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| Calvin Crosby | |
The Northern California Independent Booksellers Association has left its San Francisco office this summer and resettled some 45 miles away, in Sonoma, Calif. NCIBA executive director Calvin Crosby told the Sonoma Index-Tribune that the association, which is now located in a former art studio above the Sonoma Chamber of Commerce, "couldn't be more thrilled" about the move.
Crosby also said things are looking up for Northern California indies: there are new bookstores opening in the North Bay area; several existing stores, including the 35-year-old Copperfield's Books, have recently undergone expansions; and, compared to just five or six years ago, store owners seeking to retire are now finding buyers for their stores. Crosby added that sales last year for Northern California indies were similar to, if not better than, the 10% growth reported by the American Booksellers Association.
Said Crosby: "Store owners today are collectively smarter and more willing to adapt to business trends than ever before."