Dear Booksellers, 
​
There’s a lot to go over today, so I’ll get right to it:
#SaveIndieBookstores
The application deadline has passed. All eligible bookstores will receive a check in mid to late May! We still have a few more days to accept donations. Please help us spread the word about the donation deadline and the final fundraising events:

• Today! Rick and Becky Riordan are still matching donations, dollar to dollar, up to $100,000!
• Tonight! Shannon Hale, author of the Austenland series, hosts a reunion of the cast and crew of the 2013 Austenland film in support of #SaveIndieBookstores. Watch it on ABA’s YouTube channel starting at 8:00 p.m. ET. #AustenlandReunion
• Wednesday! A John Grisham and Stephen King virtual event to promote both Camino Winds and If It Bleeds and to support of #SaveIndieBookstores. Live on Stephen King’s YouTube channel on April 29 at 7:00 p.m. ET.  

• Thursday! The #SaveIndieBookstores donation deadline is 11:59 p.m. on April 30.
• Saturday! We’re in the final stretch of the Bookscan Challenge, which ends May 2. Archipelago, Beacon, ECW, Grove Atlantic, Steerforth, and Tin House are donating 100 percent of the profit of select backlist titles (as a multiple of weekly Bookscan unit sales). You can promote these titles online or over the phone to drive sales and donations!
• Monday! May 4 at 9:00 p.m. ET is the last My Brilliant Friend viewing party. Join Elena Ferrante’s translator, Ann Goldstein; Europa Editor-in-Chief Michael Reynolds; novelist and short-story writer Lauren Groff (Florida, Fates and Furies); writer and editor Maris Kreizman (The Maris Review); and author and poet Ian Williams (Reproduction) for an informal online conversation about Ferrante’s novels and the HBO adaption of My Brilliant Friend. The conversation will be followed by an exclusive reading by Goldstein from Ferrante’s new novel, The Lying Life of Adults. Then, if you have HBO, stay in the virtual “living Zoom” to watch the final episode of My Brilliant Friend. 
• #SocksForBinc, Libro.fm’s partnership with artists to support the indies, continues!
• We’ve provided digital assets for you to use to spread the word for the final days of #SaveIndieBookstores.
• Thank you! So many people have generously donated to this campaign. Some are listed on the #SaveIndieBookstores donor page, and some donated anonymously. We are incredibly grateful to all of them. We are also incredibly moved by the number of booksellers who donated to the fund, and the bookstores who didn’t apply for the money because they felt that other bookstores might need it more.

Shelter-in-Place Lifted
Some parts of the country are starting to open back up as shelter-in-place mandates are lifted. Many stores in these areas are reporting that they do not plan on opening fully to the public yet, despite being allowed to do so. For some, the plan is to adhere to CDC guidelines and scientific evidence, rather than government policy, for when it’s safe to open fully again. Some are continuing the hybrid operations they began under shelter-in-place: curbside pickup, shipping, and delivery. We’ll keep you posted as we hear from stores about how they’re making these difficult decisions and how they’re proceeding.
Government Relief
We appreciate stores updating us about their EIDL and PPP experience by emailing us at [email protected].
Face Masks
ABA is working on sourcing and partnerships to acquire face masks for stores. Stores may need masks for their staff and to sell to customers. Ingram is currently backordered for face masks on iPage; stores can still place backorders. This will demonstrate demand and help encourage Ingram to order more. Ingram is also trying to source hand sanitizer for stores. (Protective Masks, Product Code: 826750090029, US SRP: $7.50.)
Watch Out for Fraudulent Internet Orders
The IndieCommerce team is seeing a significant increase in fraudulent online orders. Most of these have only one red flag: the bill-to and ship-to addresses don’t match. We strongly encourage stores to call and verify those orders. If you’re unable to reach someone at the number provided, it’s a good indicator that the order is fraudulent. 
Another red flag is the customer’s IP address. If the bill-to and ship-to addresses don’t match, stores should check where the IP address is located to see if it matches either the bill-to or ship-to address. The IP address is printed at the top of every order.
There have also been a few fraudulent textbook orders. Some of these are large orders (which are always good to call and verify) and some have been small orders. If your store is not in a college town or doesn’t normally receive textbook orders, we encourage you to call and verify these orders as well. It also helps to train staff who process your online orders on what to look for, not just on individual orders but on how orders compare to one another. 
For example, one store reported noticing multiple smaller orders from the same IP address but different bill-to and ship-to addresses. It may help to understand where these fraudulent orders come from: There are bad actors who sell books online. They take orders from customers and get paid. But they get the books for free from you by ordering books from your store with a fraudulent credit card then having them sent to their customer. 
Please refer to the Fraudulent Order section on BookWeb for more information and please notify indieCommerce if you receive fraudulent orders. This helps us warn other stores about similar fraudulent orders. 
Call Publishers!
It’s critical right now that publishers hear from bookstores — about your store’s operating status and about your store’s financial status. Many publishers are offering assistance on a case-by-case basis, but we’re still hearing reports from publishers who are not hearing from bookstores. We strongly urge you to contact both your credit rep and your sales rep to let them know what’s going on. These conversations don’t have to be difficult. You’re just offering them information. That information will potentially help the publishers help you, and it will help the publishers have context when ABA meets with them next week for our annual publisher meetings.
ABA is here for you. Please reach out if there is anything we can help with. We are an incredibly creative, resilient, supportive industry. We’ll get through this, together.
Best,
Allison

Dear Booksellers,

Hard to tell these days, but it’s Friday again. We’re kicking off the end of week roundup with some good news from the Advocacy team:

Additional Small Business Funding

President Trump signed into law a bill allocating additional funding to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans/Grants (EIDL). 

The bill authorized additional funding of $310 billion for the PPP, $10 billion for EIDL grants, and $50 billion for EIDL. In addition, $60 billion of the $310 billion for PPP is set aside for loans made by smaller insured depository institutions and credit unions.

According to Senator Rubio, the PPP funds should be available starting Monday, April 27.

If you have already applied for the PPP loan, check with your lender about the status of your application; you should NOT have to reapply. 

If you are having difficulty with your PPP application at a traditional national bank, please let [email protected] know. You can also apply through local banks/credit unions and companies like PayPal and Square.

Also, we’ve heard from some booksellers with questions about their PPP loan documents, concerned that some banks may not consider these loans “forgivable,” leaving the store on the hook to pay the loan back with interest. 

According to guidance published by the Treasury, loans are forgivable so long as they meet the proper criteria (for instance, 75 percent of the loan must be used on payroll costs). Based on this guidance, loan terms for PPP are the same for all banks. See an easy-to-read breakdown of PPP here. Please keep in mind that the SBA and Treasury are expected to issue more guidance on loan forgiveness shortly, which may be prompting some confusion among lenders and borrowers. As always, if there are any questions about loan forgiveness, speak with your lender and be sure to reference the Treasury guidance above.

Remember, if you receive a PPP loan, you must apply for loan forgiveness with your lender following the eight-week period in which you spend your PPP funds. To make this process easier, keep detailed records of how you spend the funds. Here is more information on this process.

And please be sure to let the Advocacy team know how the loan process is going for you! Email Dave and Molly at [email protected].

Zoom Security
Please bear with us as we put new security in place around our Zoom meetups and coffee breaks due to a Zoom bombing in a meeting yesterday. (So sorry to those in attendance — and to my team — that you had to witness that.) For those concerned about your own Zoom security, here are some best practices:

• Disable screen-sharing for participants.
• For smaller groups and/or meetings with known participants, require a password to enter your meeting.
• For larger or public meetings, employ Zoom’s waiting room feature to dissuade opportunistic bad actors.
• Instead of posting event details publicly, have attendees register for the event ahead of time and only share the meeting details with them via email.
• Train Zoom hosts on how to quickly shut down a disrupted meeting if necessary.

Pick-Me-Ups
Thanks to Alsace from Tombolo Books in St. Petersburg, Florida, for sharing this piece from her local news station about socially distanced bookselling. It moved me to watch this, to think about all of the ways that bookstores are still of service in their communities right now. It’s also a great example of a pitch to make to your local news station to promote what you’re doing at your store.
Thanks also to author Isaac Fitzgerald for his video on why indies are important, and for all that he’s doing to support #SaveIndieBookstores. His video doesn’t have a lot of views on YouTube, but the same message on his social media has been far-reaching. It’s a good reminder of what your stores mean to people and also a good example of the ways authors can help your stores. 
Don’t hesitate to reach out to authors to ask for their help right now, as Landmark Booksellers in Franklin, Tennessee, can attest. 

This week was a long one, and I know it doesn’t really end just because it’s Friday. I hope everyone has a good weekend nonetheless and I hope you find a moment to relax and read.
ABA is here for you. Please reach out if there is anything we can help with. We are an incredibly creative, resilient, supportive industry. We’ll get through this, together.
​
Best,
Allison

​Dear Booksellers,
Today seems to be a tough day all around, especially for those of you who haven’t heard whether you’ll be receiving Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) or Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds, or those of you who heard that the funds ran out before you were funded. I asked ABA’s advocacy team to respond to questions today to get you answers and help you assess where you’re at:
How do I find out the status of my applications?

• To check the status of your PPP loan, ask your lender. You should not be contacting the Small Business Administration directly.
  • Stage 1: Your lender has approved your application.
  • Stage 2: Your lender has submitted an application to the SBA.
  • Stage 3: The SBA has run checks on the application, approved the application, and sent a loan number to your lender. **If you are in this stage and your lender has received a loan number, you will be getting your loan money. Your loan is part of the initial $349 billion previously allocated**
• To check the status of your EIDL loan/grant, log into the SBA account you used to apply to check the status of your application.

If my loans were approved, how much longer will it take to receive my funds?

• We don’t know. We’ve heard varying reports:
  • So far, we haven’t heard from any stores that have received an EIDL grant.
  • PPP funds were supposed to be distributed within 10 days, but we’ve heard from a few stores that received funds within 6 days of applying. Others are still waiting. One store followed up only to be told that their application was marked “incomplete” for an unknown reason and had fallen through the cracks, so it’s good to follow up with your lender.

Will there be additional funding for EIDL or PPP? If so, when?

• There are reports that Congress is close to a deal that would replenish funding for PPP and EIDL. The deal, as it is currently being reported, would allocate $310 billion more into the PPP and $60 billion to the EIDL.
• We were in touch with the House and Senate Small Business Committees today and will continue to bring you updates as we learn more.

If I applied for the PPP loan and then the funds ran dry, do I need to do anything to still be eligible for the next round of funding?

• It is our understanding that your application should still be in the queue. Being in the queue means you have a spot in line for when new funding becomes available. You should confirm this with your lender and ask them what stage of the process your application is currently in (see above).

If I haven’t heard back about my PPP or EIDL applications, what does that mean?

• You should check the status of your applications.
  • For information on your PPP application, contact your lender. If your lender has received a loan number from the SBA, you will be getting your loan money. Your loan is part of the initial $349 billion previously allocated. If not, confirm that your application is still in queue and that your lender does not require any additional information.
  • For information on your EIDL application, log into the SBA account you used to apply.

What have other stores experienced with their PPP and EIDL loan applications?

• Funds have been slow in reaching businesses. Thus far, we have not heard of any bookseller who has received the EIDL grant funds (please let us know if you have). We have, however, heard of a handful of stores that were approved for and have already received PPP funds. Other stores are still figuring out the status of their applications. The most frequent feedback we’ve received from members is, “Where’s the money?”
• If you have not done so already, please let us know about your experience with federal assistance at [email protected].

Should I still apply for EIDL if I haven’t yet?

• Until EIDL is replenished, you are unable to apply for a COVID-19 related disaster loan.

Should I still apply for PPP if I haven’t yet?

• Yes. Some lenders are still taking PPP applications even though the Small Business Administration is no longer approving them because the initial funds have been exhausted. Congress is expected to increase funding for the PPP. By applying now, you’ll secure a place in line for when funds are replenished. Find a PPP lender near you.

How do I apply for PPP if I’m a sole proprietor?

• Sole proprietors, with or without employees, are eligible for PPP loans. This resource (starting on page 4) has good information about sole proprietors and the PPP, including how to calculate your loan amount and what eligible expenses are.

I’ve heard that I need to have at least 3 employees to be eligible for government relief. Is this true?

• No, this is not true. One of the criteria for federal government relief is that you have 500 or fewer employees. There are private organizations offering grants that may have different eligibility criteria, such as a minimum number of employees.

I read something this weekend that said that those who do best under the worst conditions aren’t those who are hopeful, but those who are practical. On days like today, I recommend a little bit of both. Hopefully we’ll have some good news this week about a second round of relief. In the meantime, focus on what you can do to be in line for it, and work on the plan for what happens either way.
And whatever you need to figure it out, ABA is here for you. Please reach out if there is anything we can help with. We are an incredibly creative, resilient, supportive industry. We’ll get through this, together.

​Best,
Allison

Hello all,
​
We want to remind you that the COVID coffee break scheduled for today, Thursday, April 16, at 3:00 p.m. ET, will be a webinar for booksellers: “Government Relief and Wage Requirements: What You Need to Know.” Join the Zoom calls here; the meeting ID is 749 778 583. 
Tom Jardim and Scott Salmon, experts in employment and labor law from the law firm Jardim, Meisner & Susser, P.C., will walk booksellers through the federal government relief and wage requirements recently passed in response to COVID-19. 
Jardim and Salmon will cover the relief for small businesses in the CARES Act such as the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, the Paycheck Protection Program, increased unemployment benefits, and tax/tax credit information. Additionally, the webinar will cover wage and hour requirements in part implemented by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
To allow for sufficient time to field questions, the webinar will run approximately from 3:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. ET. Join the webinar here; the meeting ID is 749 778 583. For those unable to attend, a recording of the webinar will be posted on BookWeb in the upcoming days.
If you're planning to attend either day, please take note, whenever groups of competitors come together to discuss business, we must be mindful of the risks with regard to antitrust law. If you're planning to attend, please review the Antitrust guidelines below. 
Best,
The Membership Team
American Booksellers Association
914-406-7500 | [email protected] 
Antitrust Guidelines
The booksellers in the room (virtual or otherwise) are, by definition, competitors. This means that under the law, they are prohibited from discussing certain things.
Specifically:

1. There can be no discussions of price or pricing policies. Competitors are never allowed to agree on the price at which merchandise is sold, or discounts at which merchandise is offered. All discussions of price and pricing policies are strictly off-limits.
2. There can be no discussion of boycotts. Competitors cannot agree to cease doing business with any supplier for any reason. Nor can competitors agree to urge consumers to boycott a third competitor. It’s collusion, and is strictly prohibited.
3. There can be no discussion of dividing up a market. For example, if there are two booksellers in New York City, they cannot agree that one will market only to consumers north of 57th Street while the other markets only to customers south of 57th street. This is also collusion and is prohibited.

All three of these prohibitions come to us via the Sherman Antitrust Act, which carries treble damages and jail time. All three are per se violations, which means it only has to be proved that you engaged in the activity—whether or not there was intent to harm, or actual harm caused—for you to be guilty of violating the law.

Dear Booksellers,

A few best practices to share to kick off your week:
Offering Shipping Options
Thank you to Suzanna at Oblong Books for this idea: Worried about free shipping for all the orders they were sending out, Suzanna added a shipping option for customers—“I am happy to contribute to the cost of shipping! (Media Rate): $5.00”—and 30% of customers have chosen this option over the free option!

Joining the #SaveIndieBookstores Campaign
The fund is now at $700,000! Apply by 11:59pm on April 27 for your opportunity to receive a cut of the funds. 

Detailing Your Bookshop.org Affiliation
A bookstore’s customer recently visited the store’s website and was directed to the store’s Bookshop.org affiliate page to make a purchase. The customer complained that they didn’t realize that they were buying the book from Bookshop. If your store is directing customers to your Bookshop affiliate page to sell books, make sure you’re communicating with them about why they’re being directed to Bookshop. Let your customers know that on your website and provide information about how they should follow up on their order (i.e., through Bookshop). Explain why you’re using Bookshop and explain to them that Bookshop is a B-corp that supports indie bookstores.
Going for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan
A bookstore member recently offered the following report of her PPP experience: “I asked my bank about a PPP loan about March 30 and provided them with all requested forms and documentation on April 3. Working with this bank and filing our application for this loan was started and completed today (April 9) utilizing a company called SmartBiz. This process took about two hours and required the uploading of numerous documents, all of which I had compiled electronically last week. It was far more streamlined than what I believe is typical for SBA loans. It wasn’t too painful.” But remember: Start the process before the funds are depleted. 
Selling Non-Book on Your Website
Adding a few high-demand non-book items to your website, like puzzles, cards, or chocolate, can help increase your dollars per transaction. If you have an IndieCommerce site and can still fill orders from your store inventory (via curbside pickup, delivery, or shipping from your store), check out BookWeb for custom products instructions or watch this custom products webinar. The steps are as simple as creating a new product class, managing authoring information, including attributes (if the custom product has attributes, like sizes for T-shirts), adding tax, and creating the product. (Reminder: Media Mail is only for shipping media, like books.)

Using Transparency to Boost Fundraising
Nicole Magistro of the Bookworm of Edwards didn’t just launch a fundraising campaign to raise money for the store during the crisis—she used her GoFundMe campaign as a platform to educate her customers about her business. She was candid about how much payroll costs and how much the store’s rent is, and she detailed for donors exactly how their money was being used: “So proud that we added 80 staff hours between now and Wednesday thanks to YOU!” for example. And Bookworm explained that donations and online shopping were both ways that customers could help support the bookstore. The campaign is almost at its goal, but, more importantly, Nicole has made her customers feel part of Bookworm’s success.

Have any other best practices you want to share? Let us know! And remember, ABA is here for you. Please reach out if there is anything we can help with. We are an incredibly creative, resilient, supportive industry. We’ll get through this, together.
Best,
Allison

Dear Booksellers,
The days of sheltering in place and social distancing are indistinguishable. Work and home life blend together as we work from home. Bookstores are closed but open. The days of the week roll into one another, with no distinction between them. In the midst of this, structure is the new self-care. I’ve honed my work-from-home routine these past few weeks and there is a comfort even in the certainty of regular meal times in the midst of so much other uncertainty.
Your stores’ e-newsletters, e-commerce sites, social media posts, virtual author events, even your emails, offer me that same comfort right now. The continuity of hearing from you, connecting with you, just knowing you’re out there, is meaningful. And I know I’m not alone in that. Your customers feel the same. During a time that sometimes feels colored by what we’ve lost, one of the many things I think we’ve all gained is an appreciation for the web of connections that make up our lives, and perspective about what we truly value. 
#SaveIndieBookstores
The Save Indie Bookstores campaign celebrates these connections and the value that your stores represent to your customers and your communities. Within the first five hours, we received $8,000 in donations and multiple press pieces, and we’ve barely begun. SaveIndieBookstores.com has all the details, including an FAQ page, but here are some reminders:

• Applications and eligibility requirements will be posted at SaveIndieBookstores.com on April 10. The deadline for applying is 11:59 pm on April 27. The application takes five minutes.
• All eligible indie bookstores will receive funds. We anticipate 95% of indie bookstores will be eligible. The final fund amount and the number of eligible bookstores that apply will determine the amount of money that’s ultimately given away to each store.
• We recommend that bookstores consider this to be just part of the overall relief plan they are pursuing, which may also include federal and local grants, forgivable loans, low-interest loans, Facebook grants, and more, as well as continuing to negotiate with all of your vendors.
• A media kit with marketing assets is available at SaveIndieBookstores.com so bookstores can share the campaign with their communities.
• Remember, this isn’t just a fundraising campaign. This is a moment to raise visibility and awareness of the value of indie bookstores to our culture and communities!

Store Survey
Take a moment to update ABA on the status of your store. Open? Closed? Closed with curbside service? Selling online? This information helps us update publishers, wholesalers, and shippers, and find ways to support you. You can fill out the form (it takes just three minutes) and also see the results. (Note: This information will be public.)
Technology Meetup: Ingram Direct to Home (April 7 at 1:00 pm EDT)
For those using Direct to Home on ipage to ship orders directly to your customers, Eric Forrest (supervisor, customer care, customer care operations and e-services) from Ingram is answering questions and hosting a live demonstration for members. Advanced registration is required. 
Marketing Meetup: Virtual Events (April 9 at 11:00 am EDT)  
For those interested in hosting virtual events for their customers, booksellers Liz Decker from Caprichos Books, Liz Hottel from Politics & Prose, and Jessica Stockton Bagnulo from Greenlight Bookstore, all of whom have held virtual events recently, using three different platforms, will share their experiences and speak to best practices. Advanced registration is required. 
Apply for SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Before the Money Runs Out
Members can apply here. I walked through it and it takes less than 30 minutes. You can’t save as you go, so you have to do it in one sitting. You’ll need gross revenues and cost of goods sold for 12 months prior to January 31, 2020; names, addresses, phone numbers, and social security numbers for all owners; the number of employees as of January 31, 2020; and your bank name, accounting number, and routing number. 

I hope some of that information is helpful. If nothing else, now you know that it’s the end of the week so it must be Friday. 
I’ll leave you with a poem to take you into your weekend. Another reminder of what we’ve gained: Know that we are connected / in ways that are terrifying and beautiful. 

ABA is here for you. Please reach out if there is anything we can help with. We are an incredibly creative, resilient, supportive industry. We’ll get through this, together.
Best,
Allison

​I was just on the weekly ABA bookseller call and had a few key points I wanted to amplify. 

If you plan on applying for the Economic Industry Disaster Loan please do so right away. The funding is first come first serve and it is going fast. They are $10,000. Here is a link to the application: https://www.sba.gov/page/disaster-loan-applications

Here is a link to the Paycheck Protection Program Application Form:
https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Paycheck-Protection-Program-Application-3-30-2020-v3.pdf

Please note: Only 25% of the PPP can be used for non-payroll

Schuler Books in Michigan has been doing one on one FaceTime bookselling with customers which has been working well for them and sounds wonderful. 

There is an ABA meeting next Thursday at 11am about Virtual Events

Several bookstores have been using Crowdcast for virtual events.
https://www.crowdcast.io/

Independent Bookstore Day Moves to August 29
https://www.bookweb.org/news/independent-bookstore-day-moves-august-29-576795

James Patterson Announces $500,000 Donation and Campaign to Help Save Independent Bookstores Across the U.S.
https://www.saveindiebookstores.com/

April 2, 2020, New York, NY – James Patterson announced today a personal donation of $500,000 to help save independent bookstores across the country. Patterson has partnered with the Book Industry Charitable (Binc) Foundation and the American Booksellers Association (ABA) to promote the campaign. In the coming weeks, Patterson will call upon writers, readers and book-lovers to contribute to #SaveIndieBookstores. The campaign will run through April 30, at which point Binc will distribute the total funds raised to eligible independent bookstores. For more information, please visit SaveIndieBookstores.com.

“In these uncertain times, it’s up to all of us to do our part and to help those in need however we can,” says Patterson. “The White House is concerned about saving the airline industry and big businesses – I get that. But I’m concerned about the survival of independent bookstores, which are at the heart of main streets across the country. I believe that books are essential. They make us kinder, more empathetic human beings. And they have the power to take us away—even momentarily—from feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and scared. I hope that the funds we raise keep bookstores alive at a time when we need them the most.”

American Booksellers Association CEO Allison K Hill says, “This support for independent bookstores is incredibly generous. We are grateful to Mr. Patterson and Binc and we feel very lucky to have them as part of our bookselling family. It is especially meaningful to have this support from people who recognize the cultural contributions of independent bookstores, and who appreciate the vital role that independent bookstores play in connecting readers to books, and in creating community. This fund will help ensure that this good work continues.”

Pam French, Executive Director of the Binc Foundation, says, "We are honored and humbled to work with Mr. Patterson and the ABA to ensure the generosity of book people across the nation goes directly to bookstores that are fighting to survive. In these unprecedented times, bookstores are more vital to the well-being of their communities than ever. I extend my thanks and gratitude to every person who donates. Together we can help save our bookstores."

To be considered for a grant, ABA member bookstores can visit SaveIndieBookstores.com to fill out a short application form beginning April 10 and continuing through April 27. Funds will be distributed to eligible stores by May 15.

#SaveIndieBookstores!
Frequently Asked Questions

The Fund
What is the #SaveIndieBookstores campaign?
This is a fundraising and promotional campaign to raise money for independent bookstores and to increase awareness about the vital role the indies play in supporting authors, books, and ideas, and in contributing to their communities.
 
How did this campaign come about?
Bestselling author James Patterson approached the ABA about helping indie bookstores during the COVID-19 crisis and a movement was born. Patterson offered to donate $500k to start a fundraising and promotional campaign and, with the help of a small focus group of booksellers, some of whom had already approached the ABA with similar ideas; the ABA Board; Binc; Reese’s Book Club; and dedicated ABA staff, #SaveIndieBookstores was launched.
 
What’s the donation goal for the fund?
As the crisis is still evolving the goal is a moving target. The need is significant and we are hoping the fund raises millions of dollars.
 
Will this fund be enough money to save indie bookstores?
Not by itself. Our hope is that stores combine this money with other funds they’re receiving from the government, their own fundraising campaigns, and other sources, and that combined all of this money helps the indies weather this storm. Support from publishers, landlords, authors, their communities, and customers will be critical as well.
 
When does the fund launch?
The fund launches today, April 2, with an announcement by AP at approximately 10:30am EDT.

Why do we need this fund when Binc already has a general fund that supports booksellers and bookstores?
Binc has done incredible work to support booksellers and bookstores over the years. Given the volume of requests for assistance currently they are focused on supporting booksellers right now through their general fund. If booksellers are to have jobs on the other side of the crisis we need to support bookstores as well. #SaveIndieBookstores will help the bookstores. The two efforts combined will help meet the overall need.


The Partners
What is ABA’s role?
ABA is promoting the campaign to the public, publishers, authors, and other prospective donors, and offering some administrative help. We have created the website and social media around the campaign.
 
What is Binc’s role?
Binc is a 401(c) 3 that is receiving donations and distributing the funds. This restricted fund was established through a gift agreement with Patterson using his initial $500k donation. Binc is promoting the campaign and soliciting donors.
 
What Is Reese’s Book Club’s role?
Reese Witherspoon had already begun a campaign to support Binc through her book club, beginning with an announcement on Instagram two weeks ago. The links she has been using will direct donations to the Save Indie Bookstores fund going forward and she will continue promoting independent bookstores and asking her community to support them through donations and purchases.
 
Donors
Who can donate the fund and how do they make a donation?
Anyone can donate any amount to the fund. To donate, donors can visit SaveIndieBookstores.com and click on the Give Now button that will take them to Binc’s donation page. Donations can be made by check or credit card. Donors can also contact Kathy Bartson at 734-471-0201 or [email protected] . Donations are tax deductible.

When can donors donate money?
Now! Donations will be accepted now through April 30, 2020.
 
Bookstores

How do stores apply?
Stores will fill out a simple 5-minute online form at SaveIndieBoookstores.com. Applications will be accepted 4/10/20 – 4/27/20. The deadline to apply is midnight on April 27, 2020.

How are funds distributed?
Funds will be distributed in proportion to a store’s sales. (The goal here is to contribute toward replacing lost sales, use a fair method to determine distribution, and ensure that stores get funds corresponding to their need.)

How much money could bookstores receive?
The amount an eligible bookstore receives will depend on how much money is donated to the funds by April 30th and how many eligible bookstores apply.

How much of the money will go to bookstores?
           100% of the funds raised going forward will be distributed to bookstores.

When will funds be distributed?
Funds will be distributed the first two weeks of May 2020.


How can I help?

·     Donate at SaveIndieBookstores.com.
·     Promote #SaveIndieBookstores by sharing the hashtag and website.
·     Let your followers know that you donated, and encourage them to donate as well.
·     Encourage your followers to buy books from independent bookstores right now.
·     Share why bookstores are important to you online and in your community.
·     Help us make this a movement to get us to the other side of this crisis.

Dear all,
The above haiku is my offering to you to make up for the fact that today is a repeat. (As I typed this, I flashed back to how upsetting that word was when I was a child—tuning in to my favorite show only to discover that it was a “repeat.” The horror.) This information is worth repeating, though. With thanks to ABA’s advocacy team, below is critical information about loans, grants, and the FFCR Act that begins TOMORROW, April 1. (By the way, I’m pretty sure that April Fool’s Day is postponed this year, like most everything else.) So, without further ado, an oldie but a goodie:
Start the Loan and Grant Process Now

• Check the ABA website for opportunities in your region.
• Read the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Guide & Checklist
• Read ABA’s summary of specific provisions of the CARES Act
• Read the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship’s CARES Act guide and frequently asked questions
• Sign up for more information about Facebook’s Small Business Grants Program
• Start preparing documents you may need to apply for loans and grants:
  • 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 or list of liabilities for your business.
  • Your monthly operating expenses from March through September of last year.

For SBA disaster loan assistance you will need to complete the application in one sitting (no saving as you go) but it will only take about 20 minutes online with the following readily available:

• Sales and cost of goods for 2019
• Names, address, phone, numbers, and social security numbers for all owners
• Corporate name, ID number, address, and phone number
• Number of employees as of January 1, 2020
• Bank name, account number, and routing number

Watch for more details from ABA about procedures and tips, as we expect to know more later this week.
Remember: April Begins a New Legal Requirement
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act takes effect TOMORROW, April 1. The law includes significant changes to employee pay as it relates to the COVID-19 outbreak, such as mandating paid family leave and paid sick leave.
It’s also important to note that bookstores with fewer than 50 employees may be able to apply for an exemption from paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave if providing either of the types of paid leave could “jeopardize the viability” of their business. The Department of Labor (DOL) has not yet issued guidance on how to apply for this exemption to-date but notes that a small business will have to document why it meets the criteria. DOL noted this exemption will be addressed in forthcoming regulations. For questions regarding the exemption, please contact ABA’s Advocacy team at [email protected].
In general, it’s important that you understand this LEGAL REQUIREMENT and the relief associated with it:

• Read ABA’s summary of specific provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• Read the Department of Labor’s resources on COVID-19 and the workplace
• Importantly, read the department’s comprehensive Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Questions and Answers

Among other provisions, the law requires employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide employees two weeks of paid sick leave if the employee is unable to work (or telework) because of a federal, state, or local quarantine order; self-quarantine; COVID symptoms; care of a quarantined individual; or the need to care for children due to the closure of school or place of care.
The law provides employers with a refundable tax credit equal to 100 percent of qualified sick and family leave wages paid. Employers can claim the credit quarterly. And the CARES Act provides for advanced refunding of the payroll tax credits enacted in the Families First law. The credit for required paid sick leave and the credit for required paid family leave can be refunded in advance using forms and instructions the IRS will provide. ABA’s Advocacy team will provide updates as they become available.
For specific questions about how these changes may impact your store, contact your payroll or human resources company, your state’s Department of Labor, or reach out to ABA’s Advocacy team at [email protected].
ABA is here to support you. Please reach out if there is anything we can help with. We are an incredibly creative, resilient, supportive industry. We’ll get through this, together.
Best,
Allison