Category: Community

Spark Book Fairs, the online book fair that pays.

Meet Spark Book Fairs—Book Depot Inc.’s Latest Literary Journey

April 21, 2023

Introducing Spark Book Fairs

For over five decades, book fairs have sparked a love of reading in millions of children. We still remember the feeling of excitement when our parents gave us a few dollars to buy any book we wanted and the joy of delving into a new adventure. Reading brought us closer to our parents and helped us learn and grow, which gave our teachers fulfillment, too.

However, the world today is different from when this tradition began, with parents struggling to make ends meet and schools facing budget cuts. This is where Spark Book Fairs comes in. It’s a new online book fair program aimed at igniting a passion for reading at home and school by making books affordable to everyone while raising funds for schools.

Not Your Average Book Fair

Spark Book Fairs was designed in consultation with teachers and librarians to provide a more inclusive book fair option. With over 45,000 titles at bargain prices, the whole community can get in on the fun. Finding affordable books for all ages, from kids to adults, and enjoying the joy of reading has never been easier. Plus, you’re raising much-needed funds for your school. Isn’t that a win-win?

What Makes Spark Book Fairs Unique

For many years, your options for book fair providers were limited. Spark Book Fairs is here to change that—with a more affordable and convenient book fair option. What specifically makes Spark unique? Let us break it down.

Affordable bargain prices

With the same great bargain product you know and love (and more!), Spark passes the incredible savings to book fair participants. The lower prices mean more books for students and their families.

Large title selection

With over 45,000 titles across hundreds of publishers for all ages, the variety of books available has never been better. Plus, with new arrivals added to inventory daily, the options are always fresh and exciting.

Wide audience reach

With the all-age content and the online model, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and community members can relive the joy of their childhood book fair with Spark. Since Spark is entirely online, anyone can partake from the comfort of their homes, with all orders shipped directly to their doors.

Unlimited cash back opportunity

With 20% cash back on every book fair purchase, fundraising has never been easier. Redeem your rewards as cash for your school’s current needs or in the form of Spark book credit. The choice is yours.

Helping You Every Step of the Way

We know that trying something new can be daunting, but hosting a book fair with Spark is a very simple process. You have an account coordinator to ensure you are supported every step of the way—before, during, and after your book fair—so the event runs smoothly and raises as much money as possible.

See for yourself just how easy running a Spark book fair can be.

Register your organization: Go to sparkbookfairs.com (USA) or sparkbookfairs.ca (Canada) to create an account and select your two-week book fair period.
Create your landing page: Using a provided template, create a customized landing page that’s all yours.
Promote. Promote. Promote: Advertise your book fair using provided promotional materials in-person and across email and social media platforms. The more you promote, the greater the cash back opportunity.
Redeem fundraising dollars: Redeem the 20% cash back earned on all orders placed during your book fair by either a cheque or with Spark book credit.
Earn all year long: Continue raising funds by earning 5% cash back after your book fair is complete so you can fundraise all year.

Gone are the days of feeling exhausted after running a book fair. No more physical setup. No more volunteer coordination. No more cash handling. No more book distribution. With Spark, you can focus on what matters most—getting books into the hands of your students while earning cash to meet your fundraising needs.

A Book Fair for Everyone

Who said that book fairs can only be for elementary and middle schools? With Spark’s vast title selection and fully online platform, a Spark book fair is also an excellent option for high schools, public libraries, and nonprofit organizations looking for a new fundraising opportunity.

Get Started with Spark Today

Create your book fair in minutes and start fundraising for your organization. Together, let’s cultivate a love for reading and empower individuals to reach their fullest potential through the power of books.

Learn more:

United States: sparkbookfairs.com

Canada: sparkbookfairs.ca 

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Enchanting the Mind, One Book at a Time

February 17, 2021

Our core purpose at Book Depot is Enchanting the Mind – one book at a time! This is our why, our purpose, and our passion behind everything we do. We believe we are not just selling books; rather, we are positively impacting the lives of millions of people both locally and across the globe.

The Meaning Behind Enchanting the Mind

What does Enchanting the Mind mean? For some, it is about bringing joy to the avid reader and building their imagination. For some, it is about sharing information so people can learn and be educated. And for others, it is ensuring the most vulnerable have access to books.

So how exactly have we been living out our core purpose? During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed that the need for books is stronger than ever. Because of this need, we implemented several initiatives to provide books to those both within our immediate community and beyond.

Supporting the Local Community

Recognizing that seniors in our local community were isolated, we donated books and activity books to a number of long-term care homes. By refreshing their bookshelves, we hoped to bring some joy to the residents during this difficult time. The response of gratitude that we received was overwhelming!

The Book Depot staff started a Community Book Drop initiative knowing that our community had limited access to books with the library and bookstore closures. The team collected books from our warehouse and did book drops to family, friends and neighbours. Once finished with the books, the recipients were encouraged to pass the books along as a way to “pay it forward.”

Supporting Underserved Communities

Book Depot also partnered with many nonprofit organizations across North America to make books accessible to youth in underserved communities. The books donated to these organizations were used to equip children with the literacy skills needed to help them be successful and reach their full potential.

These are just a few examples of how we at Book Depot actively live out our core purpose of Enchanting the Mind. Ultimately, every day that we show up to work, we are grateful to be a part of enchanting minds with the books shipped.

We also recognize that our customers (you!) play a significant role in enchanting minds and we are so encouraged by the work you do to help make books accessible around the world. By providing quality books at low prices, we can all do our part to make books available to those who need them most. We look forward to continuing to work together on Enchanting the Mind!

Shannon Vermeer

Marketing Director

Book Depot

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Why It's Important for Your Business to Give Back

Why It Is Important for Your Business to Give Back

August 21, 2018

The “give back” movement has been experiencing a groundswell of support over the last several years and does not see any signs of experiencing a drop-off in the near future, especially with the tumultuous political and social climate we are all experiencing. This philosophy is lived daily at Book Depot in all that we do, whether it is partnering with nonprofits to help them procure books for fundraisers or donating books for literacy drives. We feel this is a core value that permeates our organization from ownership all the way through the entire team. You may certainly be thinking to yourself, “why should I be giving back?” or “I do not have the financial resources to give.” It is a completely understandable reaction. However, we have come up with a list of possible ways to give back in your community that could perhaps jump-start your own initiative.

Book drives

For minimal cost, you can place a box in your store earmarked for your customers to donate their slightly used books. Then either on a regularly scheduled date, or simply as the box fills, you can deliver them to a local school, shelter, or other charity (a coin donation box at the checkout also does the trick).

Your gift of time

Your time is certainly of value. If you and your team can set aside a day—or even an afternoon—to provide meals, do a charity walk, or adopt a section of highway, you will be making a difference. It is also an awesome team bonding experience!

Sales percentages

Set aside a designated day to provide a portion of your proceeds to a local charity. One suggestion would be on “Giving Tuesday.” This year it will occur on November 27 and has become as ingrained in the public conscientiousness as Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It does not have to be a large portion; even 5% would go a long way in making a difference.

Offer your space

Provide a space in your store for a nonprofit to utilize as meeting space. It could be at a traditionally slow time or during off-hours, so it does not negatively impact your operation. Who knows, someone in attendance could buy a book…

Benefits

As people, we give mostly for selfish reasons—because it feels good. It nurtures our souls and gives us a sense of pride that we made a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. As a business, benefits stretch far beyond that and include (but are not limited to):

Ignites your customer base. 85 percent of customers prefer businesses and brands that support a charity they care about, translating to higher traffic and sales revenue in your store.¹
Charitable donations are tax deductible if you are supporting an IRS/CRA approved nonprofit organization.
Increased visibility by free marketing and publicity. Oftentimes charities are exceptional with getting the message out. Whether it is with the local media or on their social media pages, they will promote your organization for the assistance you provided. (Side note: do not forget to reciprocate the favor by promoting them on your own social media channels.)
Employee relations. People love working for organizations that are not just out for themselves or to only turn a profit. Those businesses that care about their town and their neighbors will have a happier team and be more attractive to prospective employees in the future.
Strengthens your market reach. A more literate community means a larger customer base. An example of this would be how providing books for schools ignite a child’s love of reading, turning them into readers who are looking to expand their own book collection.
Create customer loyalty. 90 percent of customers say they would be more loyal to a brand that gives to a local cause that resonates with them.²

Get started

Lastly, you may be thinking, “where would I even start”? There are thousands of deserving charities and nonprofits that could easily resonate and are well-deserving. We suggest three starting points. First, start locally. No better place to make a difference than in your own backyard. Second, start small and build upon your success step-by-step. You will look back in a few years and be amazed at what you were able to do in a relatively short amount of time. Lastly, we suggest you “take a backseat” on this one. It is certainly easier said than done when we are used to leading every aspect of our businesses, but on this topic, let your team decide democratically who will be the benefactor of your resources. Your group experience will have a much higher chance of success if everyone buys into the philosophy of giving back.

Good luck and please let us know how your group made a difference. We would love to celebrate your successes on our social channels!

Greg Sizelove

Business Development Director

Book Depot

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¹ Heitzman, Adam. 2016. Why Giving Back Should Be Part of Your Marketing Strategy. May 10. Accessed August 8, 2018. https://www.inc.com/adam-heitzman/why-giving-back-should-be-part-of-your-marketing-strategy.html.

² Tabaka, Marla. 2015. Why It’s Crucial for Your Company to Give Back. January 26. Accessed August 8, 2018. https://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/7-reasons-to-become-a-philanthropist-now.html.

Photo courtesy of Bernie’s Book Bank.

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Getting Involved in Your Community

August 15, 2018

As a stand-alone store, it can be hard to shine in the community the same way a well-known corporate chain store does. In our case, we have to be a great deal more creative when it comes to forming a customer following and making a mark in the community, especially in areas that are growing so rapidly in business and culture. When the odds are against you and your brick-and-mortar store and it seems like other businesses are advancing without you, here are some tips for staying involved and keeping your community interested:

Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone

A fantastic way to get involved in your community is to open your arms and welcome people in by hosting a creative and exciting event. It may be something completely new to you, possibly an intimidating idea, but event coordination is an excellent way to reach out. Trying something new and hosting an event (of any kind) makes your location known to those who may have never heard of you, and it offers an ideal destination for family activities. Creating environments in which customers are encouraged to participate, have fun, and get to know your employees will inevitably lead to good reviews and good relationships. People will associate your location with happy memories and subsequently will want to share those good vibes with friends and family. We often get lost in the cold, hard side of business and forget that the most important factor is the community you form with your customers (because where would we be without them?). The warm and genuine human relationships are what make it possible to build a friendly and loyal base of customers, and hosting fun events is an excellent way to initiate these kinds of bonds and stay active in the community.

Band Together

Another way to remain current in the community is to get to know your fellow comrades in business and join forces to create an even larger web of customers. Rather than pitting yourself against the small business down the road, why not offer a friendly hello, get to know their story, and work together to bring business through both doors? In our growing society of online shopping, brick-and-mortar stores need to link arms and march bravely into the future by sharing their knowledge and offering a helping hand to a fellow neighbor. Putting your heads together to create joint marketing ventures (such as offering discounts if customers shop at both locations) is an excellent way to get involved and also to show your customers you are dedicated to the growth of the community.

Lend a Helping Hand

Perhaps one of the most essential ways to get involved in your community is to reach out in whatever way you can to those in need. A charitable donation can go a very long way with regard to relationships formed and the reputation of your business. It is important to be kind but cautious when choosing who/where to donate to. Obviously you can’t donate to everyone, but sometimes a small discount or a literal helping hand with a project can go much farther than anything of monetary value. Donating your time and your efforts can be just as worthy to someone as free product or a big cheque, and it also lends itself easier to that warm and genuine human connection that will help your business succeed in the long run.

Ultimately, it is your human nature that will aid you and your business in getting involved in the community around you. There is a lot of give and take in business, and the more you dedicate to your customers, neighbors, and those in need, the more you will receive back in spades in the form of customers, marketing, recommendations, and lasting relationships. So be loud, proud, and stand out in the crowd! Your success, as well as that of your brick-and-mortar store and your community of followers, is worth the effort!

Samara Bissonnette

Book Outlet

Retail Store Manager

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Success Story: Salt Lake County Library Services

May 30, 2018

Background

Salt Lake County Library Services is the largest public library system in Utah. They began operations some 79 years ago in 1939 out of two classrooms in the old Midvale School, UT. Today, they offer books, music, magazines – all in a variety of formats – and much, much more.

Salt Lake County Library Services currently runs a highly successful Summer Reading Program from its 18 branches that services approximately 60,000 participants across the county. The program features specially designed reading records to encourage the whole family to keep track of their reading progress throughout the summer. With the program offered to three different age groups for over two months, they need a reliable supplier they can count on to provide the huge breadth of high-interest titles they require for this program with a one-stop shopping experience.

Solution

With the largest selection of titles in the industry from nearly all major North American publishers, Book Depot is able to provide them with the extensive variety of titles in all age ranges they require to run a successful Summer Reading Program year after year. Book Depot offers a user-friendly website that gives clients a real-time view of its inventory and sales representatives to help facilitate easy order placement.

Results

5-10% increase in Summer Reading Program participants each year.

Salt Lake County Library Services chose Book Depot as their preferred supplier because Book Depot allows them to fulfill all their various needs (children’s books, tween, adult, nonfiction, and board books) from just one vendor.

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