The rules are easy, go to independent bookstores that are new to you between January 1 and December 31, 2009 and have some sort of interaction. Here are the different levels you can sign up for:
- Scout – Visit 2 independent bookstores (easy!)
- Specialist – Visit 2 subject matter specialty bookstores (i.e., travel, children, cooking)
- Nationalist – Visit 2 independent bookstores and 1 additional bookstore in a state you do not live in
- Continental – Visit 2 independent bookstores and 1 additional bookstore in another N. American country (that would be the USA, Canada or Mexico)
- Globetrotter – Visit 2 independent bookstores and 1 additional bookstore on a different continent (if you’re going to Europe, check out Bookstore Guide)
- Type A Personality to the Max – Satisfy any two categories
We’ll use this page to list everyone who is participating and provide updates and information. We’d love to post a review of the stores you’ve found and liked (we ignore stores with bad service or stock), we’ll include it with a description of you and a link back to your blog. In fact, we encourage cross posting bookstore reviews so post on your blog, Indiebound, Yelp, City Search, City Guide and any other place that would like it. At the end of the year we’ll have a random drawing among everyone who satisfied their challenge for a $20 ABA Gift card.
New addition: Holiday Helper – buy two holiday gifts from an independent bookstore, scan the receipt and send it to Claire (claire@bookstorepeople.com) or Kim (kim@bookstorepeople.com) and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a second $20 ABA Gift card.
Both gift cards will be purchased from Skylight Books and can be used at independent bookstores across the country. Also, Skylight is happy to honor the card and ship a book (or more!) to you.
Sign up with Mr. Linky:
Claire
Kim
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November 4, 2009 at 7:46 am
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February 2, 2009 at 6:01 am
Robin
Hi Kim and Claire. Here’s my post about the first independent bookstore I have visited for this challenge. What a nice afternoon we spent at The Snow Goose, in Stanwood, Washington! Thanks for hosting this challenge. It’s going to be a lot of fun!
http://fondnessforreading.blogspot.com/2009/02/snow-goose-bookstore.html
February 21, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Robin
Hi again, Kim and Claire. I’ve visited another fun indie bookstore — Murder By The Book Mystery Bookshop, in Portland, Oregon. Here’s the link to my post. I’m enjoying this challenge!
http://fondnessforreading.blogspot.com/2009/02/murder-by-book-bookshop.html
March 13, 2009 at 10:31 am
George Byron Wright
Hey Kim & Claire, As an author, my biggest concern about indie bookstores is that they do not work together enough. They may belong to the trade association in there region, but I don’t see enough collaboration, especially in these tough times. Combined marketing budgets (even small ones) can go a long way in creating awareness and buyer support if done well and consistently. This works well in cities but in towns where there may only be one store, the collaboration will have to be more creative. The thing is, bookstores are dropping and in many cases they don’t need to. In my own neighborhood in NW Portland (Oregon) at store of 29 years folded; 29 years! The thing missing was a marketing effort.
The aggressive marketers, using creative collaboration, those bookstores will remain.
March 13, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Kim
Truer words have rarely been spoken. There is a growing awareness of the need for bookstores to become better marketers by linking arms in an indie movement, using social marketing, and having creative uses for the stores that bring in different crowds. There is a bubbling discussion about how bookstores can incorporate e-books into their offerings. The ABA had an “education” seminar at the Winter Institute and will again at the BEA to help educate booksellers on how to better market themselves. There has been a disconnect between the one-on-one service that is so wonderful in a bookstore and the ability to cast a broad net out to people to use that personal expertise.