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Greetings!
As we savour the last weeks of summer, there’s plenty of exciting news and updates to share with our CIBA community. We’re gearing up for the launch of The Booksellers’ List this fall—a project many of you have contributed to by nominating your favourite titles. The list is ready to roll out on September 1, with a fun marketing campaign to keep those titles flying off indie shelves all season long!
Meanwhile, summer’s not over yet! We've got two on-going summer campaigns and great virtual events coming up. Plus, don’t forget to sign up for the CIBA AGM and the Coffee Break session to connect with fellow booksellers and CIBA leadership.
There’s lots to dive into, so keep scrolling for all the details! |
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The Booksellers’ List Update
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We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all who nominated books for The Booksellers’ List over the past few months. We couldn’t be more excited about the final list, and we know Indie customers are going to love it too! We’re happy to share that publishers are reporting an increased request for ARCs and orders for list titles.
What’s next? The Booksellers’ List (Fall 2025) will be announced to the general public on September 1, and the marketing campaign will run until the end of November. Please refrain from any public announcements until after the launch.
In a recent e-blast, we shared the confidential list with members so stores can begin preparing for the launch. Behind the scenes, CIBA is working with Serif and publishers of the selected titles on a vibrant marketing and advertising campaign that will drive customers to Indie bookstores. We’re also busy building a dedicated list landing page on IndieBookstores.ca.
Earlier this week, bookseller members were sent an order form for printed TBL promotional items (bookmarks, signed bookplates and “Top Pick” stickers). If you missed it, please email Nicola for more information.
Next week, CIBA will provide bookseller members with a marketing toolkit, featuring a variety of branded templates to help promote TBL, both in store and online. We look forward to seeing your creative displays and watching those titles fly off the shelves! |
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Nominate Titles for The Booksellers’ List – Winter 2026
TBL is designed to run seasonally and as such, we’re now seeking nominations for books you wish to champion for our Winter 2026 List. We welcome all CIBA Bookseller Members to nominate titles for an adult audience, published between January 1–March 31, 2026. Tell us what you’re excited to share with customers!
Titles can be nominated via:
The deadline for nominations is Monday, November 3, 2025. The public announcement of the Winter List will take place on Monday January 5, 2026.
Questions? Contact Nicola. |
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Discover CFIB's HR and Legal Support for Members
Monday, August 18
9am PT, 10am MT, 11am CT, 12pm ET, 1pm AT, 1:30pm Newfoundland
CIBA members have access to a discounted membership with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). Join us for this exclusive members-only webinar, where CFIB will break down their free HR support and legal services, in addition to their savings programs that will support your business. |
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Discussion Group for Shopify Users: Pain Points and Solutions
Tuesday, August 26
12pm PT, 1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET, 4pm AT, 4:30pm Newfoundland
Current and prospective Shopify users are invited to come together for peer support and discussion. During this session, we invite booksellers to share some of your Shopify 'pain points’ and the solutions you found to work through them.
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Surefire Brands to Boost Indie Sales This Holiday Season
Thursday, September 11
12pm PT, 1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET, 4pm AT, 4:30pm Newfoundland
Are you overwhelmed trying to navigate the number of branded and licensed titles out there? Penguin Random House is here to help! This session will share some of the successes indies have had with recognizable characters from the worlds of Bluey and Dr. Seuss, as well as forthcoming opportunities like Ms. Rachel.
Presenter: Kyrell Grant, Manager, Children’s Independent and School Sales, Penguin Random House Canada |
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CIBA Coffee Break: Q&A in advance of the AGM
Monday, September 15 9am PT, 10am MT, 11am CT, 12pm ET, 1pm AT, 1:30pm Newfoundland
This dedicated session will ensure Bookseller Members feel informed in advance of the 2025 AGM. Please bring your questions about pending votes (to be shared in the AGM Meeting Package) so we can provide answers and/or gather more information on specific topics to share during the AGM, if appropriate.
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Tracking Trends: Pre-Holiday Update from BookNet Canada
Thursday, October 23
12pm PT, 1pm MT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET, 4pm AT, 4:30pm Newfoundland
In this timely session, BookNet data detectives Lily Dwyer, Kalpna Patel, and Lauren Stewart will review 2025’s trends to-date with an eye to advancing your holiday preparedness. Will the emerging trends from Spring and Summer carry into Fall and Winter seasonal shopping? What lessons can be observed from sales recorded in 2024? How is the “Buy Canadian” movement faring? And what data-informed holiday preparation planning can you consider before things pick up speed?
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We’re excited to spotlight Kanata Classics, a new collection from McClelland & Stewart that brings together a balance of Indigenous and non-Indigenous voices in thoughtful and engaging dialogue. This ground-breaking series celebrates timeless books that explore Canada’s rich and diverse culture, history, and identity. This partnership reflects the kind of collaboration CIBA values—supporting independent bookstores while promoting important Canadian literature. Explore the collection on IndieBookstores.ca and consider featuring these titles in your store. |
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Scholastic Canada’s Summer Reading Adventure
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With back-to-school just around the corner, Scholastic Canada's Supa-Awesome Summer Reading Adventure is the perfect way to keep kids excited about reading through the final weeks of summer. If you’re participating, you should have everything you need to inspire young readers— including in-store materials and a digital toolkit with logos, social media graphics, printable activities, book guides, and a digital display header. Don’t forget, CIBA members can head to the Bookseller Forum to share ideas, swap tips, and talk about the fun activities and giveaways helping make this campaign a success. |
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“Your Summer Is Booked” - Final Stretch!
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We're now in the home stretch for “Your Summer Is Booked”—a national summer reading campaign in partnership with Penguin Random House Canada and IndieBookstores.ca! Thanks to the incredible support from independent bookstores and enthusiastic readers across Canada, contest entries have been flooding in. |
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There’s still time for your customers to join in the fun—anyone who purchases one or more of the 25 eligible paperback titles from an indie bookstore before August 31 can enter to win an amazing prize pack: all 25 books, worth over $725!
This is the perfect moment to encourage your customers to shop indie, pick up their summer reads and submit their contest entries before time runs out! |
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Let’s work together to finish strong and celebrate the joy of discovering great paperbacks at local bookstores. Click here for more info and to find out how your customers can enter to win! |
Save the Date: AGM & Coffee Break Session
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The CIBA AGM is just around the corner! Before we gather for the official meeting, we invite all Bookseller Members to join us for a casual Coffee Break session on Monday, September 15, at 12:00pm ET. This is a perfect opportunity to meet CIBA’s leadership and board members, get answers to any questions you might have about the upcoming votes, and familiarize yourself with the AGM format. Don’t forget to register for the Coffee Break session here.
The AGM itself will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at 7:00pm ET via Zoom and is exclusively for Bookseller Members as per our bylaws. Registration is required. For those who can’t attend live, the meeting will be recorded and available to watch on demand in the Member Portal. Plus, the annual report will be shared with the entire CIBA community.
If you need any assistance or have questions, please contact Laura Carter. |
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This message was sent to you by the Canadian Independent Booksellers Association If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe at any time P.O. Box 36099, Halifax NS B3J 3S9 {Organization_URL} |
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