Check Out These ABA Pre-Order Calendar Highlights

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version

Booksellers can view a list of titles with good pre-order potential on the American Booksellers Association’s website by browsing the Pre-Order Calendar. The calendar specifically features books with added value, such as signed copies and exclusive merchandise, to entice customers to order from their local indie.

The calendar, which is updated on a weekly basis, outlines selected books’ publication dates and details for ordering from publishers (booksellers should note order deadlines). When available, titles on the calendar will also link to a page with publishers’ downloadable digital marketing assets, occasionally including special ads created by ABA that highlight the offer for customers.

In addition to pre-order ads for specific books, ABA has created “Keep It Local” pre-order shelf-talkers, which booksellers can use for their websites and newsletters or print out and use in their stores.

New items available for pre-order are indicated by the date they were added in red. In addition, titles being featured as a pre-order ad in an upcoming Indie Next List flier will have the notation: *INL: Month*.

Some highlights from the Pre-order Calendar include:

  • Dinosnores by Sandra Boynton (Workman Publishing, 9781523508136, Board book, $6.95, Pub date September 3): Added Value: Door hangers (one per unit ordered) with original art by Sandra Boynton, 8.5 x 3.5”, printed on heavy cardstock, for customer giveaway; order deadline is August 9 via online form; stores will also receive easel-back posters for display and digital assets to promote.
  • Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? by Caitlin Doughty (W.W. Norton & Company, 9780393652703, Hardcover, $25.95, Pub date September 3) Added Value: Signed 10-copy cartons available; after a minimum order of 10 copies, stores will receive one enamel pin per copy as a pre-order giveaway for customers; must order by August 12. Contact Meg Sherman and Steve Colca for details.
  • The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (Harper, 9780062963673, Hardcover, $27.99, Pub date September 24) Added Value: 10-copy signed carton (carton ISBN: 9780062966551, $279.90); limited signed quantities are available while supplies last, publisher will do their best to fulfill demand; store promo should include “limited supply” notice to customers. *INL: August*
  • Wayward Son (Simon Snow Series) by Rainbow Rowell (Wednesday Books, 9781250146076, Hardcover, $19.99, Pub date September 24) Added Value: Pre-Order Kit (ISBN: 9781250750709) available for free while supplies last and includes poster, easel, shelf-talker, and 10 embroidered patches for customer giveaway; order through Edelweiss. *INL: September*
  • Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic Press, 9781338188325, Hardcover, $19.99, Pub date November 5) Added Value: Special nine-copy floor display includes signed art for each copy (Display ISBN: 9781338305449); limited special displays available, order via Edelweiss while supplies last.

Every bookstore has the ability to take pre-orders, either in-store or online, granted they have e-commerce capabilities. Here, booksellers can find a PowerPoint presentation that details how to manage pre-orders.

Additionally, booksellers can flag pre-order titles on their IndieCommerce websites. If interested in using the pre-order badge feature on a specific title, booksellers can enable the setting on the book’s product page. A document with more information is available here.

Booksellers should also search Bookselling This Week’s “pre-order” tag for more information about promoting pre-orders in their stores.