The California Independent Booksellers Alliance has launched a Certified Indie Campaign, designed to help shoppers feel good about supporting indie bookstores year round. The campaign was spearheaded by CALIBA board members Vanessa Martini, buyer at Green Apple Books, San Francisco, and Katerina Argyres, owner of Noe Valley Books, also in San Francisco.
"As we head into the busy holiday season, CALIBA wants to help you communicate with your community about what makes real indies unique," the organization noted. "The Certified Indie campaign was made to provide clear, strong branding and easily shared assets to member stores. The campaign is intended to make customers who choose to shop with us feel like they've done a good, cool thing (because they have!) by buying from a Certified Indie vs. other stores that may lack this seal. We encourage [our members] to use the available assets and linked information to begin a dialogue with your neighbors about how choosing a Certified Indie is choosing your community."
CALIBA is offering members a digital Certified Independent Bookstore logo (designed by Works by Abigail) to display on websites and marketing materials as well as an infographic and social media assets describing the good that small businesses do for their communities and why shoppers should be proud to support Indies. Members can also order a window decal of the Certified Independent Bookstore logo.
Currently the assets are available only to CALIBA bookstore members, but the organization noted that if you are interested in participating or have questions about the campaign, contact executive director Hannah Walcher.