CONNECT WITH US
eCommerce

eCommerce

Genre bookstores are having a moment — especially in Chicago

Retail Dive – E-commerce logo

Published on

Add as a preferred source on Google
Genre bookstores are having a moment — especially in Chicago

From romance to horror, genre readers are done settling for just a few shelves. Now they are coming for the entire store.

Independent bookstores are proving that niche may be a standout strategy. From romance to science fiction, genre-specific shops are turning specialized interests into retail opportunities.

Overall, the number of independent bookstores is on the rise. Last year, over 600 new, independent book shops opened across the U.S., an 87% increase year over year, according to the American Booksellers Association.

“Bookstores offer an alternative to online algorithms, multi-billion dollar investment companies, and cookie cutter neighborhoods,” the association wrote in its latest annual report. “They offer authentic shopping experiences that align with customer values with an emphasis on community.”

But going deep on a subject matter may also give indie retailers a way to stand out against big-box stores.

“A small store can't win on selection or price anymore,” Joel Goldstein, president of Mr. Checkout Distributors, said in emailed comments. “A general independent bookstore competes with Amazon on every title. A romance or horror shop competes on one shelf and can go deeper on it than anyone else. Specializing is how a small store turns its size into an advantage.”

A city that exemplifies the rise of independent, genre-based bookstores is Chicago, which is a top market for readers, according to Placer.ai.

The city has seen an over 11% increase in bookstore visits year over year, and, in August, hosted its biggest Independent Bookstore Day on record with over 80 locations participating.


Source link
Related Topics:eCommerce

Disclaimer

We strive to uphold the highest ethical standards in all of our reporting and coverage. We TheMorningPulse.fyi want to be transparent with our readers about any potential conflicts of interest that may arise in our work. It's possible that some of the investors we feature may have connections to other businesses, including competitors or companies we write about. However, we want to assure our readers that this will not have any impact on the integrity or impartiality of our reporting. We are committed to delivering accurate, unbiased news and information to our audience, and we will continue to uphold our ethics and principles in all of our work. Thank you for your trust and support.