June 26, 2008 double-sided fliers" with the e-mail teasers on one side and one of TABLE OF CONTENTS: the IndieBound logos on the other. • Bookstores IndieBound for Independence Day Linn explained that she especially likes "Think Outside the Books" .......................................................................... 1 since it captures the spirit of Books & Books -- community-based, • Checks to Be Mailed to Constant Contact but with an independent attitude. In that spirit, for its Fourth of July celebrations, Books & Books plans to commemorate all Subscribers ...................................................... 2 independents, and the store is inviting its fellow local businesses to • More Questions About Amazon.com and Sales join their celebration. "On July Fourth, it's a celebration of all Tax ................................................................... 2 independents as well as our interdependence," Linn noted. • BTW News Briefs ............................................. 3 Jan Healy of Eagle Harbor Book Company in Bainbridge Island, • Around Indie Bookstores .................................. 3 Washington, said, "The Bainbridge Island Downtown Association 6 • BookPeople: Creating Banners to Spread the [BIDA] is very excited about all the [IndieBound] products and IndieBound." The store itself will be placing select IndieBound Indie Word ........................................................ 4 materials throughout the store and in the window. • The Indie Cooking Bestseller List ..................... 4 BIDA's Economic Development Committee has been developing a • Tapping Into the Growing Market for Graphic Buy Local campaign, "Think Bainbridge/Buy Local." The group Novels .............................................................. 5 plans to launch the campaign during "Celebrate Independents • Who Gets What -- and When -- With Week," held July 1 - 7. IndieBound ....................................................... 6 In an e-mail to BTW , BIDA member Sarah Wen, owner of the • Illinois Bookstore Speaks to the Bainbridge clothing boutique Kennedy & Kate, wrote: "We are African-American Experience ........................... 6 totally inspired by the positive spirit of IndieBound and impressed • "Here's What You Just Did" .............................. 7 by the fresh and exciting marketing materials. We quickly adopted some of the spirit lines (like 'declare your independence' and • Cody's Final Chapter ........................................ 8 'unchain yourself') and incorporated elements of IndieBound's identity into our campaign, so that the two campaigns complement MARKETPLACE each other." • Classifieds ........................................................ 8 For "Celebrate Independents Week," BIDA plans to deliver • Other Advertising .............................................. 9 marketing materials (including window decals) to approximately 50 downtown merchants. "We will reach out to the community at large on July 3 with an Info Booth at our annual street dance where we will hand out materials and giveaways from both Think Bookstores IndieBound for Bainbridge/Buy Local and IndieBound," Wen noted. Independence Day In Tampa, Florida, the Tampa Independence Business Alliance 7 (TIBA) will be holding its seventh annual Independents Week 8 June 26, 2008 -- As Americans gear up for next week's Fourth of 9 1 event, and Inkwood Books will be incorporating IndieBound July celebrations, ABA member booksellers are using IndieBound materials into the celebration. On Saturday, June 28, at Nature's marketing materials to create or supplement their own unique Harvest Market, TIBA will kick off events with an expo, where "Independents" promotions. "we'll be using the IndieBound spirit cards to help people get The staff at Books & Books 2 in Coral Gables, Florida, is building involved," said Inkwood co-owner Carla Jimenez. anticipation for the Fourth of July weekend celebrations at their Jimenez will also be creating a customized "Here's What You Just three Florida stores with daily e-mail "teasers" that incorporate Did 10 " poster for each TIBA member, which she'll give them at the IndieBound "Think Outside the Books" and "IndieBound" graphics expo. And at the bookstore, Inkwood will be offering a 20 percent 3 together with quotes on independent thought from iconic authors, discount on the Top 10 Indie Bestsellers. reported Debra Linn, who works on events and marketing at the 11 store. The e-mail campaign began on Tuesday, June 24. In addition, To promote the weeklong sale, Jimenez sent an e-mail to the Books & Books will be sending its regular monthly e-mail on store's customer list that began with the Declaration of IndieBound Friday, June 27, and this will highlight both the Indie Bestseller 12 , followed by details of the store's promotions and other Lists 4 and the Indie Next List 5 . information. Materials from the Liberation Box are also featured around the store. "People are responding very well," Jimenez said. For the Independence Day celebration, the Books & Books stores "This is a quiet time of year for us, so it will take a while to build, will hang the "Eat. Sleep. Read." posters and will use "all the but we're all behind [IndieBound], and the staff is enthusiastic." different materials from the Literary Liberation Box," Linn 13 reported. "We will hand out the bookmarks, and we will be creating At The King's English Bookshop in Salt Lake City, Utah, co-owner Betsy Burton noted that Local First Utah 14 is celebrating © 2008 American Booksellers Association. http://news.bookweb.org/ 1 BOOKSELLING THIS WEEK June 26, 2008 Independents Week from June 28 through July 5. Farmers markets audiences, manage lists and track results, and more. The program is will "bookend" the weeklong event, she said, which will feature a also CAN-SPAM compliant. live cooking competition where participants will use selected Through the Constant Contact Learning Center, which includes ingredients from local farms. articles on best practices, live webinars, and recorded tutorials, During Independents Week, The King's English will be offering booksellers will have all of the resources they need to grow their discounts of 17.76 percent, Burton reported. And when celebrations businesses through the power of e-mail marketing and surveys. kick off on Saturday, it will also be the first time that any King's New Constant Contact subscribers can sign up today 19 for a 60-day English customers will see IndieBound materials. "We're putting it free trial without risk or obligation, and no credit card is required. all up on Saturday, June 28 ... for the first time -- all over the When booksellers join Constant Contact as paid subscribers 20 , place," said Burton, who added that she expects a great response they automatically become eligible for next year's rebate. from customers. "We've trained the staff because we know people will ask about IndieBound," she explained. "We've taught them to Members with questions about this year's Constant Contact rebates say the right things." should contact Margaret Bartolini 21 , assistant to ABA's controller. Questions about using Constant Contact should be addressed to Added Burton, "The program is great ... and uses wonderful Constant Contact customer service at (800) 221-2701. materials. The bright red posters ... are the most eye-catching things any one has produced in the movement." Other ABA Business Management Products and Services 22 designed to help independent booksellers compete in a changing And in Bradenton, Florida, The Village Bookshop's MySpace page marketplace include discounted credit card processing, low-cost 15 now features IndieBound and invites customers to a Fourth of business insurance, discounts on small-package and freight July rally, where they can sign the Declaration of Independents. shipping, and more. Questions about ABA Member Services For bookstores still looking for IndieBound event ideas for should be directed to ABA's Jill Perlstein [email protected] 23 or Independence Day week, ABA's IndieBound staff offer up the (800) 637-0037, ext 6642. following: • Hold an Indie Block Party. Organize a block party, sponsored More Questions About Amazon.com and by all the independent businesses in your area. Everyone can Sales Tax provide something different: food, music, or fun! Bring all your IndieBound gear, and give "We're IndieBound" window decals June 25, 2008 -- The latest column by Wall Street Journal writer to all the participating businesses. Hand out copies of the Lee Gomes takes a close look at what he characterizes as "an Declaration of IndieBound and have a Declaration Signing table. audacious legal strategy Amazon.com has used to avoid collecting There doesn't have to be an occasion any more special than sales tax" in some states where it has warehouses or distribution promoting your community's unique, independent culture. See centers. streetparty.net for tons of great block party ideas and The June 25 column -- "Will Amazon Get a Visit From the Tax organizational help. Man? 24 " -- details the legal argument made by Amazon.com that 16 distribution facilities shipping Amazon.com orders to customers are • Independents Day. Similar to America Unchained , a not under its control, but, rather, that they are the operations of a nationwide event sponsored by the American Independent company that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Amazon.com. As Business Alliance, plan a citywide holiday from shopping at Gomes notes in his column, courts have allowed companies to set