COVID-19 Bookseller Resources
We have compiled a list of resources for bookstores currently dealing with this unprecedented health issue. Please take the survey below to help us understand how COVID-19 has impacted your bookstore and to share best practices.
COVID-19 Important Information
Who do I reach out to regarding permission to carry on business?
• Consistently stores reaching out on the state level have been turned down
• Focus your efforts locally
• We have seen access granted to bookstores by local government including city council Mayors, city attorneys and local assemblymen
• Contacting local government also encourages them to promote and support business in this time
What to do when making your request:
• Avoid requesting to be considered essential on social media.
• Emphasize public safety. Businesses remain closed to the public, only handling online orders with minimal staff maintaining safe distances
Keep in mind:
There is some question as to whether staying open in these ways might hurt your chances for loans or grants later. We have no information on this but it is possible showing a complete loss of income may give you a better chance at loans and grants. Something to consider though most likely your store, like others, will have evident losses to document regardless.
Here's What you can do NOW
Email your senator: Here’s a template letter your store can send to the Senate urging immediate action and outlining the best policy. Find your senator’s contact information here.
Fill out this form: Join other retailers to tell your senators a “No” vote that needlessly delays passage of small business relief legislation is not okay.
Spread the word: Share the above-mentioned letters to the Senate with your customers and network. Ask for their help lobbying on behalf of your bookstore, small businesses, and the best interest of the local and national economy. Some sample social media captions:
Note: Some loans and grants may make you ineligible for others. For example, a disaster loan may make you ineligible for the proposed forgivable loans that are in the proposed senate relief legislation. Ask questions and check ABA’s Coronavirus Resources for Booksellers page for updates as we attempt to find out more.
Who do I reach out to regarding permission to carry on business?
• Consistently stores reaching out on the state level have been turned down
• Focus your efforts locally
• We have seen access granted to bookstores by local government including city council Mayors, city attorneys and local assemblymen
• Contacting local government also encourages them to promote and support business in this time
What to do when making your request:
• Avoid requesting to be considered essential on social media.
• Emphasize public safety. Businesses remain closed to the public, only handling online orders with minimal staff maintaining safe distances
Keep in mind:
There is some question as to whether staying open in these ways might hurt your chances for loans or grants later. We have no information on this but it is possible showing a complete loss of income may give you a better chance at loans and grants. Something to consider though most likely your store, like others, will have evident losses to document regardless.
Here's What you can do NOW
Email your senator: Here’s a template letter your store can send to the Senate urging immediate action and outlining the best policy. Find your senator’s contact information here.
Fill out this form: Join other retailers to tell your senators a “No” vote that needlessly delays passage of small business relief legislation is not okay.
Spread the word: Share the above-mentioned letters to the Senate with your customers and network. Ask for their help lobbying on behalf of your bookstore, small businesses, and the best interest of the local and national economy. Some sample social media captions:
- It’s crucial to #SupportLocalNow with #GrantsNotLoans. Today, we sent our senators a letter urging immediate action to help small businesses like ours. See the letter here: https://www.bookweb.org/bookseller-template-letter-re-covid-fiscal-relief and find your senator's contact info here: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
- Small business owners, make your voices heard here: https://www.votervoice.net/NRF/campaigns/72865/respond
- Three years of business tax returns and personal tax returns for all principles.
- Your 2019 tax returns or, if that’s not possible, your 2019 year-end financials.
- Year-to-date profit and loss and balance sheets
- A personal financial statement for any owner who owns more than 20 percent of the company.
- A debt schedule for your business.
- Your monthly operating expenses from March through September of last year.
Note: Some loans and grants may make you ineligible for others. For example, a disaster loan may make you ineligible for the proposed forgivable loans that are in the proposed senate relief legislation. Ask questions and check ABA’s Coronavirus Resources for Booksellers page for updates as we attempt to find out more.
State by State Resources
Support for IndieBookstores
• SaveIndieBookstores.com
• BINC
• Libro.fm
• Bookshop.org
• Become a Bookshop.org Affiliate
• SaveIndieBookstores.com
• BINC
• Libro.fm
• Bookshop.org
• Become a Bookshop.org Affiliate
- Ingram:
- In places where public health and governmental authorities have issued shelter in place, lockdown, or other instructions regarding COVID-19, Ingram’s wholesale, distribution, print on demand, and digital services fall into exceptions in the directives. Ingram Content Group’s operations are, therefore, considered essential and we are encouraged to remain open.
- Is currently committed to keeping its warehouses open even if other Ingram staff works from home. If someone on the warehouse team gets sick, Ingram may have to close that warehouse but would still be able to ship from the other warehouses. Ingram is keeping staffing levels high to handle the anticipated increase in volume from online and direct-to-home orders.
- Is helping stores shift to direct-to-home sales for customers by offering a promotion for the next few weeks. Stores that increase their direct-to-home business with Ingram will receive a credit back from Ingram. For stores that have not used direct-to-home with Ingram before, instructions are on Ipage. Click on Help --> FAQ --> Direct to Home. Some POS vendors, such as Booklog, have a DTH interface built into their mail order module. Check with your POS vendor.
- If stores have any issues with making payments they should communicate with their Ingram credit rep as soon as possible.
- Stores with specific requests should contact their Ingram sales rep or Ingram Sales Director Ron Smithson.
- Bookazine is operating under normal business hours with no disruption in services. Booksellers with questions or requests can contact Steve Goldberg.
- Penguin Random House asks that stores requesting call tags for cancelled author events reach out to customer service rather than their sales rep for the most efficient support. Bookstores are strongly encouraged to contact their sales rep and/or credit rep with questions and requests.
- Hachette is offering an extra 5% for accounts that deliver Hachette books to their customers; curbside pickup earnings additional per-ship locations; additional 30 days dating; new lower minimums. All details on the HBG Indie offers can be found in ABA’s Book Buyers handbook. Contact your sales rep with questions. The following clients have agreed to participate in these offers: ABRAMS, Disney, Hachette UK – Including Mobius & Nicholas Brealey, Lonely Planet, Kids Can Press, Marvel, Moleskine, Phaidon Press, Quarto Publishing Group, Yen Press, Octopus, Phoenix International - pikids. HBG is also doubling its 2020 Binc commitment.
- HarperCollins donated a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal to promote shopping local. Bookstores are strongly encouraged to contact their sales rep and/or credit rep with questions and requests.
- Simon & Schuster has asked booksellers to contact their sales rep or customer service to request call tags for cancelled events. For other business questions, booksellers can contact their sales rep or credit representative.
- Macmillan has added a special offer to the Book Buyer's Handbook. Bookstores are strongly encouraged to contact their sales rep and/or credit rep with questions and requests.
- Abrams is offering standard 120 dating for all indies. And, as a distributed client of Hachette, the following terms will apply to all ABRAMS titles: Additional Dating: +30 days additional payment dating on top of current terms; Minimum Orders: all minimums orders are now $40 retail; Additional Discounts: +2.5% additional discount for books delivered curbside and +5% additional discount for books delivered to customers homes. Abrams is also extending event returns: Call tags will be sent for any event return whenever stores are able to get to it. Call tag requests, and any other questions, can be sent to Wendy Ceballos.
- Candlewick has launched the “Together We’re Stronger” offer for returnable retailers: Earn +5% discount and 60 days’ additional dating on all orders (frontlist and backlist) placed through May 15, 2020; Reason Code EC1 (for EDI orders use RCP001); No minimums, and remember to assort with your Penguin Random House orders. For questions, concerns, or requests, contact Elise Supovitz.
- Chronicle is offering an extra 5% discount and net 90 on orders of 10 units (10 books and any number of titles); booksellers should use the promo code INDIES on the order, which will ship free freight. Offer valid through May 31 on titles published before May 31.
- Arcadia Publishing is encouraging stores to contact their sales rep (888-313-2665 x1) for information about additional discounts; the company is also offering direct-to-customer orders shipped from Arcadia to customers, with co-op dollars to advertise. Stores that have had to cancel an author event can contact Arcadia about rescheduling; for stores offering curbside pickup, Arcadia can send tote bags (while supplies last).
- Norton is strongly encouraging bookstores to contact their sales rep or credit rep. They are very willing to work with bookstores on their current situation.
- Springer Nature will offer a +5% credit for bookstores that drop ship orders to their customers. The offer will be available to stores through the end of April. Contact your Springer Nature sales rep for more information.
- Workman will automatically add 60 days to all book retail invoices that are due in March. Effective immediately, Workman is offering a new no-minimum special with discount and dating, using the promo code “FLATN,” as follows: additional discount, free freight, 120-day dating, no minimum. This offer is available to independent retailers and multiple orders are allowed. Additionally, all backlist stock-up orders placed using promo code BK (or BK1, BK2, BK3) will get 180-day dating. Valid until further notice.
- Island Press is allowing accounts to request extended payment terms by contacting their A/R manager at Chicago Distribution Center.
- ARTBOOK | D.A.P. is offering a 5% rebate on orders placed through Ingram Wholesale’s Direct-to-Home (DTH) program from March 13 through May 15. No paperwork is required. At the end of that date span, we will simply pull reporting and have credits issued to your Ingram account. You can use your Ingram iPage account to enter direct-to-consumer orders, which will be shipped by Ingram Wholesale in unbranded boxes listing your store and address as the shipper.
- Schiffer Publishing is offering a “We’re in this Together” program: 10+ units (mix or match) = 50% AND NET 60, with extended dating only for customers in good credit standing; all orders ship free freight; valid though April 30, 2020; valid for titles published prior to April 30, 2020; Promo Code Schiff20.
- Holiday House Resources to Learn Remotely: Holiday House is here to help with your new day-to-days. We are committed to doing everything we can to help educators, librarians, booksellers, parents—and most importantly children, cope with the extraordinary situation we find ourselves in.
- The Independent Publishers Caucus steering committee has passed a resolution to send 10% of all income received from dues and other sources as donations to Binc to support stores in need.
- TriLiteral distribution (which distributes Yale, Harvard, and MIT Presses) has addressed bookstore credit and invoices during the crisis, offering an extension of terms on current payments due to be paid up to 90 days from invoice date. No deadline or backdating, no end date for monitoring.
- Bookshop.org increased affiliate store commissions 30% (from 25%) for eight weeks.
- Libro.fm is giving 100% of the revenue from new memberships and one-month gift memberships directly to partner bookstores via quarterly reports. Through March 31, Libro.fm is offering a two-for-one membership for customers for $14.99 with the promo code “SHOPBOOKSTORESNOW” as well as a one-month gift membership for $15. Additionally, Libro.fm is using the hashtag #ShopBookstoresNow on social media; access free assets here. Email bookstores@libro.fm to start selling with Libro.fm.
- Rakuten Kobo is launching its digital solidarity campaign “Reading from home” on March 25. Marketing assets will be made available to support the campaign. On the Rakuten Kobo Deals Page, customers will find up to 70% off ebooks in all genres. Questions can be directed to Natalie Jefferson or Siobhan Padgett.
- Litographs is extending the due date of all open invoices to May 31, and through the end of April, any orders placed by current customers will have 60-day terms.
- PartnerShip, ABA's shipping partner, is monitoring the situation and sharing information here.
- Eventbrite funds are available if stores need to issue refunds to event attendees. Eventbrite is holding back scheduled payouts for all published and future events in Eventbrite accounts. This only impacts payouts stores are scheduled to receive before an event ends. Going forward, payouts will process five days after the event ends (Eventbrite’s typical policy). See Eventbrite’s webinar on canceling/postponing events.
- FedEx is considered an essential business and may continue to operate under state of emergency and shelter in place orders recently issued in the U.S.
- UPS has suspended the UPS Service Guarantee for all shipments to any destination, at all service levels.
- In response to the COVID crisis and by order of the state of Indiana, the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt distribution center will be closed until April 7, 2020. During this time, HMH will be unable to accept returns. Orders placed but not yet routed will be held until shipping resumes on April 7. Booksellers who wish to cancel an order can contact customer service their your sales representative.