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SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY PREP
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American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) invites you to amplify this year's Shop Indie Local Holiday Campaign presented by the American Booksellers Association (ABA). From Plaid Friday to Jólabókaflóð, let's unite nationally and engage locally to ensure more of our dollars recirculate in our communities and build a stronger local economy.
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Highlight audiobook gifts
Check out Libro.fm's holiday guide for handselling tips, FAQs on audiobook gifts and a month by month checklist.
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Libro.fm’s biggest sales of the year!
Shop Small Sale: 11/25-12/1
Credit Bundle Sale: 12/9-11
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Share membership offers
Libro.fm has promo codes and graphics for Plaid Friday, Cider Monday, Indies First, and Small Business Saturday. Find assets in the bookseller hub.
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GET INVOLVED! JOIN A CALIBA COMMITTEE
Join one of our committees and contribute your insights, passion, and creativity to the future and strength of CALIBA. Most committees require a few zoom calls a year, assisting the office, vetting authors and books for programs, and/or volunteering at in-person conferences. Sign up before committees resume in January. Click here for more details about CALIBA Committees.
The following committees are seeking members:
- Education Committee
- BIPOC Booksellers Committee (formerly Mosaic)
- Nominating Committee
- Publisher Relations Committee
- Political Advocacy Committee
Interested in joining one of the committees above? Click here to fill out the form.
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INTRODUCING A POP-UP TOOL KIT FROM CALIBA
We've been working on a Pop-Up Tool Kit doc to share as a resource for CALIBA member stores that are new to pop-up/mobile events (an Advisory Council suggestion). Do you have any additional tips you think we should include in this document for future members? Email Alecia.
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TIPS FOR USING THE WINTER CATALOG
CALIBA creates the Holiday Catalog to help booksellers sell books and support the organization. With the help of the other regionals, we have compiled a list of ideas for making the most of your holiday catalog that you can find here.
Note: CALIBA has a select number of copies of the catalog if you run out of copies or missed the order deadline. Email info@caliballiance.org.
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Catalog tip from Flo at Linden Tree Books, in Los Altos:
We keep catalogs by the door, cash register, and add them to bags.
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Have other ideas on how bookstores can use the Winter Catalog? Share it on Discord or email Alecia!
Catalog Resources
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DECEMBER MARKETING ASSETS: AVAILABLE NOV. 26TH
-National Cookie Day (12/4)
-National Cocoa Day (12/13)
-International Tea Day (12/15)
JANUARY MARKETING ASSET: POLL RESULTS
We included a poll in last week's newsletter to see which theme you all would like us to make marketing assets for in January. National Bird Day (1/4/26) was the poll winner! Look for assets to be delivered in our Dec. 24th newsletter.
Click here to access the marketing assets page.
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PROFESSIONAL BOOKSELLERS SCHOOL
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5% DISCOUNT FOR CALIBA MEMBERS
Independent Study: CALIBAind
Live Courses: CALIBAlive
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INDIE BOOKSTORE PROMOTIONS
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EXPAND YOUR REACH WITH BAY CITY NEWS
Bay City News is reimagining its new book beat through editorial partnerships with booksellers, libraries, author groups and publishers and wants your events, ideas and contributions. Since 1979, the regional news wire has covered Northern California's 13 counties for regional media partners; the agency launched its nonprofit arm in 2018, providing features direct to audiences and via services like MSN and Newsbreak. Share your events to newsroom@baycitynews.com, as well as your interest in contributing to inventive features and/or suggesting ideas for collaboration. Feel free to send them your newsletters! Click here for more ways to get your store featured in Bay City News.
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HOLIDAY SHIPPING CUTOFF DATES FROM INGRAM
To help ensure timely delivery, Ingram strongly encourages you to place holiday orders as early as possible. Based on projected volumes and carrier holiday schedules, they recommend the following last order dates for delivery by Christmas:
- U.S. Retailers: Order by Dec. 15, 2025
Please note: These recommendations are based on current information and may be subject to change. Ingram will continue processing and shipping orders beyond these dates, but delivery by Christmas cannot be guaranteed.
Additionally, please be aware of the following carrier holiday closures:
- Thanksgiving – November 27, 2025
- Christmas Day – December 25, 2025
- New Year's Eve & Day – December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026
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PRH TWO-DAY HOLIDAY TRANSIT IS BACK
Penguin Random House's 14th annual two-day holiday transit program for independent bookstores began October 15, and will run through January 26, 2026.
The program, which supports independent bookstores during and beyond the holiday season, will continue to feature the "no minimums" requirement first introduced during the Covid pandemic. Booksellers can submit orders in any quantity, on their schedule, without having to build up to a minimum-retail-value threshold.
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SCHOLASTIC OFFERS EXPEDITED SHIPPING FOR THE HOLIDAYS
To help you stock up on titles for the holiday season, Scholastic is bringing back the Indie Expedited Ship Program.
Indies can receive expedited shipping on all orders placed between now and December 19! You will need to log in to BookWeb to view expedited shipping details.
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Don't forget to follow and tag us (@caliba_20) to be featured! CALIBA's Media Outlet Resource Doc has info about being featured by Shelf Awareness, USA Today, and Bay City News.
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1 - Tía Chucha's Centro Cultural, in Sylmar, celebrated 24 years with a Rock concert. Congratulations!
2 - The Quirky Crow Bookshop, in San Ramon, is working hard to open by November 22nd.
3 - The Love Potion Library, in San Francisco, has a lease and will open in early 2026!
4 - Eureka Books participated in the Indigenous Voices Bookstagram Tour with Indigenous Owned Bookstores, Bookstagrammers, and Authors for Native American Heritage Month.
5 - Word Horde Emporium, in Petaluma dropped off their first batch of food from their Fall Food Drive.
6 - Vroman's Bookstore, in Pasadena, has partnered with Friends in Deed Food Pantry for their annual Holiday Food Drive.
7 - Two Birds Books, in Santa Cruz has partnered with Second Harvest for a Holiday Food & Fund Drive.
8 - La Playa Books, in San Diego, is working on their annual Holiday Book Drive to provide books to 200 children.
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Want to share your personal story or concerns as a small business owner more broadly? Share your OpEd, Think Piece, or Slice of Life story with your local media outlets. CALIBA is building a shared Media List here. Find or add contacts.
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Click here for the Los Angeles Times & Southern California Independent Bookstore Bestseller List
Click here for the San Francisco Chronicle & Northern California Independent Bookstore Bestseller List
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- Associate Buyer - Asian Art Museum, San Francisco
- Bookstore for Sale - Camino Books, Del Mar
- Bookstore Manager - Chevalier's, Los Angeles
- Copy, Sales & Publicity Positions - Chronicle Books, San Francisco
- Publishing Assistant - The Collective Book Studio, Oakland
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Witchful Thinking
Celestine Martin
9781538738078
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Hannah
Executive Director
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His Face is the Sun
Michelle Jabès Corpora
9781464290480
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Valentina
Operations Manager
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Katabasis
R.F. Kuang
9780063021471
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This map shows our current bookstore members.
Don't see your store on the map? Check your information on our website, then contact Alecia to update the map.
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Email Valentina to join.
Current CALIBA bookseller membership required.
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We're working hard to make your life easier with membership tips & tricks:
How to set up auto-pay for dues.
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Support CALIBA
Publishers support CALIBA when bookstores participate.
Bookstore Participation = Publisher Sponsorship = CALIBA = Bookstore Education, Advocacy, Networking +++
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