Best Practices

With autumn comes flu season, but this year's outbreak of swine flu, or 2009 H1N1, adds new urgency to preparations for combating spread of the diseases. To date, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 2009 H1N1 influenza virus "continues to be the dominant influenza virus in circulation in the world."

Although "growth market" may not apply to much these days, one area of burgeoning sales for some indie booksellers is self-published titles. According to Bowker, from 2007 to 2008 there was a 132-percent jump in the number of new books published by print-on-demand companies.

As evidenced by some of today's biggest headlines, in harsh economic times, white collar crime comes to the fore as thefts that have been going on for a while are exposed, and desperate circumstances drive an increasing number of previously law-abiding citizens to break the law.

In November 2008, as the economic downturn started to spread across the retail landscape, American Booksellers Association staff attempted to contact every member bookstore. This effort was undertaken to offer ABA's help in any way possible and to assess how members were doing. As they provided status reports, however, booksellers also offered valuable insights into their unique ways of countering declining sales.

To stay afloat in a recession that shows no sign of abatement, savvy indies are cutting costs through careful planning and well-thought-out business decisions. For some, this includes renegotiating a lease or signing on with a lower-cost utility provider.

With retailers sharply competing for fewer consumer dollars, holiday bargains are being trumpeted early and everywhere. While many booksellers are adding discounts to the marketing mix, they're also emphasizing creative and community-minded campaigns.

In case you missed any of Bookselling This Week's previous coverage of Bookselling in Tough Times, here's a look at the resources available to help ABA member stores weather this season's economic challenges.

In light of a significant decline in consumer spending in the weeks leading up to the holiday season, retailers nationwide are creating proactive and strategic marketing promotions to ramp up their sales, cash flow, and visibility. Last week, a report in the New York Times noted that "seven weeks before Christmas, stores are offering eye-catching bargains as they struggle to move merchandise."

Booksellers who think loss control is not a store's top priority, especially when times are tough and profits are harder to come by, should talk to David Bolduc of Boulder Book Store in Colorado. If it weren't for the steps he started taking some 25 years ago to secure his bookstore, Bolduc's store could be losing around $80,000 per year in shrinkage.

By Kristen McLean, Executive Director, Association of Booksellers for Children