Book Business Extra Q&A: Meg Zelickson Smith of the American Booksellers Association talks about the impact of a new crop of independent sellers on the book industry.

February 2007

multipage

Extra: How are new independents separating themselves from the competition?
Smith: ... It’s no secret that booksellers sell the same product, and it can be obtained in many, many different outlets. What they have in common is there’s this overwhelming sense of customer service and passion and knowledge, and that is communicated in the stores to their customers. There are some very specific things that people do. They run incredible events programs. There’s a kids’ store in Minneapolis called Wild Rumpus that has one of the most ambitious and creative events programs you’ll ever encounter, to the point where the owner, Colette Morgan, will bring a horse into the store for kids to experience that.

There are some other stores that are very well known for their events. Books & Books in Miami probably has a 360-night-a-year events program. Sometimes it’s in-store, sometimes it’s offsite. There are stores that provide just outstanding personal service. Yes, there are many stores that have specialties. They may be a kids’ bookstore, or a travel bookstore, or a science fiction store. There are many stores that will carry non-book items that really set them apart.

The overriding theme for the successful stores is that they create a sense of community in the store. They make themselves into the third place, the place that is not home and is not work. A place that is a destination itself.