The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Saturday is Love your Bookshop Day. 5 reasons why readers keep coming back to independent book stores

  • Written by Katya Johanson, Professor of Audience Research, Deakin University
Saturday is Love your Bookshop Day. 5 reasons why readers keep coming back to independent book stores

“The cities are dead”, Australian Booksellers Association CEO Robbie Egan tells us, “and that has been brutal”.

For bookshops, the experience of the pandemic depends on their location: those in regional towns have flourished, while those in the business districts of our locked down cities have been “decimated[1]” as one bookseller put it late last year.

Love for independent bookshops is a distinctive feature of Australian book culture. Bookshops have withstood many 21st century threats: the ubiquity of Amazon, its proprietary e-book software, divisions within the publishing industry over parallel importation restrictions[2], and social media’s theft of our precious leisure time from slower practices like reading.

While the number of independent bookshops in the United Kingdom experienced a steep decline in the early 2000s[3], Australian independent bookshops have proven resilient. In 2020, Australia had approximately 25% more independent bookshops than chain outlets like Dymocks and Collins.

Read more: All hail the bookshop: survivor against the odds[4]

When they closed for lockdowns in 2020, bookshops lost their advantage over their online counterparts. Suddenly, customers could no longer browse, and found it harder to chat to a well-read shop assistant. Still, with more time on our hands, book purchases increased[5]. But reliant on click and collect or home delivery, independent bookshops struggled to compete with Amazon and its Australian equivalent Booktopia, whose sales soared[6].

COVID restrictions also prevented activities that usually support sales by introducing readers to books, including literary festivals and author-in-schools events.

We interviewed 18 independent booksellers in five states about their experience of the pandemic and their customers. It became clear that Australians love their independent bookshops for five main reasons:

1. Curated book choices

Our research with teenage readers[7] finds that despite an abundance of online recommendations, many struggle to find a good book. Readers often look for novelty, but algorithms that determine online recommendations struggle to accommodate new titles and authors.

Independent booksellers stock books based on what they know about local readers and their own love of good quality books, rather than relying on sales trends. Our interviewees described enjoying “finding the little niche books” that will excite individual customers.

Usually, 50% of customers go into a bookshop “not having a book in mind at all”, says Egan, but wanting to browse. When customers lost this ability during lockdown, one bookseller reported that every sale his bookshop made was based on a personal recommendation.

2. A commitment to the local

Lockdowns saw people valuing and wanting to support their local communities, and independent booksellers return this commitment.

Knowing what books to stock and recommend for their customers, one interviewee told us, involves knowing what the customer is “like as a person, and what would inspire them”.

Some booksellers take pride in meeting a customer for the first time as a baby, and serving them throughout their lives: “our strategy is that we’ll keep ageing with the (young) customers we’ve got”.

Customers browsing at independent bookstore, Readings, in Melbourne’s Carlton pre-lockdown. SniperGirl/flickr, CC BY[8]

3. An introduction to local authors and stories

Readers’ appreciation of local authors and stories has also flourished. Eight of the ten 2020 top-selling titles[9] were by Australian authors.

Australian publishers rely on independent booksellers to connect local authors to readers[10]. Many sales are “hyperlocal”: The F-Team by Punchbowl author Rawah Arja[11] caused excitement at Lost in Books in the neighouring suburb of Fairfield, while Hannah Moloney’s The Good Life is loved by Fullers bookshop customers in Hobart.

4. ‘Slow leisure’

Both the act of browsing in the bookshop and reading are forms of slow leisure — activities that are rich because we invest time in them. One of the best things independent bookshops do for their customers is create a calm, inviting atmosphere for browsing without pressure to purchase.

During lockdowns, sales for the ABC’s Bluey titles boomed because families sought ways for their children to spend their days, out of childcare and schools, and off screens.

The Paperback bookstore. eddieddieddie/flickr, CC BY[12]

5. Outlets for our emotions

Books provide an opportunity for vicarious experience of different kinds of emotion. Bookseller advice helps us find the books through which we can access these emotions.

In 2020, for instance, Australians channelled their anger over racial police violence by consuming books[13] about race and racism.

In our quiet, locked down lives we now miss out on the full range of emotion: we may experience fear or frustration, but lack joy and excitement. Booksellers will recommend books not just based on genre or your previous reading, but also on mood. Lately, this has often meant finding “light reading”.

COVID-19 is an extraordinary disruptor to the book industry, but it isn’t all bad news. The pandemic has helped readers see clearly what it is that we love about our bookshops.

References

  1. ^ decimated (www.theguardian.com)
  2. ^ parallel importation restrictions (theconversation.com)
  3. ^ United Kingdom experienced a steep decline in the early 2000s (theculturetrip.com)
  4. ^ All hail the bookshop: survivor against the odds (theconversation.com)
  5. ^ book purchases increased (www.booksandpublishing.com.au)
  6. ^ Booktopia, whose sales soared (retailworldmagazine.com.au)
  7. ^ Our research with teenage readers (www.youtube.com)
  8. ^ CC BY (creativecommons.org)
  9. ^ 2020 top-selling titles (www.smh.com.au)
  10. ^ connect local authors to readers (www.theage.com.au)
  11. ^ The F-Team by Punchbowl author Rawah Arja (www.smh.com.au)
  12. ^ CC BY (creativecommons.org)
  13. ^ anger over racial police violence by consuming books (www.smh.com.au)

Read more https://theconversation.com/saturday-is-love-your-bookshop-day-5-reasons-why-readers-keep-coming-back-to-independent-book-stores-169445

Times Magazine

Choosing the Right Legal Aid Lawyer in Sutherland Shire: Key Considerations

Legal aid services play an essential role in ensuring access to justice for all. For people in the Sutherland Shire who may not have the financial means to pay for private legal assistance, legal aid ensures that everyone has access to representa...

Watercolor vs. Oil vs. Digital: Which Medium Fits Your Pet's Personality?

When it comes to immortalizing your pet’s unique personality in art, choosing the right medium is essential. Each artistic medium, whether watercolor, oil, or digital, has distinct qualities that can bring out the spirit of your furry friend in dif...

DIY Is In: How Aussie Parents Are Redefining Birthday Parties

When planning his daughter’s birthday, Rich opted for a DIY approach, inspired by her love for drawing maps and giving clues. Their weekend tradition of hiding treats at home sparked the idea, and with a pirate ship playground already chosen as t...

When Touchscreens Turn Temperamental: What to Do Before You Panic

When your touchscreen starts acting up, ignoring taps, registering phantom touches, or freezing entirely, it can feel like your entire setup is falling apart. Before you rush to replace the device, it’s worth taking a deep breath and exploring what c...

Why Social Media Marketing Matters for Businesses in Australia

Today social media is a big part of daily life. All over Australia people use Facebook, Instagram, TikTok , LinkedIn and Twitter to stay connected, share updates and find new ideas. For businesses this means a great chance to reach new customers and...

Building an AI-First Culture in Your Company

AI isn't just something to think about anymore - it's becoming part of how we live and work, whether we like it or not. At the office, it definitely helps us move faster. But here's the thing: just using tools like ChatGPT or plugging AI into your wo...

The Times Features

From Farms to Festivals: How Regional NSW Is Repurposing Shipping Containers

Regional NSW communities are repurposing containers for farms, tourism, and events Farmers and small businesses use them as cost-effective, flexible infrastructure Festivals ...

What a Mobile Speech Pathologist Really Does for Late Talkers

As a parent, it’s natural to keep a close eye on your child’s development. When your toddler isn’t using as many words as their peers, the internet can feel like a rabbit hole ...

Benefits of Tree Pruning for a Thriving Australian Garden

Tree pruning is an essential aspect of garden maintenance that often doesn't get the attention it deserves. It's a practice that involves the selective removal of certain parts...

What is psychosocial therapy? And why is the government thinking about adding it to Medicare for kids?

The government is considering new, bulk-billed health checks for three-year-olds, to pick up developmental concerns and refer kids that might need additional support. The de...

Detect Hidden Water Leaks Fast: Don’t Ignore Hot Water System Leaks

Detecting water leaks early is crucial for preventing extensive damage to your home. Among the various parts of a home’s plumbing system, hot water systems are particularly suscept...

Why do hamstring injuries happen so often and how can they be prevented?

In a recent clash against the Melbourne Storm, the Brisbane Broncos endured a nightmare rarely seen in professional sport — three players tore their hamstrings[1] in a single g...