The Case For Independent Bookselling 

In the age of online purchases and electronic books, physical bookstores might seem on the brink of extinction. Borders declared bankruptcy in 2011, and Barnes and Noble recently 1 suffering store closures around the United States. However, 2 considering the intimidating economic climate, now might be the perfect time to enter a career in independent bookselling. Even as the world of virtual shopping expands, the loss of bookstores has helped remind customers of what the internet cannot 3 provide. The internet cannot provide face-to-face interaction with other people.

[1] The possibility of success in independent bookselling has been proven by the Tennessee novelist Ann Patchett. [2] She grew up with a beloved local bookstore that eventually went out of business; after becoming a successful writer, Patchett decided to revive the local bookstore as a community resource. [3] Together with her business partners, publishing sales representatives Karen Hayes and Mary Grey James, Patchett opened Parnassus Books in 2011. [4] Patchett attributes this unexpected success in part to the importance of human interaction in the discovery of good books: 4 “there are a lot of small stores that can really thrive in this environment.” [5] The store is now a fixture for Nashville readers and a testament to the truth of this vision. 5  

Other statistical trends suggest that public support for local bookstores 6 is increasing nationwide. In 2013, about 2,000 independent bookstores were American Bookseller Association members, 7  The following year, California bookstores launched a statewide Bookstore Day, during which booksellers sold limited-edition merchandise and hosted author readings. Participating stores 8 reported: a subsequent increase in sales. These statistics help show that the human element of book buying is still key; author visits and personalized staff recommendations lend the vital element of community to the experience of reading.

Although the convenience and 9 brevity of buying books online cannot be denied, the rise of this purchasing model does not necessitate the extinction of physical bookstores. 10 Patchetts’s emphasis on human interaction highlights an important difference that results in a competitive advantage: providing this interaction can translate into both profit and community benefit. Many people thought her project was absurd, but Patchett’s success begs to differ— 11 and it highlights the importance of community support in the effort to revive a local business.