Upcoming events

Switch to Calendar View

• The Insider Scoop: Save Time, Energy and Money!

  • When
    14-Jan-2025
  •  
    7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

  Register

  CIBA’s Supplier Relations Committee is an important bridge between indie booksellers and the publishing industry. The Committee regularly meets with representatives of key organizations, receiving operational updates, and advocating for the needs of our members.

  These meetings have provided committee members with important insights into the ways that indie bookstores can save time, energy and money by leveraging insider-info.

  Join CIBA’s Supplier Relations Committee to hear key tips that will strengthen your business!

  Time is listed as ET.

  
  

  Show details
• Publisher Picks: Spring Picks from Multinational Publishers

  • When
    23-Jan-2025
  •  
    6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

  Register

  CIBA's Publisher Picks series is back with its Spring 2025 edition! We will bring you to the heart of publisher marketing discussions to discover the season's best bets – the books you might not (yet) know you need to stock, but will definitely be glad you have on hand. 

  The goal of these sessions is to give booksellers an insider look at seasonal releases you need to be aware of, and why these books are going to have buzz this season. The focus is on titles that may be flying under the radar, not on the big-name bestsellers. You'll learn both the why and the how from publishers – why they predict these books will be talked about and how you can best put them in customers' hands. Publishers will be presenting highlights only, in a speed-dating format. 

  Who should attend? Bookstore owners, managers and staff to find out upcoming publisher highlights and how to sell them.

  Presenters:

  • Canadian Manda Group
  • HarperCollins Canada
  • Penguin Random House Canada
  • Raincoast Books
  • Scholastic Canada
  • Simon & Schuster Canada

  Attend live or watch the recording and you could win one of four publisher prizes! Email Nicola the special code (which will appear on screen sometime during the presentation) by Friday February 7 and you'll be entered into a draw to win one of the following prizes:

  • $200 co-op credit from HarperCollins Canada
  • $200 account credit from Penguin Random House Canada
  • $200 account credit (to be used with Raincoast or PGC - not eligible for BookExpress)
  • $200 account credit from Scholastic Canada

  The event time is listed as ET. 

  Show details
• Green paths: Building a sustainable future in bookselling

  • When
    28-Jan-2025
  •  
    2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

  Booksellers have the power to make their operations greener and more sustainable, but the path forward isn’t always clear. Join us for an overview of the first study on sustainability in the bookselling sector, published through RISE Bookselling, a project run by the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF) and co-funded by the European Union. Fanny Valembois, one of the report’s authors and a specialist in ecological transition for cultural organizations, will share key insights from the research to help you identify practical strategies for more sustainable operations. Amber Harrison from FOLDE Dorset — an independent, award-winning, and B-Corp-certified bookstore in the UK — will share their own sustainability journey.

  The webinar will be hosted by Hilary Atleo from Iron Dog Books and is presented in partnership with the BookNet Canada.

  REGISTER HERE

  
  

  
  

  Show details
• Getting Ready for CIBD 2025

  • When
    03-Feb-2025
  •  
    1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

  Register

  Join us for a dynamic session designed to help you make the most of Canadian Independent Bookstore Day 2025!

  Kayla Calder, CIBA’s Marketing & Communications Lead, will kick things off with an overview of this year’s initiatives, the importance of creative bookseller activities, and why sharing your plans with CIBA is key to amplifying your store’s visibility. After the presentation, booksellers can brainstorm and share ideas for community-driven activities and practical tips to support planning for CIBD 2025.

  Time is listed as ET.

  
  

  Show details
• Enhance Your Business Relationship with UTP

  • When
    06-Feb-2025
  •  
    3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

  Register

  CIBA’s Supplier Relations Committee has been actively working with UTP Distribution to cultivate a productive relationship for indies across the country. UTP has been open with CIBA about how managing their free freight program and balancing a vast number of small publishers has made fulfillment more complex.  

  Join UTP representatives Jason Farrell, Mary Di Nardo, and Gagan Virkas as they share best practices for enhancing your relationship with UTP, and respond to some frequently asked member questions.  

  Members – please send us your questions in advance! Questions can be sent to Nicola by Monday February 3. 

  Event time is listed as ET.

  Show details
• Publisher Picks: Spring Picks from Canadian Independent Publishers

  • When
    13-Feb-2025
  •  
    6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

  Register

  CIBA's Publisher Picks series is back with its Spring 2025 edition! We will bring you to the heart of publisher marketing discussions to discover the season's best bets from Canadian Independent Publishers.

  The goal of these sessions is to give booksellers an insider look at seasonal releases you need to be aware of, and why these books are going to have buzz this season. You'll learn both the why and the how from publishers – why they predict these books will be talked about and how you can best put them in customers' hands. 
  

  Publishers will each be presenting one book - a highlight from the season!

  Who should attend? Bookstore owners, managers and staff to find out upcoming publisher highlights and how to sell them.

  Publisher lineup to be announced soon.

  The event time is listed as ET. 

  Show details
• CIBA Discussion Group: For Shopify Users

  • When
    20-Feb-2025
  •  
    3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

  Register

  In early 2024, CIBA members who use Shopify as their point-of-sale system met to discuss their experiences with the platform. At this follow up meeting, we invite current and prospective Shopify users to come together and share their successes, challenges, needs, and future hopes. This is an informal session – don’t forget to bring along your questions and discussion points!

  
  

  We encourage members to send questions and comments in advance so we know what topics you'd like to discuss. Questions can be sent to Nicola.

  
  

  Moderator: Chandler Jolliffe, Cedar Canoe Books (ON)

  Time is listed as ET.

  Show details
• Canadian Independent Bookstore Day

  • When
    26-Apr-2025

  Canadian Independent Bookstore Day (CIBD) is the annual day when readers, writers, illustrators, publishers, and other industry supporters come together to celebrate indie bookstores across Canada. By joining the celebration, you are advocating for independent businesses, supporting a flourishing bookselling community, and investing in Canadian culture.
  
  The 2025 event is taking place on Saturday, April 26. In addition to our Contest for Book Lovers, readers can look forward to giveaways, limited edition products, and bookseller activities across the country.

  More information including a campaign toolkit will be made available in March 2025.

  
  

  Show details