ABFFE Seeks Bookseller Plaintiffs in Alaska and Massachusetts

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression is asking bookstores to become plaintiffs in challenges to new censorship laws in Alaska and Massachusetts. Both laws ban the electronic communications of material that is "harmful to minors," which includes the display of "harmful" book jackets and excerpts on booksellers' Web sites. ABFFE president Chris Finan said his organization has helped overturn eight similar laws.

'Sleeping Beauties' a Sleeper Hit for Sellers

IndieBound Goes to the U.K.

Book Presence Grows At Paradies Shops

Of the more than 500 retail outlets operated by Paradies Shops in airports and hotels, almost all stock books, with the exception of specialty stores like Brighton Collectibles and Brooks Brothers. And the company, which was founded in 1960 and is based in Atlanta, is committed to working with partners to develop both national and local bookstore brands.

Christian Bookstore Sales Fell 3% in 2009

Sales at Christian bookstores fell 3% in 2009, according to the annual report from the CBA, the trade association for Christian retailers.

Chain Sales Head Downhill

After falling 5% in 2008, total sales from the nation’s three largest booksellers fell 6.9% in the year ended January 31, 2010. According to PW’s annual ranking of chain sales, revenue from Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Books-A-Million fell to just under $8.3 billion last year, a figure that is 12% below sales of $9.

AAP: Book Sales Dipped in 2009

Book sales fell 1.8% in 2009, to $23.86 billion, according to estimates released last week by the Association of American Publishers. To no one’s surprise, the biggest gain came in the e-book segment, where sales are estimated to have reached $313.2 million. The e-book segment was one of four categories to post an increase in 2009, with the other three segments adult hardcover, juvenile p...

Publishers Squeezing Booksellers on Credit

Less than half-way through the American Bookseller Association's 12-city spring booksellers forum tour, which it kicked off at CAMEX last month, one theme has started to emerge-concern about the credit squeeze.

Book Sales Fell 1.8% in 2009, to $23.8 Billion, AAP Says

Total book sales fell 1.8% in 2009 to $23.85 billion, according to estimates released by the Association of American Publishers.

Bookseller Mimi Beman Dies at 62

Nantucket literary figure Mimi Beman died on March 31 after a brief illness. She was 62.

Borders Tries Again to Find the Winning Formula

Publishers breathed a sigh of relief last week when Borders announced that it had reached a new financing agreement that enabled it to pay back its $42.5 million loan owed to its largest shareholder, William Ackman, as well as providing the struggling retailer more capital and time to try to turn around its operations.

Value Your Assets

Publishing executives must have skipped the lesson on valuation of product in Economics 101, or maybe they were binge drinking instead of cramming the night before exams. Either way, they are endangering the industry, and my store, with a publishing house race to the bottom through their direct and indirect support of the devaluation of books.

Ohio Bookseller Mike Rose Dies at 55

Mike Rose, a manager at Books & Co. in Dayton, Ohio, died unexpectedly Friday, March 26, while preparing to drive to work at the store's Town & Country location. He was 55 years old.

Agency Model Means No Discounts,
Higher Prices, Possible Disruptions

As the book industry prepares for the twin debut of Apple’s iPad and the switch by five of the biggest trade book publishers to the agency pricing model, retailers, distributors and consumers can expect dramatic changes in the e-book marketplace.

Distributors Stay Upbeat

Tight margins and fierce competition have not prevented new distribution companies from starting up or some established companies from looking to expand. While several specialize in distribution for micropublishers—filling the void left by the closing of Access, BookWorld, and Blu Sky Media—others are looking to add larger clients.

Smith to Retire, Puts Wellesley Booksmith up for Sale

Entrepreneur Marshall Smith, majority owner of Brookline Booksmith in Brookline, Mass., is retiring and putting Brookline's sister store, 10-year-old Wellesley Booksmith in Wellesley, Mass., up for sale.

Candlewick Launches Marketing Program for Indies

Candlewick Press in Somerville, Mass., affirmed its commitment to independent bookstores with the launch of a new marketing program aimed specifically at frontline indie booksellers, CHIRP. In a bit of double entendre, "CHIRP," short for Candlewick's Handselling Indie Recognition Program, also refers to a short, lively, high-pitched sound, the kind someone makes when they're excited about a book.

New Children's Bookstore to Open Near Salt Lake City

As far back as junior high school, 28-year-old Michelle Witte knew she wanted to have her own bookstore. But she put the idea on hold while she attended college, where she majored in journalism. Then after five years as an associate editor at Gibbs Smith, Witte decided early last month that the time was right to start a children's bookstore. She's already got a name picked out, Fire Petal Books, and a location, a 1,400 sq. ft. space in Centerville, Utah, just outside Salt Lake City.

Canadian Market Up Slightly in 2009

The Canadian book market remained relatively healthy throughout the economic turbulence of 2009 with sales up 4% in dollars and 1% units sold over 2008 figures, according to a report released by BookNet Canada.

Galleys on the Go Give Readers an Early Look at Debut Novel

Authors have been known to embark on pre-pub tours to spark interest in forthcoming books. But first novelist Lauren Oliver, whose Before I Fall will be released by HarperTeen next week, devised a more, well, novel plan to give potential fans a heads-up about her book: she sent two ARCs on the road. And she's also done her part to spread word of the novel online and in person.