ABA Members Urged to Participate in Post-Holiday Survey

The American Booksellers Association is encouraging bookstores  to participate in the sixth annual post-holiday survey conducted by the Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR), a national nonprofit research and educational organization, in partnership with ABA and other business organizations.

A link to the survey, which is completely confidential and takes less than 10 minutes to complete, was sent to all ABA bookstore members via e-mail on Thursday, January 3, and is also available here. [1]

The deadline for responses is midnight EST on Thursday, January 24.

Last year, more than 1,800 businesses completed the survey and its findings [2] were featured in more than 200 stories in local and national news media. The survey provided unique and important data about the viability of independent businesses and the effectiveness of “buy local first” initiatives, and it documented increased public support for independent businesses.

This year’s survey has three main goals: to gauge how independent businesses are faring in today’s economy; to assess whether people are more aware and supportive of independent businesses; and to identify some of the main challenges affecting independent businesses.

Among the other business organizations participating in the survey are the American Independent Business Alliance, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association, the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, the Independent Running Retailers Association, the National Bicycle Dealers Association, the Professional Association of Innkeepers International, the TriMega Purchasing Association, and other trade associations and local business groups.