Social media materials for Jólabókaflóð, the Icelandic book-giving holiday tradition.
Hanif Abdurraqib is the official 2026 Indie Bookstore Ambassador!
Promote using these social media assets, as well as the official press release.
The Midterm Election Toolkit from the League of Women Voters is full of key dates, resources, calls to action, suggested copy, and assets.
August's Indie Next List #1 top pick is Etna by Paul Yoon. Share these assets on social media letting your customers know they can purchase this and other titles at your store!
Banned Books Week is October 4-10, 2026, and this year's theme is “Let Books Be. Protect the Freedom to Read.”
Monthly lists of holidays and observances with caption examples for your store!
Winter Institute 2027 Pre-Registration Infographic
Share these assets from the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) for the Shop Indie Local Holiday Campaign!
First Day of School, Bookstore Edition
First day of school, but make it bookish. Repurpose these chalkboard templates and have your store and readers celebrate the start of their Back to School season! Whether there are printed ‘chalkboards’ in store or shared on social media, customers (and the store’s booksellers) can join the Back to School festivities!
#BackToBooks2026
Customizing our asset templates using Canva:
-
Open your free Canva account or create one.
-
Click on ‘Create’ and choose size of the graphic (Instagram Post 4:5 for example)
-
In the left toolbar, click ‘Uploads’ > ‘Upload files’ and select downloaded asset
-
Once asset is uploaded, click the graphic to add to the canvas area, then drag corners to fit.
-
To add your customizations, use the tools on the left side to add:
-
Your copy under ‘Text’
-
Photos, shapes and other graphics under ‘Elements’
-
Your own photos or other graphics under ‘Uploads’
-
-
Position, enlarge, rotate to your liking!
-
Once you’re finished, click ‘Share’ in the upper right corner, then click ‘Download’ at the bottom of box. File saves a PNG file, ideal for sharing on social media.
July's Indie Next List #1 top pick is Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves. Share these assets on social media letting your customers know they can purchase this and other titles at your store!
July/August's Kids' Next List top pick is The Skeleton and the Cat by Brandon James Scott. Share these assets on social media letting your customers know they can purchase this and other titles at your store!
June's Indie Next List #1 top pick is Whistler by Ann Patchett. Share these assets on social media letting your customers know they can purchase this and other titles at your store!
To counter Am*zon Prime Day deals and promotions throughout the year (June and October), we've created this brand new campaign to
- Interrupt Am*zon Prime sale day habits by positioning indie bookstores as offering value such as expertise and curation, beyond discounts and impersonal algorithms,
- Provide indie bookstores with language, tools, and assets to communicate their value clearly and consistently during Am*zon Prime sale periods, and,
- Attract new customers who might value the indie bookstore proposition but are in the Am*zon habit.
Download these marketing assets and spreadsheet metadata of the shortlisted and winning titles to promote in your store!
To add these titles on your store's Bookshop.org page, see this how-to guide.
To help booksellers with the penny phase-out, ABA has created a one-page checklist on what booksellers should do to prepare.
Advocacy for independent bookstores happens every day. This page includes ready-to-use social media assets to help indie booksellers share why shopping indie matters, from supporting local economies to strengthening community and culture. Use these graphics anytime you want to amplify the impact of indie bookstores.
Posters featuring messages EAT, SLEEP, READ, LOCAL, and a playful children's version — SNACK, NAP, READ — perfect for display in your store.
Counter Prime Days and beyond
Let’s show readers that their choices matter! We’ve created assets to highlight the impact of supporting local businesses over Amazon and inspire readers to choose indie.
Recommended text for newsletters and social media have also been provided (PDF below).
LeVar Burton is the official 2026 Indie Bookstore Ambassador!
Promote using these social media assets, as well as the official press release.
We are thrilled to introduce a new campaign for Valentine's Day, Indie Bookstores: Your Happily Ever After Starts Here.
Assets below include:
- Two (2) Instagram Reels/Videos
- Graphics for social media platforms
- Recommended text for newsletters and social media have also been provided (PDF below).
Be sure to make it clear to customers how they can shop with the store — whether in-store, online, or both, and whether that includes curbside pickup or delivery.
Below are materials to use at your store to inform your customers about swipe fee reform:
- 4" x 5" card that can be attached to your credit card terminal. The QR code links to our Advocacy page, giving customers easy access to email their lawmakers about supporting the Credit Card Competition Act.
- Bookmarks and fliers that can be placed in bags at the cash wrap, and inserted in bags.
Information about submitting ideas, sponsoring, and sharing on social media.
Use these assets to demand that SBA dump Amazon and other huge corporate sponsors from National Small Business Week.
Promote shopping local for Valentine’s Day, February 14!
For a quick review of what you will need for membership renewals, check out this infographic.
This year’s report, Unfulfilled: Amazon and the American Retail Landscape, includes studies which provide the opportunity to build a deep understanding of how Amazon affects small businesses and communities across the nation, and how those impacts have changed over the years.
Source: Civic Economics
Spread the word about Indies First on November 26 with new downloadable posters for display. Looking for more ways to prepare for Indies First? Check out these marketing and promotion tips for both in-store and online messaging through your community network and resources.
Here are some updated social media assets that highlight reasons to shop with indie bookstores. Share these assets with your followers using the hashtags #BoxedOut and #ShopIndie.
Infographic on the benefits from filling out the ABACUS survey and important uses from the report.
‘I Read Dangerously’ merch and assets to share.
Barack Obama quotes about supporting independent bookstores to share.
Downloadable Indie Next List and Kids Next List nominations deadlines schedules for 2026 and 2027.
Please review our style guide before using our Indie Next List assets. Check back for updates and new additions.