Borders collapsed years ago. Barnes & Noble only stayed afloat by selling real estate, then got bought out by a UK investor primed to restart the brand... until COVID19 slammed them into the toilet Small book stores died under both corporations and again under COVID What next?
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That's why Borders became a movie store with a coffee shop, and Barnes & Noble became a toy store Both stocked books no customer wanted Digital reading also hurt sales, but focusing on bad products was a serious poison
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It's possible small book stores could return, but in the age of COVID, who knows? They're non-essential, and it takes capital to open a store and buy stock And who would you buy stock from? The big publishers are now desperate to unload their unsellable books on anyone they can
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Where would you open your shop? The major cities are bleeding industry right now as people flee the riots and disasters One landmark book store in Minneapolis that drew tourists from all across the States burned to the ground during the riots, gone forever Who would reopen?
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And opening a business in the modern climate is like trying to swim with cement shoes Corporations sweep up the cash, small business collapse or are barred entirely from even unlocking their front door
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Still, despite everything, it's possible book stores could make a return Especially as the big online digital book stores (Really just Amazon) crack down on censorship. And there's been talk of anti-trust suits against Amazon as it is, which could splinter digital book markets
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There's really no way of knowing if book stores will return. If they do, they'll need to cater to a specific feel. The joy of sitting in a nice chair and reading in a pile of paperbacks. The feel of real books in your hands. The guarantee of protection from censorship.
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In the end, I look forward to the reinvention of the book store 20 years from now I'm sure I'll stroll into some shop and have a twenty-something future-hipster explain to me that ancient Man once sold paper copies of digital books "Weren't 1900s people weird?"
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Nostalgia, classical experience, freedom from censorship, a personal touch, an attached reading lounge... These are some ideas to help bring back small book stores Sell your customers a story, an experience, around the paper books What does paper + shop do that digital doesn't?
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It will be interesting to see what future entrepreneurs do with the idea of a book store Physical or not, the future for book will be a wild ride
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One serious consideration will be a shift from global readers to local readers Instead of the big publishers who tanked the corporate stores filling your shelves, moving back to the classics plus featuring big authors in your region or even in your city Capitalize on local
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Once the pandemic crawls to an end and every store is open, I strongly encourage writers to reach out to their local shops and offer to do book signings to reinvigorate public attention toward book stores Capitalize on that local feel of supporting both a local store and writer
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It could be that the future of book stores will be a partnership between shop owners and their local creators Similar to how craft stores and thrift stores operate People bring their creations to the shop and market their goods on the store's racks This could be one future
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COVID forced people to recognize the importance of local leadership and their local community It could be that shops and writers alike capitalize on their local appeal to generate major interest Instead of national bestsellers, we might see regional balkanized bestseller lists
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All of this is fun speculation, but it highlights one important fact: Local book stores are dying right now If you read this thread and thought about how much you hope book stores are a part of your future, go to your local shops and support them immediately Keep them alive
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