Watch Your Inbox for the 2019 Independent Business Survey

On Thursday, April 25, booksellers should watch their inboxes for an e-mail from the American Booksellers Association with a link to the 2019 Independent Business Survey.

The survey aims to gather data and insight about the challenges independent businesses across sectors are facing, including issues like health care costs, access to financing, and the market power of dominant competitors such as Amazon.

This is a confidential, nationwide survey conducted annually by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and the Advocates for Independent Business in partnership with local business alliances across the country. Thousands of diverse businesses participate each year, and aggregate responses help inform journalists, elected officials, and community leaders while strengthening advocacy efforts.

The survey link will be sent in an e-mail with the subject line “Please participate in this very important survey” to the employee ABA has listed as the primary contact at each store (to update your contact preferences, e-mail [email protected]). The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete, and one response per member store will be accepted. The survey will close on Wednesday, May 8, at midnight PDT.