BOOK STORES AT OUR DISPOSAL

YES! We all need to support independent book stores, they are the ones in the earlier decades who brought us the books when we order or pre book, in our neighbourhood. These stores are retail book stores owned independently by a particular person.  The sales in the retail stores usually depend on location; marketing; store layout and appearance; service and assortment, and bundle –selling. In this connection I remember an American film “You’ve got a mail”, it is about the rivalry between an independent and chain book stores. It is worth watching.

To help and support the Independent retailers, IBAI (Independent Bookshops Association of India) extends its hands. Its main objective is to promote the independent bookshops in India.  When the competition between Independent and chain stores,   increases, then the IBAI steps in and encourages independent stores to compete with the chain stores. But unfortunately many independent stores were closed due to the high level of competition of online giants.

In this pandemic, as books are considered non –essentials and many book stores were closed down for a long period of time. But now few stores in collaboration with swiggy are delivering books to the readers.

Independent stores are a must not only for literary life but also for human community in general. It is our responsibility to support them in the time of the crisis. Avail the discounts provided by them, attend the programs organised by them, spread a good word about them, try to buy gift vouchers from them and encourage “book hugs”.

“The key to independent book stores growth in the digital era has been their strong and deep ties to neighbours” writes Raffaelli. We, the book lovers has to prove it by being with our own neighbourhood stores.

 

 

(PROMPT: DO WE NEED TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT BOOK STORES)

(This blogpost is prepared for Blog chatters Half-marathon August 2021)