Welcome back to weekend coffee chats! So I was at the bookstore this past weekend, and to prevent myself from getting lots of books (I love to buy physical books but don’t have enough time to read them or space to store them), I’ve tried to find some of the books that I liked and discovered physically in the bookshop, on an audio app. It got me thinking, why don’t bookshops work on a collaboration with these apps?
I for one enjoy searching for books physically in a bookstore rather than scrolling online and ending up with a headache. But I don’t have enough time to read the physical books, or the space to store them, so why not scan a barcode to add it as an audiobook? or collaborate with some of the apps already out there for a flat fee or percentage of each discovered book?
This may initially sound as a bad idea, cannibalizing the sales of the bookstore, but I would guess (as I can’t find data on this, please share if you’re aware of some) that many of the people going to physical bookshops don’t actually end up buying all the books they like because of the above two mentioned obstacles. Also, other formats are already thriving anyway so either bookshops jump and create audio for books that don’t already have ones (would require investment and alignment with authors and publishers) or try to incorporate audio that’s out there through ideas and collaborations.
Another thing they can do, is offer a discount for audiobooks discovered through bookstores instead of online. You can easily track the success or failure of this approach through coupon codes for bookshops and bookshops can track the sales received from these audiobooks.
Discovery is a strong moat, and regardless how much we try to convince ourselves to move to digital completely, it’s just not fun or adventurous which is an important part of book purchase experience. So I’d say it’s time bookshops get back to expanding their spaces and adding more warmth and opportunity for people to stay and discover. I know it’s hard and the margins aren’t there anymore, but a pivot is needed to survive and eventually thrive.
I remember when there was a coffee shop inside a big bookshop in my city years ago, and when I used to go there it felt as if time stopped and I could easily spend hours there. Keep in mind the coffeeshop was divided from the books so nothing gets ruined, but the idea was that you can take your newly bought gems, buy a hot cup of coffee and sit down and enjoy reading it in peace and quietness. Sadly they closed that place, and you can guess that the hours I spend (Even though they still are a lot) are less than before in that bookshop.
I also saw the other day a family with a beautiful daughter all sitting on the floor in front of the kids aisle with a children’s book open and them all reading together. It was so beautiful and yet so saddening that there’s no allocated space for this venturing that they have to sit on the floor.
Another thing that can be done is reducing the inventory in the bookshop and keeping shelves with one or two books just to discover them and read the back of them, then the customer can add the books they like to their online cart and either get it in the store after a few mins or have it delivered free directly to their house. (Could help for people living without cars as well, as surprisingly you forget how heavy books are till you’re carrying them back home)
Ideally having a warehouse within the store (separated) would make it easier to save space and stack books rather than keep them all on pretty display in the store itself.
I’m rooting for bookshops, since the day we can only buy books online would be a sad one (scrolling for more than a few mins takes the joy out of the best things in life), and so I hope they work to finds ways to stay and be profitable.
If you liked what you read and would like to share it with your favorite bookshop, please go ahead and just give the blog some love back.
What do you prefer, bookshops or online searching? Let me know in the comments !
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Disclaimer: None of this information is to be used as advice, it’s just for entertainment purposes. Additionally all information used is publicly available.
Weekend Coffee Chats 