We are set to have the largest Independent Bookstore Day to date with over 1,600 stores participating! You can continue to submit your plans to ABA (including crawls and passport programs) to be added to our IndieBound article. 

Overstock:

Ingram has the remaining inventory available for stores to place orders before Indie Bookstore Day. Contact your Ingram Rep to place your order.

Marketing and Promotions:

Send Us Your Display Photos

• Leading up to Indie Bookstore Day, we’ll be sharing store photos across social media! Email your Indie Bookstore Day display photos to [email protected]! 

• Orders are arriving in stores now! Feel free to post unboxing videos and pictures of your displays using the hashtag #IndieBookstoreDay, so we can reshare on our social media platforms. However, exclusive items may not be ordered, pre-ordered, or added to a cart until April 26. Blackwing pencils are being sent separately from the respective vendor.

Partner Promotions

• Authors Against Book Bans: The Banned Books Bingo cards feature broader themes for each square, so stores can curate a selection of banned books themselves in a dedicated display or section of the store.
• Libro.fm
  • The link for bookstores to share is Libro.fm/ibd
  • All print and digital materials can be found in our Google Drive folder.  
• Official Indie Bookstore Day assets, posters, and social media graphics and exclusive product images are also available.

Content Creators

Earlier this year, we asked for your suggestions on content creators that can help spread the word about Indie Bookstore Day. Take a look at who we’re working with this year and give them a follow:

• Jordan (CA)
• Amy (CO)
• Shawntaye (KY)
• Phoebe (MA)
• JC (MS)
• Christopher (NY)
• DJ (NY)
• Always Booked Podcast (TX)
• Liz (WI)

Share Your Media Mentions

Is your store being mentioned in local news outlets? Email the story to [email protected] to be added to the IndieBound Indie Bookstore Day Media Webpage. There’s still time to send an Indie Bookstore Day Press Release to your local media! Download the template, enter your specific bookstore’s information (we provided examples!), and you’re ready to send it off.

Spirit Week

Starting Monday, April 21, join fellow booksellers for Independent Bookstore Day Spirit Week! Feel free to share the digital assets, use the hashtag #BookstoreSpiritWeek, and take part in the daily themes leading up to Indie Bookstore Day on April 26. Here are the Spirit Week holidays:

• 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

Reminders:

IndieCommerce + Indie Bookstore Day Webinar Replay

• For IndieCommerce 1.0 (Legacy Platform):
• Webinar Recording
• Help Doc
• For IndieCommerce 2.0
• Webinar Recording
• Help Doc

Sell Thru Survey

On April 28, Stores that ordered exclusives will receive a separate email with the subject line, “Submit your Indie Bookstore Day Sell Thru Data!”, with instructions to submit their sell thru data. This information will help us work with publishers as we determine next year’s exclusives.

Key Dates to Know:

• Now!: All exclusives ship to bookstores
• April 21–25: Indie Bookstore Day Spirit Week
• April 26, the last Saturday in April: Independent Bookstore Day
• New! April 28: Sell Thru Survey sent to stores who ordered exclusives
• New! May 2: Sell Thru Survey Due

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].