The bookstore is dead! Long live the bookstore!

[J-Sun]

Not sure where to post this.

If 43 independent book stores open each year that 20 Barnes & Nobles close, then I have to think that's a good thing. It'd be nice if it would be 100 to 0, say - as a closed bookstore is never a good thing, but it'd be nice to see independents thrive again. This is all the more interesting when the above articles are combined with prizzley's Chrons thread.

 

[steve12553]

I don't know how to react to these stats. Independent bookstores like many small businesses are subjuct to the economic ebbs and flows. The town I moved to in 2008 only had one little used book shop which has since closed. On the other hand a couple dozen small businesses have opened slowly failed and closed since then in this same own. People are trying to run small businesses but the economy is just not seen a good upswing. I don't keep track of international business trends but I suspect it may be the same world wide. Ebooks sales have so much less overhead that they are les affected by this economy. Also, so many young people leave me with the impression that they have no concept of what a book is for. As a child I collected and cherished books. Accidently damaging a book was a terrible sin. When children from the poorest neighborhoods read on a phone screen and type only with their thumbs, they don't seem likey to be large bookstore customers. The electronic stuff is the more important status symbols.

 

[elvet]

I'll use this topic to promote my (somewhat) local SF and Fantasy fiction bookstore - Bakka Phoenix - located in Toronto, Ontario. They do a fantastic job of carrying a full selection of books. They also ship by mail, a service I've used often as I live 2 hours away. I wish I lived closer since they have visiting authors quite regularly (Peter V. Brett was there yesterday). A favorite author of mine, Michelle Sagara West, works there and all the staff are helpful and knowledgable. Consider checking it out if you visit Toronto.
www.bakkaphoenixbooks.com

 

[Nerds_feather]

In the US, at least, it's an optimal time to start a small business--interest rates are rock bottom, making small business loans much cheaper over the long-term, and the economy is finally coming around. Wait a year and the economy will only be moderately better, but those interest rates might also be higher.

Specifically speaking about bookstores, I think for an independent to survive, they have to either be massive and comprehensive (a la Powell's in Portland or the Strand in NYC) or small and very precisely curated. You need to be able to get something there that you can't get from amazon, and since in most cases that isn't going to be "selection of books" or "better prices," then it should be things like reliable recommendations, a pleasant browsing atmosphere, helpful staff, etc.

Here's an example of the small independent bookshop done right.

 

[Parson]

Nerd's Feather I looked at the web site and picked two of the staff at random. It was obvious that they were well read and what they recommended probably isn't to be found in your local Barnes and Nobles. But the recommendations came right out of the twilight zone. I wondered if the two people recommending the books had any connection to reality or not. I mean: "Come on! The truth in astrology!!?"

 

[Southern Geologist]

Specifically speaking about bookstores, I think for an independent to survive, they have to either be massive and comprehensive (a la Powell's in Portland or the Strand in NYC) or small and very precisely curated. You need to be able to get something there that you can't get from amazon, and since in most cases that isn't going to be "selection of books" or "better prices," then it should be things like reliable recommendations, a pleasant browsing atmosphere, helpful staff, etc.

Indeed. A hook works well, too - in San Antonio, TX there's a local book store that doubles as a cat rescue and they do pretty well. (I've picked up both books and a kitty from there, myself.)

 

[Timba]

Here is another one that is done right http://www.unclehugo.com/prod/index.shtml

I have to cross 2 metro areas to get to this and since I have converted to e-books almost totally I do not make the trip very often but if I am in the area for any other reason I always stop in. The place just feels right if that makes any sense. Great helpful staff and books, books everywhere.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

We had a fantastic independent bookshop in belfast, attsched to the uni, my hubby worked there. It was renowned during the troubles for pulling both communities together. The plug was pulled on it in about two weeks... I had another i worked in in Belfast, part of a chain, but the original shop, very quirky - easons in Ann street. It is also gone. In belfast city centre there is a waterstones and an easons which is very chain- like and only one indie of note left, specialising in crime. It is very sad.

 

[Boneman]

Can't recall if it was here or Patrick Rothfuss's blog which linked to an article about a small independent family-owned bookstore that someone on facebook (maybe twitter) mentioned was in difficulties and having a sale, (might have been a desperation sale) and before you knew it, folks were coming from miles around to buy a book, rather than the big store nearest them, volunteering to work there for nothing, bringing cakes in, publicising and so on. IIRC it was about the 2nd or 3rd anniverary of that event and it had become a community-centred shop with all kinds of richness that spread around. It was in the US somewhere and I'd like to think that would happen in the UK, but I'm worried we're too reserved...

 

[Dave]

To widen it out a little, many people have predicted the death of the High Street. In fact, so many people have that it is becoming an indisputable fact, but I'm not so sure. High Streets have been around for thousands of years. It is easy to sit at home shopping and click the item, but people also want a shopping experience. They want to meet other people over food and a drink; they want personal recommendations; they want to handle the goods first, in the case of clothes, to try them on. If you order something online you don't know when it will arrive. You cannot stay in every day, so it invariably is taken to the local post office delivery office for you to pick up. These usually have limited parking and are open between some limited hours. Contrast that with ordering online from a catalogue-type store and then going into the physical store to collect it. Even eBay are now opening real shops. The Horse meat scandal has shown a lack of trust with processed meat. This can only lead to people going back to real Butchers with real meat. Book shops are being opened with coffee shops inside them so people can chat and peruse books. There is certainly a fundamental change occurring, but the death has been called too early.

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

We have quite a few little bookshops here in my part of Arizona. But my favorite is a used bookshop. The atmostphere is great, they have cushy chairs all over for you to sit and enjoy your book finds, and the staff are all very nice. The only downside is they (obviously) don't always have what you're looking for. It really is a great place for browsing and finding new books though.

That being said, I also love Barnes and Noble. If they happen to close the store that is closest to me, I would be heartbroken. It's always fairly busy in there when I go, so I hope they do enough business to keep it open. I do buy books online as well, from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. B&N has comparable online prices with Amazon, and they also do free shipping with an order of $25 or more just like Amazon.

I have a Kindle, but I don't see it every fully replacing actual books...for me.

 

[Connavar]

I support by buying 300+ books from the same medium big independent English language specialist bookstore. It went from nothing to one of the most popular,loved bookstores in town a time when big Swedish book chains was closing in town. Its rise has been written about in local paper.

The real bookstores have evolved to survive. Frankly its cheaper in the long run to support good smaller bookstores than the chains, online stores. Online cant replace the feeling of talking, laughing with the owner of my fav bookstore. Kindle cant replace that.

 

[GOLLUM]

Online cant replace the feeling of talking, laughing with the owner of my fav bookstore. Kindle cant replace that.

Some of the best insights into books and recommendations for new authors have come from the owners of independent specialist bookstores I visit. Being a regular, incoming books are sometimes put aside for me to examine. I try most weekends to visit several favourite bookstores in and around the City.

 

[Nerds_feather]

I support by buying 300+ books from the same medium big independent English language specialist bookstore. It went from nothing to one of the most popular,loved bookstores in town a time when big Swedish book chains was closing in town. Its rise has been written about in local paper.

The real bookstores have evolved to survive. Frankly its cheaper in the long run to support good smaller bookstores than the chains, online stores. Online cant replace the feeling of talking, laughing with the owner of my fav bookstore. Kindle cant replace that.

Not sure where you are in Sweden, but I love Science Fiction Bokhandeln.

 

[Connavar]

Some of the best insights into books and recommendations for new authors have come from the owners of independent specialist bookstores I visit. Being a regular, incoming books are sometimes put aside for me to examine. I try most weekends to visit several favourite bookstores in and around the City.

Jan who owns the bookstore i go to is one of my fav people because he passionately once recommend me an author called Ken Bruen who is hailed modern irish noir author which i thought he was just selling me on the author because he wanted to sell more books like impersonal bookchains does. That author ended up being one of my fav authors of all time that we always talk about new fav in noir genre we share alot in and in many other types of books. Even books i cant buy in his store because they are in Swedish language and not in available in his English bookstore.

I tend to trust him when he talks about a book because i know what he likes and that he expect alot from books. Going to Barnes and Noble typ Swedish chain they dont even know who the authors you ask about are. Its like Macdonalds, workforce that dont even read. A seller told me he dont like reading and he expected me to buy books from him haha

 

[elvet]

My favourite bookshop has ben voted best bookstore in Toronto by Now magazine. Great news for a SF/Fantasy specialty store.

Best Bookstore
Winner
Bakka Phoenix

For over four decades, this shop – the oldest of its kind in Canada – has been T.O.’s essential purveyor of science fiction and fantasy books. The name Bakka comes from Frank Herbert’s novel Dune and means “the weeper who mourns for all mankind.” But store owner Ben Freiman’s laughing now that it’s taken top honours.

Website: Bakka Phoenix Books
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Bakka-Phoenix-Books/35454918906
Twitter: www.twitter.com/BakkaPhoenix
Tel: 416-963-9993
Address: 84 Harbord

 

[Hari Seldon]

Singularity&Co. - Save the Scifi!

 

[dask]

My favourite bookshop has ben voted best bookstore in Toronto by Now magazine. Great news for a SF/Fantasy specialty store.

Glad to know Bakka is still around. Never been there physically but did mail order business with them back in the late 70s or early 80s. Got some nice stuff I couldn't locate down here. Good experience as far as I can recall.

 

[chongjasmine]

I think independent bookstores need to be more specialized in the items they sell, in order for them to thrive. Economically wise, big bookstores have the advantage. So the independent bookstore need to be serving in the niche area.

 

[Allegra]

It is very sad to see a real bookstore gone. Yeah I agree that a specialised bookstore may be easier to survive, especially if it's designed attractively, more like a book club with nice coffee and comfy chairs and familiar friendly faces around and interesting events with lots of mind-stimulating discussions - the bookstore of my dream, pretty much like a materialised Chronicles that happen to sell books.

Off topic, on one of the links J-Sun posted, one link leads to another and another, I found this article - Your Brain on Fiction :
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/opinion/sunday/the-neuroscience-of-your-brain-on-fiction.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

Well...we know we are more understanding, empathetic, have better social skills etc etc etc than the people who don't read fictions, right?