The quiet resurgence of the independent book shop

[sparkchaser]

Defying the onslaught of the e-book revolution, many small bookshops see a rise in sales, aided by savvy business practices and the 'buy local' movement

Sales at independent bookstores rose about 8 percent in 2012 over 2011, according to a survey by the American Booksellers Association (ABA). This growth was all the more remarkable since the sales of the national chain Barnes & Noble were so tepid. "I think the worst days of the independents are behind them," says Jim Milliot, coeditorial director for Publishers Weekly magazine. "The demise of traditional print books has been a bit overblown. Everybody is a little anxious, but they are starting to think they've figured it out for the time being."
Independents are valued more these days by publishers, who need them for their print sales. Their small size and low infrastructure – seen as a liability in the mid-1990s – are also considered an advantage.
"We absolutely believe indies are the small, fast-moving mammals in this dynamic," said Michael Tamblyn, chief content officer of Kobo, speaking at the ABA's Winter Institute in Kansas City, Mo., in February. In November, Kobo, a Toronto-based e-reading company, partnered with the ABA to sell e-readers and e-books at independent stores. So far, about 450 have signed on.
"If e-books are the asteroid hitting this planet, small independent bookstores are the ones most likely to come out the other side," said Mr. Tamblyn.

 

[Meadow337]

thank goodness for that. nothing nicer than a quiet browse in a good book shop with staff who actually KNOW and UNDERSTAND books - not frothy cappuccino, tall latte dispensing sales persons.

 

[kelstan]

Nice, thanks for the post.

 

[Hugh]

My neighborhood supports three indie book stores (four if you count the one that has sort of morphed into a retail boutique). Two of the bookstores are on the same street right across from each other and there are always people in them, one even stays open until 11 PM on weekends.

I'm not completely sure I buy the theories as to why these indies are thriving. My neighborhood is very densely populated with restaurants and they come and go frequently. The ones that survive are family owned and family staffed. And it's the same with the indie bookstores here, the owner, or someone in the owner's family is there to greet you, help you and ring up your sale. In other words, the people there care about you and your business. A national chain store is relying on young people making minimum wage who want nothing but to get home on time to join the party with their friends, or maybe to study for exams.

 

[Meadow337]

My neighborhood supports three indie book stores (four if you count the one that has sort of morphed into a retail boutique). Two of the bookstores are on the same street right across from each other and there are always people in them, one even stays open until 11 PM on weekends.

I'm not completely sure I buy the theories as to why these indies are thriving. My neighborhood is very densely populated with restaurants and they come and go frequently. The ones that survive are family owned and family staffed. And it's the same with the indie bookstores here, the owner, or someone in the owner's family is there to greet you, help you and ring up your sale. In other words, the people there care about you and your business. A national chain store is relying on young people making minimum wage who want nothing but to get home on time to join the party with their friends, or maybe to study for exams.

I think that is the entire point. The chains are impersonal, tend to only sell the more in demand books and ignore the smaller print runs. While best sellers are great, it is the books that have smaller print runs that are still the backbone of the industry, and this is where the independents come in, buying 50 / 100 copies of a book which the big chains won't touch. Some one has to sell all those speciality, novelty, niche items that are important to publish but don't light the world on fire.

Independent publishing / self-publishing is going to grow in strength as well. Mark my words.

 

[SFG75]

Amazing how the "drawbacks" became "strengths." The dynamic of younger owners and social networking was an interesting tidbit to me. I don't know if I buy the "localism" argument, though it is quite trendy in some urban areas. As hinted at by previous members on this thread, people appreciate acknowledgement and a more *personalized* shopping experience. I believe there is a bit of confusion between "localism" and personalized shopping on the part of the author.

 

[Richard Falken]

I deal a lot with bookstore owners, and I would say Armageddon itself has arrived for them. I tend to stay loyal to my providers and business partners, so I still buy books in these independent stores, but sometimes it seems I am the only one.

I like to talk to specialized booksellers, and I like to buy local products because I am a freaking ultra-nationalist when it comes to economy. That is mainly what prevents me from buying everything second hand in the Internet, and keeps me loyal to physical stores. That, and that I get on well with some book sellers and don't want them to lose their businesses.