|
|
Back to South SF - October 3-4
NCIBA Trade Show Preview
| | It's still four months away, but we've been hard at work on this year's NCIBA Trade Show for awhile now. Now that Exhibitor Kits have been posted on our website, a new wave of work will begin, and so it seemed like a good time to offer up a preview of this year's event, which takes place on Thursday, October 3 and Friday, October 4 at the South San Francisco Conference Center.
First, one big change to announce. The Holiday Inn next door to the Conference Center, our host hotel last year, underwent a change in management early this year, and the new team evinced little interest in working with us. Their position was that overflow convention business that they expected to get during our dates made it impossible to give us last year's NCIBA room rate of $139. The best they could do was $169 this year.
The best we could do was search for an alternative, and we found one that we're very pleased with - the
the Conference Center, so not right next door but still close. You can easily walk, but there is also free daytime parking at both the hotel and the Conference Center if you want to drive. The hotel isn't overly fancy, but it does have a restaurant and bar and the rooms are clean and up-to-date.
But here's the best news - unlike the Holiday Inn, these folks do want our business. The NCIBA trade show rate is $119 and includes a complimentary buffet breakfast (eggs included). That worth a one-block walk?
The hotel will also be hosting the ABA's IndieCommerce Institute on October 1 and 2, just prior to our trade show. The Institute's programming will be geared to booksellers with active IndieCommerce websites and is not meant as an introduction to the e-commerce platform.
Before getting to some actual show highlights, we also wanted to note that we are working on one of last year's biggest complaints - the difficulty of getting to the show on BART. We are researching the feasibility of some sort of shuttle service to and from the South San Francisco BART station and the Conference Center (a free shuttle already runs during commute hours). We hope to have a plan in place well in advance of October in order to encourage attendance - especially for bookstore staff.
As for the show itself, we're following a similar timeline to last year. Thursday will kick off with our annu al Membership Meeting, followed by a Keynote by author Nancy Horan (Loving Frank), who will discuss her forthcoming novel, Under the Wide and Starry Sky. The book, due in January 2014, recreates another passionate love story - this one between American divorcee Fanny Van de Grift Osbourne and a Scottish writer named Robert Louis Stevenson.
We'll be offering a series of education sessions during the day, along with two Rep Pick gatherings, and two author events - the Author Buzz Lunch and the Children's Author Tea. Our Welcome Reception will coincide with the opening of the trade show exhibit floor for two hours that evening - wine glasses are welcomed.
By the way, we have lineups set for the two author events on Thursday - how's this look?
BUZZ LUNCH (featuring authors with Winter/Spring titles)
* Ishmael Beah, Radiance of Tomorrow, FSG * Carol Cassella, Gemini, Simon & Schuster * Arlo Crawford, A Farm Dies Once a Year, Holt * Armistead Maupin, The Days of Anna Madrigal, Harper * Brian Payton, The Wind Is Not a River, Ecco * Drew Perry, Kids These Days, Algonquin CHILDREN'S AUTHOR TEA * Anthony Horowitz, Russian Roulette: An Alex Rider Novel, Penguin * David Shannon, Bugs in My Hair, Blue Sky/Scholastic * Neil Shusterman, UnSouled, S&S * Cynthia Voigt, Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things, Random House On Friday, we'll start the day with our Large House Rep Picks. We did this at the end of the day last year and booksellers complained that they couldn't go back on the show floor to see the books and talk more about them with the reps. So this year, we're doing the Picks first and giving booksellers all day to check out their favorites.
Following the Rep Picks will be our Adult Author event, which we're still working on. Last year's author breakfast suffered an attendance loss due to an accident on the Bay Bridge, so we'd like to do the event slightly later this year. How does brunch sound? In any case, we've confirmed two speakers thus far - Wally Lamb and Ivan Doig. More to come.
The trade show floor will be open from 11-5 on Friday and will be followed at 5:30 by our annual Author Reception - a chance to collect current and forthcoming books and to meet and chat with 25 authors while enjoying complimentary food and drink. It's attendees' favorite event of the show and a great way to wrap things up.
That enough to get the dates on your calendar? We'll of course have more details in upcoming newsletters, and we expect that the Attendee registration packet will be ready by early August.
|
California Bookstore Day!
| |
California Bookstore Day is becoming a reality. Based on enthusiastic response from publishers, the ABA board of directors and Booksellers Advisory Committee and booksellers throughout the state, The NCIBA board chose May 3, 2014 as the date and unanimously approved the hiring of a coordinator, an Indiegogo campaign to raise funds, a logo design contest, and a timeline for the event. As noted previously in our newsletter and Shelf Awareness, the idea was brought to the board six weeks ago by Pete Mulvihill of Green Apple Books. He wanted to create a Bookstore Day patterned after and based on the success of Record Store Day. The idea is simple: publishers will create something word-based that is limited, unique, and only available for sale at indie bookstores on a certain day. Press runs will range from 500-1000 or so. Participating bookstores will promote the day, the one-of-a-kind items for sale, and their own day-of events to their customers and communities. Here are some details worth noting: * Bookstore participation in California Bookstore Day (CBD) will be open to core members in good standing of both NCIBA and the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association (SCIBA). * We anticipate bookstores choosing from a menu of 15-25 unique items to sell. We will create a committee to work with publishers to ensure that the products are truly special - and only for sale through our stores.
Here's our mantra - would customers stand in line in front of your store an hour before you open to make sure they get what they want?* Our coordinator is Samantha Schoech (pronounced Shay), who has been a freelance writer and editor for the past decade, worked as as a bookseller and events manager at three different independent bookstores, had two books published with Seal Press, and done marketing and PR in both the book and art worlds. She is also married to Pete Mulvihill, which ensures his continued participation with the event (a big plus, trust me!). She can be reached at schoech70@me.com and will be the main contact for the event going forward (please copy hut@nciba.com on emails as well). * Our timeline (still being tweaked) includes launching an logo design contest this month (more below); an Indiegogo fundraising campaign next month; end-of-summer deadlines for publishers to submit ideas for Bookstore Day items; final approval of items and bookstore orders by November 15; and consumer marketing/publicity push beginning January 2014. We are asking booksellers for two things today. First, to distribute to employees and book illustrator friends details of our California Bookstore Day logo contest - see next article. Second, take picture of yourself or your manager in front of your store and send Samantha a copy. We want to use bookstore pictures in the video for Indiegogo, so if you have a picture already or can take one and send it to her electronically within the next week, we'd appreciate it. Samantha and I will keep you posted on progress in the NCIBA newsletter and via email as needed. We need your support to make this work, but it should be fun. If it's a success, we hope it can be a springboard for a national Bookstore Day - how cool would that be?
|
|
California Bookstore Day 2014
LOGO DESIGN COMPETITION
$350 cash prize
| | |
What it is:
California Bookstore Day, on Saturday May 3, 2014, will harness the creative power of authors and publishers to drive readers to brick and mortar bookstores. For one day, and one day only, a number of very limited-edition, unique word-based items will be available to book lovers in independent stores across the state. These aren't your run-of-the-mill signed first editions-these are literature-based art projects, unique books, and collector's items created for this event only. You can't get them on Amazon, you can't get them at B&N, and you can't get them on May 4.
What we're looking for:
We are looking for a logo with flexible design use. Ideally it will work both horizontally and vertically and look as good on a large banner as it does on a bookmark or t-shirt. The logo should capture the spirit of independent bookstores, and a love of books and real bookstores. It might also say something about California, about rare finds, rabid fans, writers, treasures-we leave that part up to you.
Guidelines:
Please send us your logo design in jpeg form. 72dpi is fine for review, but the winning design must be available in hi-res for reproduction. Two -to four-color designs that also look great in black and white are ideal.
Deadline:
July 9, 2013
Winner will be announced by July 30, 2013
Send submissions to Samantha Schoech at schoech70@mac.com with "Logo Submission" in the subject line.
Sponsored by the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association and California Bookstore Day.
|
|
July 1- Final Date to Join Indies Introduce Debut Authors Promotion
| |
The deadline for ABA member stores to sign up and choose at least six titles for this fall's Indies Introduce ... Debut Authors promotion has been extended to Monday, July 1. Publishers are supporting the 22 featured titles, chosen by a panel of 13 booksellers, with a variety of special offers, author videos, first editions, and marketing materials. BookWeb's Design & Downloads also offers author videos, web banners, and more for promoting titles in stores, on the web, and via social media. And added just last week to the Indies Introduce ... Debut Authors homepage are bookseller quotes for each title. A list of the fall debut titles is now also featured on Edelweiss. "These bookseller-chosen books, some fiction, some nonfiction, and all written by first-time authors, are amazing," said Betsy Burton of The King's English Bookshop, who chaired the adult panel. "The titles were culled from literally thousands of pages of manuscripts by your friends and colleagues... Not only are we on the panels wildly excited about these books, so are the publishers. They showcase indies doing precisely what we do best - finding good books and passing them on." To ensure you're part of this fall's Indies Introduce, sign up now. Booksellers with questions should contact BSI Senior Program Officer Joy Dallanegra-Sanger. |
|
San Francisco's One City One Book Pick Announced
| |
A major terrorist attack strikes the Bay Area. The Department of Homeland Security declares a police state where every citizen is treated as a potential terrorist. The fate of our first amendment rights resides in the hands of a high school-a  ge hacker. This is the premise of the provocative, refreshing and timely novel LITTLE BROTHER by Cory Doctorow, which has been chosen as San Francisco's One City One Book for 2013.
The One City One Book: San Francisco Reads 2013 Selection Committee says Little Brother, which is set in San Francisco, is the perfect pick this year because "Doctorow is an author not afraid to fight the good fight, and in this highly readable, technologically savvy novel for all reading levels, he gives us the tools necessary so that we can do the same." Additionally, "reading it will be a great cross cultural experience for youth and adults."
For the first time, the One City One Book selection committee (which included Kevin Hunsanger of Green Apple Books and the NCIBA's Hut Landon) has picked a book that is marketed as a Young Adult novel. Library Journal says: "Doctorow is the ultimate crossover author, whose sharp writing and commitment to investigating the hot-button political and technological issues of today (and tomorrow) engage YA and adult readers alike."
About the Book:
Marcus, a.k.a "w1n5t0n," is only 17 years old, but he figures he already knows how the system works-and how to work the system. Smart, fast, and wise to the ways of the networked world, he has no trouble outwitting his high school's intrusive but clumsy surveillance systems.
But his whole world changes when he and his friends find themselves caught in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco. In the wrong place at the wrong time, Marcus and his crew are apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security and whisked away to a secret prison where they're mercilessly interrogated for days.
When the DHS finally releases them, Marcus discovers that his city has become a police state where every citizen is treated like a potential terrorist. He knows that no one will believe his story, which leaves him only one option: to take down the DHS himself
Canadian-born Cory Doctorow is the author of the New  York Times bestselling young adult novel Little Brother, and the co-editor of the popular blog BoingBoing. His other YA novels include Pirate Cinema and Homeland (2013), the sequel to Little Brother. His adult novels and short stories have won him three Locus Awards and the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. He has been named one of the Web's twenty-five "influencers" by Forbes Magazine and a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He lives in London with his wife and daughter. |
|
Sales Rep Update:
Carroll Subbing for Skaggs
| |
As many of you may know,Dan Skaggs from Wilcher Associates in on indefinite leave with health issues, so fellow rep George Carroll is covering for Dan until his return. George can be reached at 425-922-1045 or geocarroll@earthlink.net.
|
|
Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation Offers Utility Shut-off Prevention
|
|
Ann Arbor, MI (June 19, 2013) - The Binc Foundation is pleased to announce the addition of utility shut-off prevention as a qualifying event category to the financial assistance grant program. Including utility shut-off prevention as a qualifying event, allows Binc to assist a greater number of bookstore employees who are experiencing a financial hardship.
Under this category, utility assistance may be provided to a bookseller when a shut-off notice has been issued and the household may lose an essential utility (gas, heating oil or electric service only). To be considered for shut-off prevention assistance, a bookseller should visit the financial assistance page of the website for additional details.
Binc understands that quick action is needed to prevent a utility shut-off. We strive to review bookseller requests confidentially and expediently. Since inception the Foundation has helped more than 6,500 families with more than $5M in the form of emergency financial grants and higher education scholarships. Any book store employee facing an unexpected personal financial hardship such as utility shut-off may apply for a tax free grant.
About Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation
The Book Industry Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that coordinates charitable programs to strengthen the bookselling community. Established in 1996, as the Borders Group Foundation the core program provides assistance to bookstore employees who have a demonstrated financial need arising from severe hardship and/or emergency circumstances. Since its inception, the organization has provided over $5 million in charitable assistance.
It is our vision to be the cornerstone of a caring community of book people. In 2011, when Borders and Waldenbooks stores closed, the Foundation reinvented itself and expanded its mission. The Foundation increased the reach from former Borders employees and their families to all employees in the book industry, starting with book retailers.
Support for the Foundation's programs and services come from all sectors of the book industry. Additional information can be found at www.bincfoundation.org.
|
|
Sell Books with Hut's Place
| | |
Take a look at the latest issue of Hut's Place, the weekly newsletter column dedicated to driving book buyers into bookstores with news of popular new releases, new titles on bestseller lists, hot books arriving in paperback, and more. If you forward the column to a few good customers (or family and friends) with an invitation to subscribe, they'll buy the books from you when they read about something they want - a win-win, right?
|
|
Poster Reminds Customers That Books Make Great Gifts All Year Round
| | |
The NCIBA has done a new color printing of its poster touting books as gifts that's available free to any interested bookstore member. The message is simple - books make great gifts for any person and any occasion; to date, more than 75 stores have requested and received posters.
The impetus for the poster's creation came from the notion that, although book buyers may spend less on themselves in tough times, they will usually not shirk on spending when purchasing a gift. So why promote books as great gift ideas only during the holiday season? Book customers purchase gifts all year round, so let's remind them that books are the perfect answer.
The poster, measuring 11x17 and printed on card stock, can be ordered for free by emailing hut@nciba.com. Or use the concept to create your own messaging and let us know what you come up with.
|
|
|
|
|
