Nearly one thousand independent bookstores across the country are banding together for a single day of community-focused commerce, and the person leading the charge this year is a Columbus, Ohio poet who won a MacArthur “Genius Grant.” Indies First, now in its 14th year, lands on Small Business Saturday, November 28, and serves as the unofficial kickoff to holiday shopping for readers who prefer local shops over big-box retailers or online giants.
The 14th annual event coincides with Small Business Saturday on November 28 to kick off holiday shopping, spanning independent bookstores across the US.
This is not merely a one-day sale. Indies First is a coordinated push by authors, publishers, retailers, and readers to celebrate the independent bookstores that anchor neighborhoods. The American Booksellers Association (ABA) has introduced a new tool this year: the Indies First Map, which highlights hundreds of events and experiences happening nationwide on November 28. Whether someone is hunting for the perfect gift or planning a weekend of bookstore hopping, the map is designed to be the go-to resource for making the most of the day.
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Indies First is a great reminder that locally-owned businesses generate substantially more economic benefit to the local economy than chain or online businesses.”— Courtney Wallace, ABA’s Senior Marketing ManagerHARRISON, NY, UNITED STATES, November 13, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — On Indies First — a day dedicated to supporting the local businesses that help create jobs, boost the economy, and preserve neighborhoods — independent bookstores host activities and events to kick off the holiday shopping season. Indies First is a collaborative event among authors, publishers, retailers, and readers to celebrate independent bookstores and local communities.
“From bestselling titles to hidden gems, there’s no better way to shop small, give big, and spread bookish joy for the holidays,” says Courtney Wallace, ABA’s Senior Marketing Manager. “Indies First is a great reminder that locally-owned businesses generate substantially more economic benefit to the local economy than chain or online businesses.”
The event was created in 2013, and over the years it has been championed by a who’s-who of literary and cultural figures: Roxane Gay, Jason Reynolds, Dan Rather, Kate DiCamillo, Cheryl Strayed, and Lena Dunham have all lent their names to the cause. The official Ambassador program has featured Celeste Ng (2022), Amanda Gorman (2023), Trevor Noah (2024), and LeVar Burton (2025).
This year’s ambassador is Hanif Abdurraqib, a poet, essayist, and cultural critic from Columbus, Ohio. He is a recipient of the MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” and the author of There’s Always This Year, a New York Times bestseller and winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award; A Little Devil in America, winner of the Carnegie Medal and a National Book Award finalist; The Crown Ain’t Worth Much; They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us; Go Ahead in the Rain; and A Fortune for Your Disaster, winner of the Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize. He is a graduate of Beechcroft High School.
On the lead up to Indies First, Abdurraqib shared, “The indie bookstore exists for me as a kind of beacon and guide, a community guide, and a guide for what the people in the community love, and what the people in the community need, and what the people in the community desire.”
The ABA has also partnered with the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) for the Shop Indie Local Holiday Campaign, which extends Indies First through the whole holiday weekend following Thanksgiving. Alongside the campaign, Libro.fm is offering their annual Shop Small Sale on hundreds of audiobooks, including bestsellers and bookseller picks, plus two free audiobooks with a new membership. Inquiries about Indies First can be directed to indiesfirst@bookweb.org.
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About the American Booksellers Association (www.BookWeb.org)
American Booksellers Association is a national trade association that supports and advocates for the success of independent bookstores. We provide members with education, networking opportunities, advocacy, resources, and technology. In turn our members support local schools through book fairs, donations and author visits; promote literacy; provide inclusive community centers; connect readers and books; add character to neighborhoods; champion and center diverse and new voices; and contribute to the local economy. We feel honored to support over 3,200 independent bookstores in their work.
Ray Daniels
American Booksellers Association
202-669-3039
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Hanif Abdurraqib on Indies First
Why it matters: When nearly 1,000 independent bookstores coordinate on a single day, the collective economic impact on local communities is significant — far greater than what chain or online retailers generate. For readers, the event is a chance to directly support the neighborhood anchors that champion diverse voices, host author visits, and keep Main Street alive during the critical holiday shopping season.
