Indie Bookstores– Engines Driving Communities

I have always appreciated independent bookstores, charming shops of hand-curated collections and custom displays, and I came to realize the extent to which these businesses serve their communities after I began working at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, DE. Independent stores are economic, social, artistic, and educational engines serving the people closest to them— families living down the street, students developing work skills before launching into new lives, and surrounding small-town businesses to name a few. Expanding awareness of the vital roles independent stores play and small changes in our purchasing habits can go a long way to strengthen our small towns and cities.

When an independent store opens and thrives, ancillary businesses like sandwich shops, bakeries, specialty gift shops, and coffee houses follow, all of which work together to promote local economic health. I see this first-hand when customers enter Browseabout Books with bags and take-out containers from local proprietors.

Independent stores strengthen neighborhoods through social connections. My workdays involve sharing opinions, insights, and ideas surrounding books. Talking with customers about what they are looking for in a story or reference, making recommendations, and discovering new titles are my favorite tasks. Independent stores enable ongoing dialogues between community members and staff who know their communities, which occur through relationships online reviews cannot provide. Local events such as book clubs, release parties, book signings, author panel discussions, and fundraisers draw people together and create social connections based upon shared interests.

Book signings and author appearances sponsored by independent stores provide writers and illustrators opportunities to share their talents and works. I have worked, as an author, with Browseabout Books, Brackish Books, The Greyhound Bookstore and Fine Arts Gallery, and the Eastern Shore Writers’ Association over the past year participating in two book festivals and six book signings, during which I networked with many fellow authors who, like me, benefited directly from independent booksellers through audience growth, sales, and simple encouragement. Such locally sponsored events also give voice to a variety of perspectives and ideas big box and digital retailers interested primarily in scaled return potentials and reports of trending searches may otherwise ignore.

Small changes in where we make purchases can go a long way to support independent stores and improve local economies. A 2008 Civic Economic study entitled “Local Works: Examining the Impact of Local Business on the West Michigan Economy” found diverting 10% of chain purchases to local businesses would result in $140 million in new economic activity and 1,600 new jobs. Purchasing from an independent store at least one out of ten books otherwise ordered through Amazon or bought at a box store (including box store websites) would satisfy, roughly, this 10%.