New "Buy Local" Recycled Bags From Ellerkamp

W. G. Ellerkamp, Inc., the supplier of IndieBound bags and handmade paper products, has introduced its own line of "Buy Local" shopping bags for retail stores. "It is our sincere hope that these bags, in their own small, local way, will create a 'buzz' that will get consumers talking more and more about the importance of buying local. I truly believe that this bag can help to educate consumers and motivate them to do the right thing—support local retailers and restaurants," said company president Jack Ellerkamp. "We are the company that provides hundreds of ABA Booksellers with the IndieBound bags and handmade paper products. We are now seeking to take the 'indie' message to all types of retailers and restaurants. Bookstores and beyond!"

The handled Natural Kraft Shopping Bags are 100 percent recycled. “Buy Local” is printed on the front and back. Printed in the side gussets is text touting the benefits of buying local.

Ellerkamp's "Buy Local" bags are available in two sizes:

• 8 x 5 x 10: $78/case of 250 bags
• 16 x 6 x 16: $85/case of 200 bags

For more information and for pricing for customization, contact Ellerkamp at (800) 805-0012 or jack@wgellerkamp.com.

BA Elects Indie Bookstore Owner as New President

Earlier this month, the Booksellers Association of the United Kingdom and Ireland (the BA) announced that Jane Streeter, the founder of The Bookcase in Lowdham, England, had been elected new president. The BA said that Streeter is the first English woman to hold the post and the first president from a village independent in 115 years.

Streeter said, “It's an exciting time for the book industry, with many national issues needing attention. We are looking at new digital developments including e-books, but need to keep the printed book at the heart of the industry. A big issue for me is to work with schools to make sure children get the joy of reading rather than just the mechanics….. The state of the economy concerns us all, of course, and we hope that we don't again have to campaign to keep VAT off books.

"I've always been involved in industry matters and have been on the BA Council for several years. I am excited at the prospect of serving as president, and, while The Bookcase is a small bookshop, it shows that even a small business can have influence nationally."

The BA represents over 95 percent of the specialist booksellers in the UK and Ireland, including bookshop chains, general and specialist independents, institutional suppliers, wholesalers, and supermarkets who sell books.

Banks Step Up Opposition to Swipe-Fee Reform

Banks, credit unions, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers have stepped up efforts to oppose a swipe-fee provision in the finance reform bill—a reform that a coalition of small businesses and retailers believes provides common-sense reforms to debit card interchange "swipe" fees while also addressing anti-competitive rules forced on businesses that accept credit and debit cards. The swipe-fee provision (Section 1079) of the Senate version of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (HR 4173) would give the Federal Reserve the authority to develop regulations that would ensure that swipe fees imposed on debit card transactions are proportional to the cost incurred in processing the transaction.

On Wednesday, 131 legislators from the U.S. House of Representatives urged the House-Senate conference committee working to finalize finance reform legislation to eliminate the swipe-fee amendment, according to Reuters,which noted that their effort coincided with an "intensive lobbying effort" by banks and credit unions to defeat the measure.

Last week, more than 200 national and state organizations representing a diverse array of small businesses joined together to urge the House to support the swipe-fee amendment. The groups, including the American Booksellers Association, contend that, "unless relief is granted, swipe fees, which amounted to $48 billion in 2008, will continue their long history of sharp increases as card companies and issuing banks seek even higher profits." ABA is encouraging its members to contact their representatives to urge them to support the swipe-fee reforms in HR 4173 as the bill proceeds through conference.

AAP Reports Increase in Book Sales Through April

Books sales tracked by the Association of American Publishers (AAP) increased by 24.8 percent in April, to $629.8 million, and were up 11.8 percent for the year compared to January through April 2009.

• The Adult Hardcover category had sales of $142.9 million in April, up 49.2 percent compared to April of last year; Adult Hardcover sales for the period January through April were up by 16.2 percent.
• Adult Paperback sales increased 19.6 percent for the month ($128.2 million) and increased by 19.4 percent for the year.
• Adult Mass Market, with sales totaling $49.1 million, decreased 17.7 percent for April; sales were down by 6.3 percent for the year through April.
• Hardcover Children’s/YA sales declined 11.2 percent for the month, with sales of $40.5 million; sales through April are down by 30.2 percent.
• Children’s/YA Paperback sales decreased 0.8 percent in April, with sales totaling $39.9 million; sales fell 6.1 percent through April.