Volume XXXVII: The Scoop on Independent Bookstores
Volume XXXVII: The Scoop on Independent Bookstores
Their ongoing renaissance and why they still need our support
Introduction
Saturday, April 27 is Independent Bookstore Day, a day meant to celebrate, amplify, and support indie bookshops across the US. But what is the current state of indie bookstores and how can we support them this Saturday and beyond?
First celebrated in 2014 as California Bookstore Day, Indie Bookstore Day has expanded and evolved to now include thousands of bookstores across the US. Stores host everything from author readings to special sales to giveaways to llama fundraisers (yes, really) and much more. Celebrity authors (this year Amanda Gorman) serve as “Indie Bookstore Ambassadors” to help raise awareness of shopping locally. And while it’s a great day to show support for indies, it’s also a reminder to show support for them all year long, so that these stores will be around for years (and future Indie Bookstore Days) to come.
We are in the middle of what seems to be an independent bookstore renaissance; not only are new stores popping up across the country at an increasing rate, but many are trying new approaches—such as focusing on one genre or leaning into social media marketing to help find customers. And, helpfully, more resources are becoming available for book lovers to support these stores from anywhere, not just in person.
The increasing number of indie bookstores is amazing, but that doesn’t mean we should stop vigorously supporting them when we have the space to do so. In this issue, we’re looking at the state of indies in the US, why it’s important we readers keep showing them support, and how we can do so no matter where we are.
A Deeper Look
According to some records, bookselling dates back to around 300 BCE. The oldest operating bookstore in the world is Livaria Bertrand in Lisbon, Portugal, which opened its doors in 1732. Not long after, the oldest bookstore in the US opened in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1745. (Today, it’s operated by Barnes and Noble—a move that over 6,000 locals petitioned against, hoping to secure its ongoing independence.) And the oldest Black-owned bookstore in the States is Marcus Books in Oakland, California.
Indie bookstores—or stores that are independently owned—have faced increasing odds over the years. Their original competition came from Barnes and Noble, Borders, and other large bookselling corporations. But once Amazon entered the market, and as it only continues to grow, most booksellers admit that their main concern is the mega retailer (as co-owner and co-founder Gayle Shanks of Changing Hands says: “I don’t want Barnes and Noble to go away any longer. It’s us and Barnes & Noble against Amazon.” This doesn’t mean, of course, that supporting Barnes and Noble is the same as shopping independently—B&N is still a large, union-busting corporation.)
In 1995, the year of Amazon’s launch, there were 5,500 independent bookstores with 7,000 locations registered in the American Booksellers Association. By 2009, that number had dropped significantly to 1,401 stores with 1,651 locations. The number has rebounded a bit, but only by some—in 2022, the ABA reported 1,710 stores with almost 2,100 locations.
And this increase in bookstores is in part because of a reading renaissance (renaissances seem to be a theme when it comes to reading). From BookTok’s influence to increased awareness of the importance behind shopping locally, reading has skyrocketed over the past few years. Last year, a poll asked 10,000 TikTok users if they read more because of the platform—and US individuals’ answers averaged at reading 60% more.
Bookstores are also leaning further into the sense of community they can provide. From genre specific bookstores—like The Ripped Bodice (a romance focused store) and Annabelle’s (YA focused, and founded by a 17-year-old!)—to safe spaces providing community resources (Bluestockings Coop, for example), to an event lover’s dream (The Salt Eaters hosts notorious events), bookstores are providing something that Amazon never will. Even Barnes and Noble is taking the hint and majorly redecorating their stores to look and feel more like independent bookstores.
While the number of independent bookstores is slowly increasing, that doesn’t mean they need our support any less. Amazon continues to grow, and so does their control of the book market. Simply put, they have the monetary resources that indies will never have. Book sales make up only 10% of Amazon’s revenue, so they can afford to slash prices (even if it means publishers and authors lose money). Book sales can make up to 100% (or very close to 100% even if they still have other products in store) of a bookstore’s revenue. They can’t afford to create these same discounts.
And Barnes and Noble practices poor behavior. In addition to union-busing, for example, they have made the decision to limit the number of kids and middle-grade books in store, which disproportionately impacts historically excluded authors.
Indie bookstores pay their taxes, Amazon does not. Indie bookstores help build local economies by providing jobs. They host events, employ bookselling experts, support other small businesses and charities, and are spaces for booksellers to be themselves. In fact, they donate to charities at two times the rate of national chains.
Ways to Respond
So how can we continue to show these stores support?
If you’re able to visit them in person, head to an indie bookstore to grab books directly from their shelves. Not only is this a phenomenal way to read beyond what’s trending, but also a way to provide indies with the greatest percentage of the sale.
If they don’t have what you want in store, you can request it from them, or order it online directly from their website.
If your indie doesn’t have an online store, you can order books from them via Bookshop.org—but definitely try to order directly from the store first, as they keep a larger portion of the sale.
Attend their events, whether in person or virtual. This helps boost sales and shows publishers that they should schedule events there again in the future.
Follow and engage with them on social media. Like, share, and comment on their posts, tag them in pictures of your bookstore visits, and share their profile with others.
If you like audiobooks or are interested in giving them a try, you can support your indie through Libro.fm. You can start a monthly membership, purchase audiobook credit bundles, or buy audiobooks à la carte—no matter how you purchase audiobooks, a portion always goes to the indie of your choice.
Libro.fm for Business is also a super cool way to support local indies—your company can purchase credits for employees, maybe as gifts, perks, or career development, and choose which indie to support.
Subscribe to their email newsletter. You will likely hear about events, new releases, bookseller recs, and more.
Purchase non-bookish gifts from them. Many bookstores sell candles, notebooks, art, journals, calendars, puzzles, cards, and more. Think of them whenever you have a gift to purchase, not just for book lovers!
Grab gift cards. Whether gifting these to others, giving them away on social media, or getting for yourself to use, gift cards are a great way to help a bookstore get an upfront purchase.
Spread the word to your friends, family, and coworkers. Tell them why indies are important and how they can support them.
Divest from Amazon in other areas of your life. Whether choosing a different e-reader service, limiting how much you order from them online, changing your One Medical subscription, etc., diminishing Amazon’s power helps all small businesses—including indie bookstores.
And if you are planning to celebrate Indie Bookstore Day this weekend, check out IndieBound’s interactive map of participating stores, including bookstore crawls, and what individual stores are planning.
Note: We know that not everyone is able to support independent bookstores, and that Amazon might be the most accessible option. Knowing your options can be helpful, and we all have to make choices that work the best for our individual lives.
Final Musings
It’s no secret that we love independent bookstores. We love heading to our local indie with no specific book in mind, browsing the shelves to find an unexpected read. And in an age where marketing dollars and social media algorithms do their best to influence our TBRs, bookstore browsing can feel like a way to take care of our mental health…and help us discover a new book to fall in love with.
So many bookstores are also continuing to advocate for a ceasefire and Palestinian liberation. Let’s all join their efforts by contacting our governmental reps, reading Palestinian authors, and more. April is Arab American Heritage Month, and too many organizations have paid lip service to the month without taking meaningful action toward building a free Palestine.
We’ll be back in a few weeks with a deep dive into a recent read. We also offer free downloads (wallpapers, templates, and more), and our exclusive downloads for newsletter subscribers (with password newsletterdownloads). If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, don’t hesitate to get in touch via email, the comments below, or Instagram DM.
Xx,
ad astra