I was just visiting my friend Fran Keilty at the Hickory Stick Bookshop here in Washington Depot, CT and we discussed, once again, how difficult it is for the independently owned businesses like the Hickory Stick and another favorite of mine, the Bank Street Book Nook, owned by my friend Janet Ryan in New Milford, to compete with the major chain retailers.
I think people don’t understand that many of the conveniences such as online shopping and gift card ordering are available through independent retailers, not just the major chain stores. For example, I can order a gift card, on the Hickory Stick or the Book Nook websites, and my niece Annie, the bookworm, can use it at the Spirit of ’76 Bookstore in Marblehead, MA, where she lives. That way she can ride her bike to the book store and pick out a book, rather than have my sister drive her all the way to the nearest mall (though there’s nothing my sister loves more than driving children, don’t get me wrong).
According to Indie Bound, an organization that promotes independent booksellers, when you shop at an independently owned business, your entire community benefits in the following ways:
The Economy
Spend $100 at a local and $68 of that stays in your community. Spend the same $100 at a national chain, and your community only sees $43.
Local businesses create higher-paying jobs for our neighbors.
More of your taxes are reinvested in your community–where they belong.
The Environment
Buying local means less packaging, less transportation, and a smaller carbon footprint. Shopping in a local business district means less infrastructure, less maintenance, and more money to beautify your community.
The Community
Local retailers are your friends and neighbors—support them and they’ll support you.
Local businesses donate to charities at more than twice the rate of national chains.
More independents means more choice, more diversity, and a truly unique community.
Finally, since these are tough times and we’re all tightening our belts a little, consider buying books for everyone on your holiday gift list this year. A collection of love poems by Pablo Neruda for your beloved, a book of beautiful photographs, how-to books, travel books, even books like these, or this masterpiece make great gifts.
Hi Ann,
Couldn’t agree more. The more we use the “big box” stores the faster we force out local commerce. Our friends and neighbors deserve our support. The perception is that we’ll pay more but we’ll pay a lot more if our local shops go out of business.
So right!
What great bookshops! One of my favorite indie stores is Three Lives & Co. in NYC — the staff is very knowledgeable & helpful.
Oh, how I envy you these unique, charming, and locally-owned bookstores, Ann! I live in a small town in Indiana, which does not have a locally-owned bookstore, let alone a national chain bookstore. I have to travel for miles to find any type of bookstore. And you’re completely right about the fact that we need to support businesses which are owned by our neighbors and independent businessowners.
Speaking of national chain bookstores, I was unable to make the trip to Denis’s signing at Borders in Chicago this evening. Several factors forced this decision, and I am a bit heartbroken that I won’t meet your amazing husband today. The gentleman I spoke to at Borders made it sound as though the book signing procedure was going to be similar to a conveyor belt. I have never been to a signing by an author of Denis’s or your stature, so I don’t know if my perception is correct. If I had been able to attend and had been allowed to speak with Denis, I would have told him that I am one of your blog friends and would have asked him to sign the book as “Denis Leary, Ann’s husband”.
Sorry for blathering on. I’m just very sorry I am still here in Indiana, instead of in Chicago right now.
Keep supporting those wonderful local stores, and I will check out their websites for Christmas gifts, as you suggested.
For our family, what really makes the independent/local bookshops stand out is the community contribution beyond the financial inflow to community and charm added to the neighborhood. Our local bookstore offered a plant camp for kids last summer, a weekly Thursday night family game night, and they host an annual RABL (Reading Aloud of Banned Literature) marathon weekend.
At the risk of perhaps playing a bit of the devil’s advocate, personally, I don’t resent the bigger stores for the ease of services they provide or for the buying-in-bulk drastically reduced prices they can offer, or for their size; they’re a result of capitalism. SomeONE motivated individual at the beginning came up an idea, and the conception’s ingenuity and founding party’s drive resulted in a success grown to the proportions where they are today. I’m okay with that.
For me, I almost appreciate the larger corporations for encouraging smaller businesses to become more intimate, more specified, more personal — filling that emptiness one typically feels when leaving a mall or big box.
Ultimately, I believe it’s our responsibility as consumers (as you’ve stated well here) to support the smaller businesses we adore and appreciate — like your Hickory Stick Books and my Carytown Books…because ultimately, the fact that we can use the “my” preceding their shop names speaks volumes. (Believe me, I NEVER say “My Costco!”)
Ann,
Thank you for highlighting the importance of independent bookstores again. I worked for an independent bookstore for nearly seven years (& one of the big “B” bookstores for eight)and let me tell you, even though I wasn’t paid as much as I was at the corporate bookstore, I was treated with more respect by my co-workers and customers alike. It was really more of a family atmosphere than just another workplace. I learned so much about literature and music (especially jazz, alt-country, and world music).
Unfortunately, the bookstore I worked for in the DC area closed its doors and filed for bankruptcy at the end of September. I plan to do a great deal of my holiday shopping (when possible)in independent bookstores or local merchants.
I know it’s a tough economy out there, and you may pay a little more for your book or CD, but the staff at your local indie bookstore would love to help you find something really special for the people on your gift-giving list who are hard to buy for.
I’m getting off of my soapbox now. Sorry this was so long.
Unfortunately we do not have an independent book store here in New Braunfels, TX. I do go into San Antonio, and there are a few really unique ones that have been around for 50 years or more. I have always believed in supporting the local stores. I have lots of animals to feed, and 99% of the time I will use the local Feed and Supply stores, instead of Petsmart, Petco etc….. Granted their prices may be a tad higher, but the knowledge you get when you ask a question about horse feed or what they think may be the best product for your needs are – surpasses anything that you would get from an employee at the bigger chain stores. We tend to be losing the personal touch with the demise of the local businesses. It is a shame. But I will keep doing my best to help them along.
Thanks so much for bringing this to light Ann, especially when so many of the small businesses are struggling to stay afloat. May God bless them all. And you too!
As my Aussie friend always says to me, “Good on You!” This is so great of you to promote the local bookstores! I’m all for supporting independent bookstores and independent businesses vs. corporate/chain stores.
In Pacific Palisades there is a great independent bookstore, “Pali Village Books”.
It is so quaint and inviting, I make sure to stop by there whenever I am in Pacific Palisades.
Thanks again for this post!
Oh I see Cheryl already posted in her comment what I was going to say (Much more eloquently than I could manage too). I live in a small town also and our downtown business is thriving. Mainly because of the downtown business associations work in the community. They are in your face on every community event, sponsoring and lots of advertising. They have all kept their original store fronts and a walk downtown feels like the early 1900s. The town takes great pride in shopping downtown locally and when Walmart moved in years ago to the outskirts of the city not one business owner went under. Dont get us wrong we all love Walmart too but you would never go there for old dusty books, fine jewels, or the local bakery.
Ann,
There is nothing more relaxing that going to a local community’s mom and pop stores. You find the most inviting people who understand what customer service is all about. They aren’t governed by big-box mentality or rules. You don’t have to have their plastic club card. Thank you for reminding us of this as it is so easy to shop on line or hit the malls. We do need to support our local communities so they don’t get pushed out. There is an old German Village called Long Grove, IL. You cross over a one car bridge to enter the town which is symballic as you leave the city and enter into a country atmosphere. Most of the shops have closed now because the parents are too old to run them and their children don’t want to take over a 7 day a week business. It is a shame because you can find the most unique and lasting products there.