Vancouver Indies Band Together for Survival

Leah Eichler -- Publishers Weekly, 8/30/1999

In the wake of declining book sales and the downsizing of Duthie Books, a popular mini-chain (News, June 21), Vancouver's independent bookstore owners are banding together to promote their expertise in order to survive alongside the constantly expanding Chapters chain.

About 35 stores so far have joined the cooperative promotional group called the Great Vancouver Independent Booksellers Experience (G-VIBE). G-VIBE plans to set up a directory of member stores to hand out to customers and is committed to promotion rather than inter-store competition. The group also plans to advertise in a local paper once a month.

"We have a very vibrant bookselling community out here and we've decided to get together to promote ourselves as the bookselling alternative," Louise Hager, owner of Women in Print and G-VIBE spokesperson, told PW.

The organization was the brainchild of Mark Macdonald, buyer at Little Sister's Book & Art Emporium in Vancouver. Last March, Macdonald began sending out notices suggesting the independents work together to fight decreasing sales. Although Hager admits bookstores have been suffering financially since Chapters opened, G-VIBE d s not want to be seen as taking on the big chain. Rather, the group will focus on its unique position and experience and on how independent booksellers contribute to the community. "We want to make this a positive effort. We don't want to get into a slugfest with the big guys -- we know we can't win," Hager told PW.

Vancouver is not the first area in Canada to take on this sort of initiative. Eastern Ontario booksellers joined together earlier this year to form the Independents: Your Neighborhood Booksellers. The Ottawa-based organization also focuses on advertising and public awareness campaigns.