I hate to be a Grinch. I love little book shops as much as any bibliophile, and most chain book shops have an oddly soul-less feel to them. To them, books are commodities - and if they thought they'd make more money selling tires, they'd switch in a heartbeat.
However, businesses have to be competitive. There are a few ways in which to do this - either be cheaper, be better, or be different than your competitors.
Little bookshops can't compete on the price issue, but the last two items are completely within their grasp. They can cultivate their clientele, have authors in, have book-signings, obtain rare/niche items that the big stores are generally not interested in carrying, and do many other things to actively participate as a member of their communities.
I know that they're in a "David and Goliath" sort of situation. That's tough. But I have little sympathy when it appears that people whine about the economic realities of business in general. I've been to a lot of niche bookshops with indifferent clerks - when an enthused one could have easily convinced me to buy, spend more time and money there. And it seems like a lot of people spend time whining about the unfairness of their competition rather than giving consumers a compelling reason to shop at their store instead.
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Date: 2004-03-22 07:41 pm (UTC)However, businesses have to be competitive. There are a few ways in which to do this - either be cheaper, be better, or be different than your competitors.
Little bookshops can't compete on the price issue, but the last two items are completely within their grasp. They can cultivate their clientele, have authors in, have book-signings, obtain rare/niche items that the big stores are generally not interested in carrying, and do many other things to actively participate as a member of their communities.
I know that they're in a "David and Goliath" sort of situation. That's tough. But I have little sympathy when it appears that people whine about the economic realities of business in general. I've been to a lot of niche bookshops with indifferent clerks - when an enthused one could have easily convinced me to buy, spend more time and money there. And it seems like a lot of people spend time whining about the unfairness of their competition rather than giving consumers a compelling reason to shop at their store instead.