Greetings,

We hope February has been kind to you all! This month, we reveal our custom campaign artwork and bookseller opportunities for CIBD 2023, share details about an exciting new publisher initiative, and more. 

Settled in? Coffee in hand? Let’s go!

We can’t wait to celebrate indies across the country on April 29!

In January, we shared that we were working with talented artist and illustrator Alex MacAskill to design this year’s campaign artwork. We’re delighted to reveal Alex’s illustration below, a bright and dynamic ode to the role that indie bookstores play in their communities.

We asked Alex to share some behind-the-scenes insights about his approach. Read the interview here.

Our graphic designer will use Alex’s artwork to create campaign resources including digital graphics for posters, web banners, and social media images. These graphics will be made available to members in mid-March. In the meantime, you can download our Save the Date here.

Since September, we’ve worked with publishers and partners on initiatives that will help drive customers to indie bookstores on April 29 (in addition to our popular Contest for Book Lovers). 

To help bookstores plan, we have put together a guide outlining the opportunities available. Booksellers can access the guide now.

The guide outlines partner-led initiatives like giveaways and product exclusives. Some opportunities have limited availability. We encourage bookstores to seek out what they are most interested in as soon as possible.

IMPORTANT: The deadline to sign up for giveaways is March 7. Booksellers can sign-up here.

Happy planning!

Not a member yet but want full access to the campaign? Join us today.

While all indies may benefit from #CIBD2023, our promotional assets and additional resources – including our brand-new promotional bookmarks – are only available to members. By joining our association, you are supporting the work that goes into this growing national campaign.

Ask the Bookseller: Successful School Relationships
Tuesday, February 28
4pm PT, 5pm MT, 6pm CT, 7pm ET, 8pm AT, 8:30pm Newfoundland 

Schools in your local community could be an untapped income stream for your store. But what does the bookstore-school relationship look like? How do bookstores ensure that school orders are a profitable venture, given the time and work involved? Join our panel of experienced booksellers to learn how they do business with schools and what you should know before you put a school-sales plan into action.

Who should attend? CIBA Bookseller Members

CIBA Town Hall: Supplier Relations
Tuesday, March 7
4pm PT, 5pm MT, 6pm CT, 7pm ET, 8pm AT, 8:30pm Newfoundland

CIBA Bookseller Members are invited to join the CIBA Supplier Relations Committee as they present the results of our most recent survey and provide updates on our 2023 priorities. Contribute your voice to the conversation so we can better serve you and your bookstore.

Who should attend? CIBA Bookseller Members

Media Training for Booksellers: Interviews with Impact!
Tuesday, March 21
12pm PT, 1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET, 4pm AT, 4:30pm Newfoundland

Join Jamie Broadhurst, VP of Marketing at Raincoast, for tips and tricks to look and sound good when being interviewed by the media. This session will provide booksellers with the confidence they need in the lead up to Canadian Independent Bookstore Day and beyond.

Who should attend? CIBA Bookseller Members

ACP & CIBA Knowledge Exchange: Exploring the Evolving Role of Sales Reps
Tuesday, March 28
11:30am PT, 12:30pm MT, 1:30pm CT, 2:30pm ET, 3:30pm AT, 4:00pm Newfoundland

As a primary link between booksellers and publishers, sales reps offer a unique perspective on the supply chain and getting books into stores and into the hands of readers. Join ACP and CIBA for our first joint professional development session that will explore the evolving role of the sales rep in today’s marketplace. Following a guided discussion by our panel, attendees will be invited to ask questions and share their own insights into what makes an effective relationship with reps on both sides of the business.

Who should attend? CIBA Bookseller Members, Associates, and Affiliates

How do indie booksellers set up their physical and online space to promote discoverability?

Dan Wells, publisher of Biblioasis and owner of Biblioasis Bookshop, hosted a panel discussion in January to answer that question and more. Panelists shared how they surprise and delight their customers, provided tips for increasing sales of Canadian-authored and independently published titles, discussed the power of (physically) moving books, and so much more.

The recording of this event is now available in the Member Portal.

Not a CIBA member? Join now to access a range of benefits, including access to live events, recordings, and other business resources. 

We were delighted to receive news that Book*hug Press has set up a new initiative to offer free shipping to Canadian independent bookstores on all orders, regardless of quantity ordered. This initiative came into effect for orders beginning on February 6, 2023. Now, indies can order exciting new books like Marta Balcewicz’s Big Shadow, Kate Cayley’s Lent, and more with less overhead involved.

Members can read more about the announcement – including additional highlights from Book*hug’s spring 2023 list – on the Bulletin Board.

Thank you to Book*hug Press for their continued support of the indie market.

La Maison Anglaise has been effectively serving readers and community members since 1984. It is Quebec City’s only independent English and Spanish bookstore and has recently expanded with a new location in Gatineau, QC. We spoke with owner Guy Dubois about the store’s history, its mission, and his vision for the future.

“Customers will bring you a wider knowledge of authors, books, and topics because they share your passion. They feel they are home and that they are part of the family.”

Read the article here.

We love when Canadian independent bookstores are featured in the media. Here are some highlights from the past few months:

Calling all booklovers: These cool indie bookstores are must-sees (Newmarket Today, February 2023)

10 of the Best English Bookstores in Montreal to Get Lit-erary (MTL Blog, February 2023)

How to Start a Bookstore in This Economy (The Tyee, January 2023)

Books year in review 2022: indies rule; BookTok wields ever more influence; in Canada, we bought books again (Toronto Star, December 2022)

Local Shopping Spree: Hintonburg (CTV Ottawa Morning Live, December 2022) 

Protests won't stop Drag Queen Story Time in Sarnia, bookstore owner says (CBC News, December 2022)

Holiday Shopping Alert: Granville Island’s Newest Indie Bookstore Features Books From All Over the World (Vancouver Magazine, December 2022) 

Shop Talk: Betty’s Bookshelf (Quill & Quire, November 2022) 

The little bookstores that could: Why independent shops are showing resilience among the behemoths (The Globe and Mail, November 2022)

Booksellers across Canada reveal what’s hot on their shelves (The Globe and Mail, November 2022)

Dan MacDonald from The Bookmark reveals the top sellers in his store (CBC The Next Chapter, November 2022)

Booksellers receive government funding to bolster online book sales (Quill & Quire, November 2022)

Our 2022-23 AGM will take place on Tuesday, September 12 via Zoom at 6:30pm ET.

As per our bylaws, the AGM is only open to the Bookseller Members. We will record the meeting and save it to the Member Hub for on-demand viewing. Likewise, our annual report will be accessible to our entire community. 

Please contact Laura Carter with any questions.

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