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Independent Bookstores

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Eoin Purcell

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This LATime spiece brings out my capitalist side. It is actually a sterling feature and well written offering a good analysis of the ills of independent book stores. But, and it is a big but, it is defeatist, un-knowingly nostalgic for better times and forgiving of Independent Bookstores’ failings.

The closing paragraphs offer little hope and even less comfort to the trade. What os even worse they offer scant promise to innovators or new entrants:

He’s full of plans for improving the Booksmith’s website, tying the store more firmly to the Haight-Ashbury community, doing more events — making it both inescapable and irresistible for those who live in the neighborhood.

Frank, who owns the Booksmith building, is helping out the new team by offering a below-market rent. He couldn’t think offhand of a store anywhere in the country that has successfully reinvented itself and moved to a secure financial footing, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

“Someone needs to take bookstores to another level,” Frank said. “Because this level sure isn’t working.”

Either you are in business to make money or you are in business for the wrong reason.
That is a simple rule and one to follow closely in publishing and book selling. Making money allows you to do the things we dream of doing, losing money secures only pain and suffering. It is time for independents to stop complaining, they are starting to remind me of Farmers*. There are huge changes ongoing in publishing but no company has a right to survive, no retailer a right to profit. The sooner the sense of entitlement gets forgotten the sooner independents will begin to work their way into profit and relevance once more.

Enjoying the snow: it’s not nearly as nice as for these guys though
Eoin

*I love farmers for their food and effort and I will happily pay premium for quality but I hate the way Farmers campaign and complain on an almost constant basis about their industry and how they deserve extra support for their businesses!

5 responses to “Independent Bookstores”

  1. Pb. Avatar
    Pb.

    Hi Eoin,

    I’m not so sure that independent bookstores are bemoaning the rights to profits, just the right to survive… as they tend to be run by people passionate about the books rather than the business.

    There is (somewhere) a successful business model for the independent bookstore and publisher.

    Reply
  2. eoinpurcell Avatar
    eoinpurcell

    I guess that I feel they should wake up! They have no divine right to survive just as a staple manufacturer has no right either.

    Don’t get me wrong, I love a good book store and a quirky independent one all the more. Good ones get my money but I also spend a great deal online and in chains and supermarkets, why shouldn’t I?

    It comes down to this: do you complain about your predicament and wish things were different or go put and make them different?

    I believe that there is space for bookshops of all kinds in the coming years, and that all it requires is innovation, change and graft, it also requires independents to treat bookshops as money making ventures and not hallowed halls for lovely literature!
    Sad but true
    Eoin

    Reply
  3. kseriphyn Avatar
    kseriphyn

    Point well spoken. Yes – bookstores need to stop whinging and become more accessible to readers. Rethink their marketing stratergy. The aim is stay in the game, isn’t it? If they have to get ruthless to survive – they have to do it.

    Off the topic a bit: I notice there are more and more independent e-book sellers taking advantage of the digital media bandwagon. Not sure if that is a good thing or not.

    Reply
  4. Frank Carey Avatar
    Frank Carey

    Having closed a bookstore a year ago, I totally agree that bookstores are businesses, thus they must make money to survive. If you want to sell books, then you need customers to buy them. No customers–no business.

    Reply
  5. Praveen Madan Avatar
    Praveen Madan

    Good discussion! I just stumbled on to it almost two years later. Well, I am happy to report that the Booksmith is indeed going pretty well. Innovation is key and we are trying lots of new things and our community is responding well. Cheers!

    Reply

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Hello,

I’m Eoin,

Co-founder and publisher @fullsetbooks 📚. Expect books and 🍰.

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