Bookstores: An Endangered Species

John Ramsey Miller

About a year ago a couple opened a bookstore in Locust, NC, a picturesque small town a few miles from here. They were personable, energetic and did most everything the right way. They had an accessible and central location in the downtown, put out word to area readers, contacted authors and advertised signings, kept up by newsletter with their readers and customers, hosted a book club, had author events by the score, and generally gave it their all. I had asked them to sell my books at a fund-raising event for the supporters and alumni at a local University, and they readily agreed. Yesterday I received an e-mail that, since they were closing immediately and selling out their stock the next day, so they would not be able to sell my books at the event. They apologized for any inconvenience and I sent a note of understanding and condolence. The only thing they did wrong was to open a bookstore in a disastrous environment.

We write here often about the troubles and the demise of small independent bookstores. Every author has seen their favorite booksellers fail as the mega sellers rose and ate them one by one. When the ARC for my first book, THE LAST FAMILY, was sent out, John Barringer owned The Little Professor in Charlotte. He liked it enough that he sent out a personal letter to all of the Independent Booksellers on his list. At that time he was the president of the League of Independent Booksellers of the Planet Earth, or something like that, and he sent hundreds of letters of recommendation to booksellers on his list. Nobody asked him to or paid him to do it, and at that time he didn’t know I wrote that book while I was living around the corner from his store and was a customer at that time. I’d never spoken to him, but I used our common zip code in the book, which he caught. He tracked me down through the publisher and called me to praise my work and to set up a signing. He and his staff hand sold a good three hundred of my books in his store and God knows how many through his recommendation letter. A few years back John sold the store and retired due to health issues. The store is still going strong and changed its name to Park Road Books (still a Little Professor franchise). They remain in business because they have a history of excellence, a great atmosphere, the staff works hard, they hand sell, and they have a fairly loyal customer base (that in itself is a rarity). I have never done a signing in an independent book store without buying books from them to show my appreciation in a meaningful way. And I’ve never asked for a discount.

Now the e-book is an additional (and serious) threat to booksellers––even the big chains. I suppose they will have to find a way to get in on that market or more will fail. I’m not sure how that would work since the publishers can do that themselves without any second party being necessary for distribution. I love my Kindle, and although I love browsing in book stores, I am now ordering books in electronic streams. I will say that there are some books that will never work as ebooks on Kindles––most notably books for children (Golden Books) and art books. Of course I may well be proved wrong

Big box stores are sterile and I get the feeling that the younger staff members are working for the money and I doubt most of them are even readers, much less book lovers. Forget hand selling. The majority of staff at some stores are just clerks standing at registers and would be equally at home there, in supermarkets or in bait shops. A real shame. Independents would never put up with that.

Most of us authors (especially the older ones) have had great experiences signing in amazing stores. We all have our favorite bookstores. Aside from the Little Professor in Charlotte, my best signing experiences were at Square Books in Oxford, MS and Lemuria in Jackson, MS.

10 thoughts on “Bookstores: An Endangered Species

  1. It seems that the independent stores have everything against them and very little in their favor as the economy and technology shifts. As authors, we need to give them as much support as possible. I just hope it’s not a lost cause.

    BTW, Happy Birthday, Colonel Miller (Sunday). I hope it’s the best one yet!

  2. Great and sad post, John. The last of the independent mystery booksellers in DC closed shortly after 9-11, and there are nonoe left in Northern Virginia. Even college bookstores are selling out to the major chains.

    All of my favorite bookstores are in your neck of the woods. In addition to Lemuria, I love Burke’s Books in Memphis and The Bookstore in Blytheville (that’s actually the name of the store) in Blytheville, AR. Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh has been good to me over the years, as well.

  3. My favorite bookstore in the area downsized so often in finally disappeared. Now there is only Border’s and Walmart.
    It’s just not the same but this economy will not support the independent anything.

  4. fullitioguessi frequent indie book sellers…my favorite is the poisened pen in scottsdale, az. i love the more intimate feel of the shop. my last purchse there was cornwell’s cookbook…’food to die for’….a compilation of yummy recipes that scarpetta cooks. i could hang out in that shop all day. and their sales staff could yammer about books all day. i love it….kathy d.

  5. Well I guess I’m the odd one here. I don’t care what the atmosphere of the store is. I just want to be able to find the books I’m looking for. And in this day and age, that’s just about impossible whether its an independent bookstore or chain.

    There’s nothing worse in the world than having a sudden craving for a particular book only to find out the area bookstores don’t have it in stock. GRRR!!!!!

    Yes, I know, there’s overnight delivery if I’m that desperate, but its just not the same.

  6. Amazon is just so danged convenient. I like the atmosphere in my home and the coffee is great. But it’s just like the old Celluloid collar and spats stores of old. Styles change and there are always victims of change. Shame though, all the same.

  7. For authors, the demise of bookstores is so troubling. They provide a network for us for signings and talks. Without them, we might be relegated to doing virtual tours, not nearly as appealing to us or the readers.

    The only strategy I can think of for local bookstores is to go hyper-specialized, pulling together books and events that cater to a niche readership.

  8. John,

    This is very sad. Indies are angry about ebooks and the threat is real. I still think that the people within indie stores have a tremendous amount to offer the reading community. The mode of selling in a brick and mortar store is a losing proposition in most cases, but does that mean we need to lose our connection with those inside the store that have so much to offer?

    We value them and their contribution to reading. I hope they will find new ways to contribute through blogs or digital marketplaces that allow them to compete on a global rather than local stage.

    CJ

  9. For Indie Bookstores to survive they need to reshape themselves. My thought is that they should become more like internet cafe/cofee shops/wine bars that happen to have numerous shelves with paper books for sale lining quiet little gathering/reading areas. They need to make their money on the peripheral stuff if they want to survive.

  10. I’ve actually thought that it wouldn’t be a bad idea for Indie bookstores to double as laundromats. People are already stuck there, it’s the perfect opportunity to browse.

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