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Looking for Riches in Niches
With the closing of Outwrite Books in Atlanta late last month and the impending closing of True Colors (formerly Amazon Bookstore Cooperative) in Minneapolis, some in bookselling circles have begun to question whether niche bookstores can survive. Twenty years ago, specialty stores were seen as a strategy to face the onslaught of the chains. “The niche has been completely our salvation,” says Richard Goldman, co-owner of 21-year-old Mystery Lovers Bookshop in Oakmont, Pa. “While it’s not a universal cure-all, it was key to our strategy.” Although many specialty bookstores have closed, others are finding success by shifting their focus, broadening their inventory, and adding more events. And some are growing. Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego, Calif., opened a second location in Redondo Beach last fall; Idlewild Books in New York City added an outpost in Brooklyn last month; and A Room of One’s Own in Madison, Wis., is moving to a new space in July, doubling in size.
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Books-A-Million Won't Carry Amazon Titles
Books-A-Million has joined with Barnes & Noble and will not carry Amazon Publishing titles, including those published under Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s New Harvest imprint, a BAM executive confirmed to PW.
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Next Chapter to Open in Vermont
Barre, Vt., won't be without a bookstore for long. Next Chapter plans to open in mid-February in the space vacated by Barre Books, which closed at the end of the year.
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Calling Booksellers! Will You Carry Amazon's Titles?
In light of B&N's announcement that they will not stock titles published by Amazon, PW wants to know whether booksellers out there will be following suit.
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B&N Will Not Stock Titles Published By Amazon
Barnes & Noble has had a policy of not carrying Amazon Publishing titles in its stores unless it has access to the e-book editions and last week's announcement that HMH will be publishing and distributing some Amazon titles has not made the retailer change its mind.
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Textbook Renting Rises
The number of college stores renting textbooks over the past two years has risen from about 300 in the fall of 2009 to 2,200 in fall of 2010, to 2,560 in fall of 2011, according to the National Association of College Stores.
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"Kepler's 2020" To Emerge as Prototype of Community Bookstore of the Future
The Kepler's Transition Team has been created to launch "Kepler's 2020" and transform the historic bookstore into a community-owned-and-operated indie business model.
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Bodhi Tree Is Coming Back
The Bodhi Tree Bookstore, which closed its doors after 41 years at the end of December, has been sold and will re-emerge near its former West Hollywood location on Melrose Avenue.
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Spring Launch for Bookish
At a brief presentation at Digital Book World, new Bookish CEO Caroline Marks said the launch for the Web site is now expected to come this spring. The site had originally hoped to start last fall; Marks took over for Bookish's first CEO, Paulo Lemgruber, in October.
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Malaprop's Celebrates 30 Years With Collaborative Novel
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of Malaprop’s Bookstore in Asheville, N.C., co-owners Linda Barrett Knopp and Brian Lee Knopp enlisted ten North Carolina writers for a collaborative serial novel set in Malaprop’s hometown.
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Booksellers Explain How to Make Friends and Influence People
More than 150 booksellers crowded into a hotel meeting room during Wi7 to learn from three stars in the children's bookselling world how they too can become "hometown stars with children's books."
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Wi7: Bookselling Renaissance Extends to Children's
The American Booksellers Association's Winter Institute, held last week in New Orleans, came just weeks after a holiday season that showcased the vitality and viability of independent bookstores.
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Outwrite Books & Coffeehouse Closes Its Doors
Outwrite Books & Coffeehouse, which has served Atlanta’s GLBT community since 1993, announced this morning that, as of today, the store is closed for business.
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Indie Bookstores Growing—and On the Move
Just weeks after the start of the new year change is afoot at a number of indies, including going permanent (Word Up in upper Manhattan), moving (Newtonville Books in Newtonville, Mass.), and expanding (Idlewild Books in New York City).
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Fairmount Books to Close
One of North America’s largest bargain book wholesalers, 29-year-old Fairmount Books will shut its doors, possibly as early as March. "We are absolutely not going bankrupt,” says founder and president Marty Cutler.
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Ammo Books: Publishing in Small, Medium, and Large
For an indie publisher to launch its first line with a $300 art book takes guts and vision, but that’s what Ammo Books’ founders Paul Norton and Steve Crist did in 2006 when they published 3,000 copies of Gonzo by Hunter S. Thompson and sold out in less than a year.
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Building Community at Winter Institute
The trade show earns high marks from booksellers and publishers as it moves from inspirational talks to the nuts-and-bolts of boosting sales.
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Optimism Prevails at Winter Institute
With a trio of talks by bestselling author Ann Patchett, Ingram's Skip Prichard, and ABA CEO Oren Teicher, the 7th annual Winter Institute officially got underway in the Big Easy with an inspiring morning session.
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Powell's To Get Espresso Book Machine
Powell's Books will launch its Espresso Book Machine in March at its City of Books flagship store location in Portland, Ore.
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