A Day for the Bookstores

This fall, we invite you to join Publishers Weekly in celebrating the first annual National Bookstore Day, a day devoted to celebrating bookselling and the vibrant culture of bookstores. This year's day will take place on Saturday, November 7, and to make it a success we need your help and participation.

PW is committed to promoting National Bookstore Day to attract both local and national media coverage well in advance of November 7, with the goal of driving new (and loyal) customers into bookstores. Throughout September and October, we will place announcements in our print magazine, e-mail newsletters and across our online Web community touting the day and what it celebrates. We recognize that most stores already do wonderful promotions on their own throughout the year, but we want to enhance those efforts by banding together and thereby building visibility nationwide on a single day. If just 10% of independent bookstores participate in National Bookstore Day, there will be over 200 celebrations across the country. PW is also sending a personal letter to the heads of the national bookstore chains to request their involvement. If they see value in this idea and choose to participate, so much the better.

We have created a logo that you see here, and formatted it onto bookmarks, window signs and posters that you can download or insert into your customer print and e-newsletters. These are customizable PDFs that you can use to promote special discounts, contests and offers available to your customers only on November 7. Consider hosting a raffle for a bundle of books or a store gift certificate. Perhaps you may want to partner with local nonbookstore retail outlets to create a basket of prizes in appreciation of your customers' support.

In addition, PW will be contacting publishers to ask them to promote special bookseller discounts on selected titles in recognition of National Bookstore Day (stay tuned for a list of titles).

While we'll handle the industry promotion and coverage, we're looking to you to join us with the kind of event or promotion for November 7 that you feel is most appropriate. If you do plan to participate, please e-mail us at PWEvents@reedbusiness.com so we can add your bookstore's name and URL (please provide us with the link) to our Web site. Any authors interested in participating can also contact us through the Web site as well; distributors, wholesalers and commissioned reps who may want to take part in promoting the event are invited as well. Share the wealth! Let us know your plans or any unique promotional ideas. We will be tracking and reporting on activity so be sure to watch this page and PW for updates.

Together we can make a difference!

Thank you,

Ron Shank

Group Publisher

Publishers Weekly