Canada's independent book association joins new division of Retail Council of Canada

TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2012 /CNW/ - Canada's independent book industry will now have a stronger voice with the Canadian Booksellers Association (CBA) and a new alliance with the independent division of Retail Council of Canada (RCC).

"This new partnership with RCC, through its independent arm MyStore, is the smart move and the right move," said CBA president Mark Leslie Lefebvre. "Canada's independent book industry will be stronger than ever before, the membership of booksellers will now represent the largest group of booksellers in Canada.  We can get back to doing what we do best: fighting for members and working with publisher partners, rather than worrying about the state of operations."

MyStore, which formally launches in January 2013, will serve as an all-encompassing entity dedicated to vigorously representing and advocating for the independent merchant community, and providing relevant programs and services focused on saving independent retailers time and money. Independent booksellers will be joining an ever-growing number of independent merchants who strongly believe the MyStore, dedicated to retail independent merchants, is the most effective body to represent and serve them across Canada.

CBA entered a management alliance with RCC in 2009 in an effort to broaden benefits to members, reduce operational expenses and gain access to more resources. However, economic pressures and wide scale shifts in the book industry created an enormous financial burden on the CBA.

"If it was not for RCC, CBA would have ceased operations two years ago," said CBA vice-president Christopher Smith.  "Becoming a division of RCC will mean continued access to benefit programs for members, the possibility of better and more positive messaging to the Canadian public and their elected representatives, and access to the wealth of resources, knowledge and expertise available at RCC."

Thanks to this new alliance, the CBA will also have representation and a voice on the MyStore board.  As well, a booksellers committee with representation from across the country would ensure the needs of the independent book industry are being heard.

"We have much work to do for members, and now we have the resources and finances to get the work done," said Smith. "We are excited about the huge potential and possibilities this alliance has created for us to protect and strengthen this country's book industry and independent members."

SOURCE: Retail Council of Canada

Media Contact:
Christopher Smith, CBA Vice-President
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