Please respond to this brief 15-minute, 18-question survey, no later than 11:59 pm ET on Monday, April 7, 2025. (Note: You will need input from staff who receive books.)

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

All questions pertain to the 2024 calendar year.

Note: When referring to specific publishers in the comment sections, please list the publisher’s name first then add your corresponding comment.

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* 1. Which publishers had the worst damages and why?

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* 2. Which publishers have the least issues with on sale dates? On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the least issues. (If you don’t know please choose 5.)

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 N/A or no opinion
Hachette, Abrams, Chronicle
Harper
Ingram/IPS
IPG
Macmillan/Bloomsbury
PRH, Disney, Holiday House, Candlewick, Peachtree + clients
Scholastic
Simon & Schuster
Sourcebooks
WW Norton

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* 3. If you scored any one publisher below a 5 for the previous question, what are the issues with these publishers and on sale dates? (Problems with shippers, lack of clarity re: on sale date language, etc.)

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* 4. Please rate the publishers on their demonstrated commitment to diversity in terms of their list, specifically the racial representation of their authors. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the strongest demonstrated commitment. (If you don’t know please choose 5.)

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 N/A or no opinion
Hachette, Abrams, Chronicle
Harper
Ingram/IPS
IPG
Macmillan/Bloomsbury
PRH, Disney, Holiday House, Candlewick, Peachtree + clients
Scholastic
Simon & Schuster
Sourcebooks
WW Norton

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* 5. If you scored any one publisher an 8 or above for the previous question, in what ways did they demonstrate their commitment?

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* 6. Please rate the publishers on their demonstrated commitment to diversity in terms of supporting their list with marketing dollars, events, etc., for authors of color. On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the strongest demonstrated commitment. (If you don’t know please choose 5.)

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 N/A or no opinion
Hachette, Abrams, Chronicle
Harper
Ingram/IPS
IPG
Macmillan/Bloomsbury
PRH, Disney, Holiday House, Candlewick, Peachtree + clients
Scholastic
Simon & Schuster
Sourcebooks
WW Norton

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* 7. If you scored any one publisher an 8 or above for the previous question, in what ways did they demonstrate their commitment?

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* 8. Please rate the publishers on their demonstrated commitment to LGBTQIA2S+ authors and banned books (who they’re publishing, how they’re supporting author events, how they’re fighting book bans) On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the strongest demonstrated commitment. (If you don’t know please choose 5.)

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 N/A or no opinion
Hachette, Abrams, Chronicle
Harper
Ingram/IPS
IPG
Macmillan/Bloomsbury
PRH, Disney, Holiday House, Candlewick, Peachtree + clients
Scholastic
Simon & Schuster
Sourcebooks
WW Norton

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* 9. If you scored any one publisher an 8 or above for the previous question, in what ways did they demonstrate their commitment?

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* 10. If you’re not currently signed up for Batch — free software for bookstores to streamline publisher payments with all of “The Big 5” publishers and several indie publishers (so far!) — would you sign up if more publishers signed up?

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* 11. Are there indie presses that are demonstrating best practices when it comes to on sale dates, school business support, diversity, and/or offering terms that support your store selling more books? If so, please list the name of the publishers along with the best practices you’ve observed.

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* 12. Approximately what percentage of your store’s sales or inventory (or both, whatever you can quantify) is comprised by sales of “independently” published (published by independent publishers, not self-published and not from imprints of corporate houses) titles?

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* 13. Which publishers have the best overall terms and programs that enable you to buy more books from them? On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best terms. (More discounts, better co-op or partnership programs, better dating, easiest specials, etc.) (If you don’t know please choose 5.)

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 N/A or no opinion
Hachette, Abrams, Chronicle
Harper
Ingram/IPS
IPG
Macmillan/Bloomsbury
PRH, Disney, Holiday House, Candlewick, Peachtree + clients
Scholastic
Simon & Schuster
Sourcebooks
WW Norton

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* 14. If you scored any one publisher an 8 or above for the previous question, which publisher do you buy more from and why?

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* 15. Is there anything else you want ABA to discuss with publishers at our meetings? (With the given that better discounts are always a priority on the agenda!)

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* 16. How long has your store been in business? (Please round to the nearest year.)

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* 17. What is the size of your store in terms of sales? (Gross sales of all bookstore company sales: in-store and online book sales, non-book sales, Bookshop.org sales, event sales, school sales, etc., for the previous calendar year. This number does not include coffee shop, cafe, or bar revenue. For multiple location companies, please use combined sales for all locations.)

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* 18. Your name, store name, and email address.

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* 19. Are you open to ABA following up with you about your responses?