Toolbox

The IOBA Standard is the journal of the Independent Online Booksellers Association and covers the book world, with a special focus on the online used, out-of-print, and collectible bookselling markets.

General tools and information for bookselling, clip worthy

Book Selling at Genre Conventions

The first SF convention was held in 1936 in the United States (New York City), or in 1937 in England (Leeds) – a matter of debate that...

So You Want to Be a Bookseller: Ten Questions…Some Answers

1. Are you sure? We’re living the dream. Three-hour working days surrounded by our beloved books, more money than we can shake a stick at...

How to Buy Books Online

The aim of this article is to offer you, the buyer, some insights from a bookdealer on how to avoid these unpleasant experiences and to...

Turnover: An Introduction for Booksellers

When I began my bookselling career, I worked not in used bookshops but in new (ie. independent bookstores selling new books only). And in...

How to Get a Trade Discount, in Six Easy Lessons

[Editor’s note: For more on trade discounts, see our related article Trade Discounts: Good For One and All.] NOTE: These are pitched to...

BEST OF: Overlooked and Undervalued, The Bookseller’s Inventory Database

Most booksellers when evaluating their business assets will consider the cost and potential market value of their inventory, the cost of...