Greetings,

Summer is officially here! The sunshine is doing wonders for us, how about you?

We have some great content in store for you this month, including an update on our Indie Web Hub, info about upcoming events, a preview of our summer reading lists, and more.

Settle in with a refreshing beverage and scroll down!
 

The CIBA team has been hard at work getting our new, public-facing website ready. The website will allow customers to find indie bookstores and search their stock. It’ll also allow partners to direct readers to the indie market and provide CIBA with additional promotional opportunities for the benefits of its members.

Metric Marketing is now in the process of developing the website. Here is a sneak peek of what we have in store:

  • An interactive map and directory of indie bookstores in Canada
  • A “book search” function powered by Bookmanager
  • Regularly updated indie bestseller lists provided by BookNet Canada
  • Featured book lists curated by the CIBA team
  • Reader-facing details about Canadian Independent Bookstore Day
  • Additional info about shopping at local bookstores including information about pre-orders, subscription services, and Libro.fm

With the strategic design process now complete, Doug Minett has wrapped up his formal engagement on the Indie Web Hub. We are grateful for his time, expertise, and vision in bringing this idea to life.

We are working closely with an engaged committee of booksellers. This group provides ongoing guidance to help inform the visual brand and website content. They are:

  • Laura Ash, Another Story Bookshop
  • Chris Hall, McNally Robinson 
  • Shelley Macbeth, Blue Heron Books
  • Alicia Neill, Mosaic Books
  • Karlene Nicolajsen, Shelf Life Books
  • Martha Sharpe, Flying Books  

Thanks to all the booksellers who have sent the information and materials we need to build out the directory and interactive map. If you haven’t yet done so, submit your store information here. 

The CIBA team is also collecting member bookstore logos and photos until the end of August.
 

Ask Us ANYTHING! – CIBA Summer Mentor Series
Thursday, July 20 with Jessica Walker (Munro’s Books, BC)
Tuesday, August 1 with Jo Treggiari (Block Shop Books, NS)
12pm PT, 1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET, 4pm AT, 4:30pm Newfoundland

Do you have a burning question you’d like to ask a pro-bookseller? Here’s your chance! Join CIBA’s team of experienced bookseller mentors for a special summer program. There will be no formal presentation at these events­—simply log on and ask all your burning questions.

Who should attend? CIBA Bookseller Members

ipage® Essentials: How to Save Time & Order Strategically Using ipage
Tuesday, August 15
12pm PT, 1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET, 4pm AT, 4:30pm Newfoundland 

Join Ingram for an informative workshop with essential tips and techniques for using ipage. Whether you’re new to ipage or an experienced user, gain a clearer understanding of the platform’s full capabilities so you will spend less time navigating and more time selling. Attendees will learn about refining searches and orderings, tracking within ipage, and Direct-to-Home ordering.

Who should attend? CIBA Bookseller Members

CIBA Publisher Picks – Fall Edition
Thursday, August 24 with Multinational Publishers
Tuesday, August 29 with Canadian Independent Publishers
3:30pm PT, 4:30pm MT, 5:30pm CT, 6:30pm ET, 7:30pm AT, 8:00pm Newfoundland

CIBA's Publisher Picks series is back with its fall 2023 edition! We will bring you to the heart of publisher marketing discussions to discover the season's best bets­—the books you might not know you need to stock but will be glad you have on hand. Watch these events live or view the recording within two weeks for a chance to win publisher prizes.

Who should attend? CIBA Bookseller Members

CIBA Coffee Break: Connect with the CIBA Board and ED
Thursday, August 31
10am PT, 11am MT, 12pm CT, 1pm ET, 2pm AT, 2:30pm Newfoundland 

Grab a coffee, pull up a chair, and join us for a virtual chat! Bring your questions, share concerns or experiences, and let us know where you need support. This session is an opportunity for Bookseller Members to talk directly with the CIBA board and team. There will be no formal presentation during these meetings. 

Who should attend? CIBA Bookseller Members

Ask the Bookseller: Subscription Box Success Stories

There’s no time like the present to get in on the action and introduce a subscription box concept in your store. Learn how a panel of your peers administers their book subscriptions programs, what sales income it adds to their stores, and so much more! 

How to Keep Your Bookstore Cat Happy

You love your bookstore cats and want them to be happy. Don’t miss the recording of our recent event where animal behaviour expert Zazie Todd (author of Purr: The Science of Making Your Cat Happy) provided actionable tips for happy, healthy bookstore felines.

These recordings are now available in the CIBA Member Portal.

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

Is there anything better than a summer afternoon spent reading? Not in our books! We’ve put together a list of recent and upcoming titles that readers can seek out at their local indie bookstores this summer.

Check out the list for adults here.

We’ll share these books on our social channels tomorrow. Stay tuned for our YA recommendations on July 27 and picks for kids on August 3! 

Kinder Books is an award-winning children’s bookstore in New Westminster, BC that has been in operation for more than 10 years. We spoke with founder and owner, Anne Uebbing, about how Kinder Books came to be, the values behind her work, and more.

“One thing that might surprise readers is the double meaning behind our store name. ‘Kinder’ stands for the German word for children, but it also represents being friendly, sympathetic, and warm-hearted. It encapsulates the atmosphere we strive to create in our store."

Read the article here.

Bookseller Members: please ensure you fill out our CFIB Group Membership Satisfaction Survey by July 31!

CIBA is now one year into its group membership with Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), and we are eager to hear about your experience. The survey should take no more than 5 minutes to complete. 

We plan to check in with members on a regular basis about this initiative. We'd like to hear from all members. Your responses will be kept confidential.

Click here to access the survey. 
 
 
 

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