What Makes A Good Bookstore?
/The definition of what makes a bookstore is always changing. It used to be the vintage atmosphere of an old store with books lining each wall, a maze constructed by novels many have never even heard of. A charming environment where books find their forever homes.
In recent decades though, bookstores have become much more than that. They’ve become the crisp, clean walls of an Indigo, and the digital, seemingly endless webpages of the BookOutlet website. Amazon even has a significant amount of books!
The definition of what makes a good bookstore is always changing. My goal for today is to look at a few factors that can provide insight into a possible answer. Will buying books from Amazon be our future? Will indie book stores steal the spotlight? What will Indigo become?
PHOTO BY ASHLEY BYRD ON UNSPLASH
Environment
There’s no better feeling than finding an awesome book in a bookstore and being able to take a seat and read it. What makes this better is being in an amazing environment. When somebody buys a book online, they can always choose their own reading location, but that just isn’t on the same level as being inside an actual bookstore.
Indigo, before they decided to rebrand, fit this category well. Store color schemes had warmer tones, and there was more wooden furniture. It felt like home! Now, Indigo stores have colder colors and the decor is much fancier. It’s not as welcoming. Indie bookstores, on the other hand, are well known for their warmer and cozier environments. As somebody who has worked retail, I can say confidently that customers almost always prefer this kind of environment.
Employee Interactions
On the topic of working retail, I can also safely say that the happiest customers are those who have had a great experience with store employees. Stores like Indigo and indie bookstores always have amazing, talkative employees who are genuinely passionate about books.
Online stores like Amazon and BookOutlet? Not so much. You’re simply met with a website and there’s no genuine human interaction if you have any questions.
Price
Price, regardless of what a person is purchasing, is always a very important factor. Everybody wants a good deal! From my experience, the best prices for books are at indie bookstores or on websites like Amazon and BookOutlet. Additionally, when it comes to indie bookstores, shoppers also get to know that their money is going towards a small business, rather than a corporation!
PHOTO BY JESSICA RUSCELLO ON UNSPLASH
Indigo on the other hand isn’t exactly well known for low prices. There’s the occasional good deal on a paperback, but even then that isn’t always the case: and hardcovers cost even more, going for at least $30 each. When somebody shops at Indigo, every purchase is almost always an expensive one. It’s also supporting a big corporation, rather than a small local business like most indie bookstores!
So…. Which Kind Of Bookstore Is The Best?
With the question of what makes a good bookstore answered, I think it’s necessary to highlight which kind of bookstore is the best. Thus, based on the answer, it’s safe to say that indie bookstores are the best kind because of the fact that their attributes align the most with the categories discussed.
According to this article by the Washington Post, “ninety-two percent of small businesses say they have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus,” which just puts into perspective the difficulties that small businesses like indie bookstores face. Small businesses are always at a disadvantage due to chain stores and large corporations like Amazon, Walmart, and even Indigo.
Now more than ever, it’s incredibly important that everybody supports small businesses: and in regards to bookstores, this means that it’s vital for everybody to show indie bookstores their support. After all, they are the best kind of bookstore!
Emily Aalders
Emily Aalders is a Professional Writing student at Algonquin College. When she’s not writing, Emily can be found reading and spending all of her money on overpriced coffee. After she graduates from Algonquin College, Emily hopes to be an author.
