Marketing

On October 7, Entrepreneur Press launches its There's No Business Like Sports Business Sweepstakes, to publicize The Business Playbook: Leadership Lessons From the World of Sports by sports marketer Brandon Steiner. Book Sense booksellers and their customers could each win a Grand Prize: a chance to meet a Hall of Famer (and game tickets) for the sport of their choice.

According to the rules of the Bacardi Mixers/Book Sense Book Club Sweepstakes, participating stores must take down their store displays and ballot boxes at the end of the business day Tuesday, September 30.

A number of retail studies have shown that consumers are opting for gift cards in a big way. Among the statistics reported: 70 percent of all gift certificates in 2002 were sold in the card format, and gift card sales are at least 15 to 20 percent higher than gift certificate sales. Stores also benefit from the instant electronic data transmission and online reports that a gift card program provides.

Tuesday, September 30, is the last day for stores participating in the Bacardi Mixers/Book Sense Book Club Sweepstakes to accept entries deposited in their store displays. At the end of the business day, stores must take down the ballot box.

Autumn has arrived, and with it, the September/October Book Sense 76. Given the wealth of wonderful, unique titles on the list, it can be challenging to select titles for in-store displays. Here are some suggestions for creating interesting title arrangements, from pairings to groupings to, well, piles.

Book Sense booksellers should check the September White Box for the Entrepreneur Press "There's No Business Like Sports Business" Sweepstakes materials, publicizing The Business Playbook: Leadership Lessons From the World of Sports by sports marketing master Brandon Steiner.

Fox's Attempt to Block Franken Book Not Fair, Judge Rules

The list of national and local newspapers, magazines, industry publications, and Web sites featuring Book Sense Bestseller Lists continues to grow each month. Recently, the national Book Sense Bestseller List began appearing in Heber City, Utah's Wasatch Wave, while the Pacific Northwest list is now being published in Twisp, Washington's Methow Valley News, and the New England list appears in Auburn, Maine's Twin City Times.

The October issue of The Atlantic Monthly will include two bookmark-style ads featuring Book Sense 76 recommendations from booksellers with Book Sense.

This summer, Book Sense and The History Channel joined to launch Hardcover History, a monthly in-store promotion that pairs special History Channel shows with suggested reading. With publisher support, each month Book Sense creates a unique bookmark to be placed in the Hardcover History easelback. Hardcover History entices customers to return to bookstores each month for reading recommendations that compliment meaningful History Channel programs.