ABACUS: An Urgent Call Out to Past Participants

"We've participated in ABACUS for a number of years, and every year we learn something -- tips, shortcuts, changes in accounting, and, most of all, small ways to save money," Becky Milner of Vintage Books in Vancouver, Washington, said recently. "We take that two percent seriously. A shaving here and there really does make a difference to our bottom line."

Milner's comments just about sum up why the American Booksellers Association's Board of Directors and former CEO Avin Mark Domnitz have each undertaken outreach efforts to members to ensure that ABACUS, the only benchmarking tool available in the independent bookselling world, continues. "With the input of independent bookstores, the ABACUS Financial Survey provides a wide range of financial data and analysis, insightful and actionable data that have allowed booksellers to benchmark their operations and improve their business' bottom lines," said the Board in a June 18 open letter to members. However, this invaluable tool is in jeopardy due to declining participation for the past two years.

Domnitz, who relaunched ABACUS some years ago, will oversee this year's project and will be the only person who will see any individual store's numbers. He recently wrote to participants in past studies, those who have participated in at least three of the last four studies, to urge their continued cooperation. "You understand the value of a valid benchmarking tool to our industry. The statistics clearly show that participating businesses have a higher profitability, on average, than non-participating businesses," he said, adding " I am not foolish enough to assert that merely sending in your numbers raises your profitability.

"But I do assert, most emphatically, that paying attention to your numbers and methodically analyzing them by comparing them to a valid standard will result in a rational approach to increased profitability."

Acknowledging that some booksellers might be reluctant to share "bad" numbers created by these harsh economic times, Domnitz said, "I beseech you to overcome this reticence and to contribute to the common good."

Due to the urgency of the situation, Domnitz upped the benefits of participation by offering each past respondent a one-on-one consultation to go over their results.

All ABA member stores are urged to submit their 2008 financial data, via the secure, easy-to-use online survey form before the August 15 deadline. Questions, suggestions, comments, and other feedback relating to ABACUS may be submitted here.