2010 ABACUS Data Collection Process Underway

On Thursday, August 5, ABA members received a special e-mail from the National Association of College Stores' OnCampus Research that began the information collection process for ABA's 2010 ABACUS financial survey.

The e-mail, from OnCampus Research information analyst Martha Love, included information on how to participate in the survey and materials to assist in reporting to ABACUS. ABA had announced in April that it would produce the 2010 ABACUS Survey through a new partnership with NACS. Last week’s e-mail from NACS had the subject line “ABACUS Survey Starts Today,” and the sender was Martha Love.

The 2010 ABACUS Survey deadline is October 29.

For many booksellers, ABACUS has been a key factor in store profitability, and ABA members that submit data to the 2010 ABACUS Survey will receive a customized report analyzing their store's financial results, including comparisons with other businesses based on multiple criteria (such as sales level, store size, and community type) in addition to year-to-year trending information. Allison Hill, president and COO of Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, California, told BTW last year that ABACUS helps "establish goals, determine areas for potential improvement, and monitor our progress. It offers us valuable information and a broader context."

Importantly, booksellers will be submitting their information to ABACUS via a completely secure and confidential electronic form, and, once submitted, data is only accessible to Love, as the OnCampus Research staff person responsible for the survey.

Booksellers with questions about submitting data to the survey can contact Love at OnCampus Research via e-mail. Booksellers who have general questions about ABACUS can contact ABA COO Len Vlahos via e-mail or at (800) 637-0037 ext. 6650.