Start Planning for Indies First on Small Business Saturday

Preparations for the fourth annual celebration of Indies First on Small Business Saturday kicked into gear last week following the announcement of Lena Dunham as this year’s spokesperson for the November 26 event.

The bestselling author of Not That Kind of Girl (Random House, 2015) and creator and star of the critically acclaimed HBO series Girls is calling on readers and her fellow authors to join her in support of independent bookstores.

Now is the time for booksellers and authors to start making arrangements for Indies First on Small Business Saturday, which is just nine weeks away. Below is a list of helpful reminders:

Booksellers:

• Contact a favorite local author or illustrator to come to your store on Small Business Saturday, November 26, or make arrangements with an author or illustrator who contacts you directly. Booksellers can consult the Indies First Author and Illustrator Registry for a list of authors and illustrators who would like to participate.
• Add your event details to the Store Indies First Activity Registry so that it can be publicized on the Indies First map on IndieBound.org. Allow 48 hours for the Indies First map to reflect your submission.
• Check out publishers’ special offers and plan your orders. Reach out to visiting authors to find out what titles they plan to hand-sell and check publishers’ Indies First specials to see what offers may apply.
• Stop by the ABA booth at the upcoming regional association trade shows to check out Indies First totes, buttons, and posters and to grab a copy of Dunham’s letter. A digital version of Dunham’s letter is also available to ABA members.
• Be on the lookout for the October Red Box mailing, which includes Indies First balloons, bookmarks, and tote bags for promoting the event. Booksellers can find digital Indies First logos and poster designs in BookWeb’s Designs and Downloads.
• Promote, publicize, and photograph. Use store newsletters, websites, and social media postings (#IndiesFirst) to further the Indies First message and highlight your event. Encourage visiting authors/illustrators to do the same.
• Follow Indies First on Facebook and Twitter and encourage customers to do so.

Authors and Illustrators:

• Join the Indies First Author and Illustrator Registry. Names will remain in the registry for all future Indies First activities. If you’re friends with a local indie, contact them directly and volunteer to appear at the store on Small Business Saturday. You can also search for a store near your location.
• Link to an independent bookstore for the online sale of your books. Ask your local store if it has an affiliate or linking program and how you can join, or link to IndieBound.org and tap into a national network of e-commerce sites.
• Use social media to tell your readers about Indies First, using the hashtag #IndiesFirst, and follow Indies First on Facebook and Twitter.

Questions about Indies First should be directed to [email protected].