Goodreads, one of the primary online books-based social networks, is owned by Amazon, too. But his organization has been thrust into a much bigger role than he anticipated. Peter Hildick-Smith, the president of Codex, thinks the pandemic could only widen the divide between independent bookstores and Amazon as new consumer habits calcify. While Hunter acknowledges that Bookshop might be benefiting from a momentary bump, he and his team are working on ways to remain effective under normal circumstances.
Amazon forms partnerships with editorial websites, so that publications earn 4. Many stores are currently testing virtual events, like author meet-and-greets and book clubs. Solid State, for example, is hosting live author discussions and readings on Instagram and Facebook.
And other organizers are joining Hunter in the fight to support indies. BINC has distributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to independent booksellers in need over the past few weeks. When the pandemic ends, life will certainly look different than it did before. Bookstores could play a crucial role in the healing process—but they need to outlive the crisis. Write to Annabel Gutterman at annabel.
Seth Brewer, a co-owner of Organic Books in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at his bookstore before a stay-at-home order closed it down. By Andrew R. Chow and Annabel Gutterman. Related Stories. But the one company that has captured the imagination of a lot of readers has been Bookshop.
The company, which debuted just as the COVID pandemic was spreading in January , rapidly garnered headlines and profiles of its founder Andy Hunter, an industrious publisher with a deep love for the reading ecosystem.
After a year and a half, how is it all holding up? Bookshop now hosts 1, stores on its platform, and it has more than 30, affiliates who curate book recommendations.
Bookshop, which is a public-benefit corporation, earns money as all e-commerce businesses do, by moving inventory. The company has had a lot of developments in its first year and a half of business, but what happens next?
Still, owners pivoted as quickly as they could. Owners suddenly found themselves arranging curbside pickups, shipping thousands of online orders, and staging completely virtual events.
Many factors boosted sales just when stores needed them. Customers flooded online ordering systems, many in the hope of helping their local stores, others simply desperate for something to read during lockdown. Amazon started prioritizing essential goods over things like books, giving an edge to independent stores.
Then the Black Lives Matter protests over the death of George Floyd took off, prompting another deluge of purchases as readers were eager to get their hands on books about race and racism. The switch to online and curbside ordering saved bookstores from ruin. She would hang bags of books on their doors, ring the bell, and walk back to her car. She even drove an hour and a half out of town to bring books to a couple who would leave her snack bags in thanks.
In many ways, online ordering is the antithesis of what independent bookstores are. Stores typically make money from free events when people buy books, often getting them autographed. Despite the many hurdles small-business owners faced in getting PPP loans, all of the stores I spoke to were able to secure loans, and the money was vital.
Even so, it was gone within a couple of months. Other money came from unexpected places. Some customers even gave their local bookstores donations in the hope of keeping them alive.
She raised more there than she got in PPP money. But at this point, most of the money has dried up. Some stores are doing as well as they would otherwise expect thanks to loyal customers and a thirst for books as people stay closer to home.
A number of stores have opened their doors simply to remain as financially solvent as possible. When we spoke, Gustafson was preparing to open with limited hours and days. Public health has been at the forefront of the minds of owners who have reopened as fully as possible. All stores have reduced their hours as well as their capacity. Everyone has installed Plexiglas barriers at cash registers and hand sanitizing stations throughout their stores.
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