Amazon can deliver books in a brown box at your doorsteps in two days, but the local bookstore can offer you a sense of community, a place where you can have human interactions, and they increase the value and beauty of your neighborhoods.
Let’s face it. Jeff Bezos doesn’t need any more or your money. But small bookstores in your neighborhood need all the help they get.
Many of us complain about income inequality. “Something must be done!” we say. “The government should intervene by taxing the rich even more.” Yet, we don’t hesitate twice before going to our Amazon Prime account and giving another dollar to Jeff Bezos, and thus deprive that same dollar to the local stores which are keeping the streets pretty, are employing local people, and who are paying city taxes.
In short, it’s us who are contributing to income inequality with our actions.
The story behind Etat de Style bookstore
There are millions of little bookstores around the world, all of them serving their local communities, and adding life and character to the neighborhoods they serve.
Aude Le Dubé always loved writing, she did whatever she could do to make a living as a writer; translating, writing novels, copywriting, working in public relations writing press releases, etc., she published 2 novels and was awarded literary prizes.
Then Aude decided to go into fashion and opened a store to sell her creations. Her fashion store was having moderate success but presented many unexpected challenges. There were many steps from creating a fashion line to putting it on the store shelves, and this amount of work and preparation became overwhelming.
At the same time, amidst the display of her fashion, she also had assorted coffee table books, around the store. Those books started selling well and her clients started to be more and more interested in her books than in her fashion.
Eventually, at the beginning of COVID-19, Aude reflected on her future and the future of her store and decided to pivot into an English bookstore in the middle of Le Plateau, an ethnically diverse neighborhood being served by several French bookstores.
Traffic has increased during times of COVID-19
People’s lives and habits have changed during COVID-19. Some are trying to stay away from the screen, others are seeking a more meaningful connection with the tactile world. Many of them are discovering an appetite for paper books.
Local Bookstores competing with Amazon
People are craving physical contact, they want to support local businesses, and they don’t want to be part of the Amazon algorithm. They want more spontaneity, they want to look and touch the physical books and they want to hear the recommendation of their local bookseller.
Her clients don’t like light airport book books. Her client are well educated, young, students, professionals; and they like books with some depth, with some substance.
How does a bookstore chooses its titles?
Aude searches through many websites, including Amazon books, The New York Times, The New Yorker, and she is a member of many bookseller magazines and mailing lists. Then she matches what she likes with what her supplier has available. But also, she discovered her client’s preference and she started to order books to satisfy her client’s taste.
A bookseller’s reading habits
Aude wakes up early every morning in order to read for two hours before coming to work.
Tip for customers
If you don’t see the title that you are looking for, don’t be afraid to order the book at your local book store. In most cases, they can have it within a few days and you will be contributing to the local economy.
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