it off.
- Arrange for media sponsorship — radio, newspapers, websites — in your area if possible.
- Keep an eye out for your Ingram Order on ipage.
Key Dates to Know:- March 19, 2:00 pm ET: IndieCommerce 1.0 Webinar
- March 20, 2:00 pm ET: IndieCommerce 2.0 Webinar
- March 31: Indie Bookstore Day 2025 Participation Form closes. (Stores that didn't order exclusive items can sign up to participate until this date.)
- April 4: Indie Bookstore Day Searchable Map goes live on IndieBound
- Early- to mid-April: All exclusives ship to bookstores
- April 21–25: Indie Bookstore Day Spirit Week
- Monday, April 21: Silly Sock Day
- Tuesday, April 22: Plaid Tuesday
- Wednesday, April 23: On Wednesdays We Wear Bookstore Shirts
- Thursday, April 24: Book Character Dress-Up Day
- Friday, April 25: YOUR store’s Spirit Day
- April 26, the last Saturday in April: Independent Bookstore Day
Stay tuned for future updates via our newsletters. Missed an issue of the Indie Bookstore Day Newsletter? Catch up on them all on BookWeb. Questions? Contact Courtney Wallace, Independent Bookstore Day Program Director at [email protected]. |
