On Thursday, October 25, from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. EDT, the American Booksellers Association will present a video roundtable discussion on membership programs. All booksellers are invited to participate.

A number of independent bookstores offer membership programs — sometimes called loyalty programs or frequent buyer programs — that customers can join in order to receive discounts and perks.

Membership programs are generally offered for a yearly or monthly fee (though sometimes for free) and offer customers a variety of rewards, such as discounts and coupons, early purchase opportunities for ticketed events, priority or reserved seating at events, members-only parties or sales, and signed books, as well as a sense of belonging to a special club.

The booksellers who will be leading the October 25 discussion are:

• Cody Madsen of Book Culture [5] in New York City
• Christine Onorati of Word [6] in Brooklyn, New York, and Jersey City, New Jersey
• Peter Makin of Brilliant Books [7] in Traverse City, Michigan

Membership programs are different from subscription services, which deliver books and book-related products to paying customers on a regular schedule (learn more about subscription services in Bookselling This Week [8]).

The live video meeting is conducted through Zoom.us, and all ABA member booksellers are welcome to participate. E-mail [email protected] [9] for an invitation and instructions.