Domnitz Scholarship Open to ABACUS Participants

For the third year, the American Booksellers Association will award the Avin Mark Domnitz Scholarship to attend the Winter Institute to the owner or an employee of a bookstore who submits the store’s 2010 financial data to the ABACUS-10 survey before the August 15 deadline. The scholarship covers travel expenses up to $350, and up to a four-night stay at the Wi7 host hotel.

The Winter Institute 7 will be held in New Orleans from Wednesday through Friday, January 18 - 20, 2012.

Data gathering for ABACUS-10 began in June, when booksellers received an e-mail from information analyst Martha Love, of the National Association of College Stores' (NACS) OnCampus Research. The e-mail had the subject line “ABACUS10 Survey STARTS TODAY” and included information on how to participate in the survey, a link to the secure and confidential online electronic form, and the bookseller’s survey I.D. number for logging into the survey.

Booksellers with questions about submitting data to the survey should contact Love at On Campus Research.

Booksellers at stores that have submitted their 2010 financial data to ABACUS can apply for the Avin Mark Domnitz Scholarship by sending an e-mail with "Domnitz Scholarship" in the subject line to ABA Education Manager Lisa Winn. Please include the applicant's name, staff title, store name, and store contact information.

This year’s ABACUS-10 Survey will provide booksellers with more detailed comparisons than previous surveys regarding crucial areas affecting their bookstores’ bottom line. Significant changes have been made to the survey, which is underway now, based on feedback and suggestions from booksellers on ABA’s ABACUS Task Force. Several new questions have been added, and, as a result, ABACUS-10 results will provide key new criteria for comparisons and analysis. Data in store reports will also be presented more visually, through the expanded use of charts and graphs.

All stores participating in the ABACUS-10 Survey will receive a free customized report analyzing their 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.

“Given all that Avin did to further ABA’s educational programming, especially our sessions focusing on store profitability, ABA is very pleased to continue this Winter Institute-related scholarship in his honor,” said Oren Teicher, ABA CEO.