Boxed-In and Boarded-Up: Big Box Bookstores Are Closing

Going to the bookstore has long been an recreational experience. However, with the rise of big box book behemoths like Borders and , purchasing a book became more than going to buy the book. There’s the café with the beverage and bistro menus, book events and a selection of magazines that sometimes rival the book selections.

I think that it would suffice to say that bibliophiles just love the feel of a book and the extra dose of “happy serum” that they get once they touch the pages and peruse the table of contents to see what a good read this title will be.

There is something about going to the bookstore and browsing through the sections. Imagine the feeling you get when you rush to see the latest releases by your favorite author – whether it’s Seth Godin, James Patterson, Malcolm Gladwell or Stephanie Meyer.

An experience is created when you pick-up a copy of Unleashing The Ideavirus by Seth Godin or Daniel X: Demons and Druids by James Patterson. You’ve heard the buzz about these titles, but you WANT to know what’s between the cover yourself – thumbing through the pages, checking the sources and seeing if there is any bonus content. You’re decision is made – but you need that “fix”.

Oops… and lets not forget about the design work – the cover, any sort of doodles or sketches that make that book special and worth spending your disposable dollars. The time spent in the store space to check out the book (sitting in the comfy leather chairs), browsing the magazine section and buying a latte before checking out are just the beginnings of the book experience.

On the one hand, the neighborhood bookstores with the small snack bars offered the same thing. You could go there and browse, sip some tea and talk to your neighbor about what’s happening or what’s the next good read. It was an intimate space, which included artists’ performances and author events.

But as Borders and moved into suburbia and some cities, these community gems were forced to close because it was hard to compete with the larger selections, the allure of the bestselling author signings and the expanded coffee shop. Those things that were special about the corner bookstore were lost.

Now that multiple format publishing has made its debut, the big box stores have been forced into financial straits by one’s, zero’s, tablets, phones and laptops. Borders has been forced into bankruptcy and is closing 200 of its stores. With the reality that entire books can be downloaded and read on any of these devices, a book-lover doesn’t have to leave his or her house, car or office to purchase the hottest release or “genre flavor” of the month.

It is hard to believe that it has come to this for the bookstores. Who would have thought? But, as big box booksellers squeezed out the community gathering place, new formats and portable devices have forced the corporate giants to reevaluate their position in the publishing industry. Refusing to embrace the technology fast enough or thinking that these new visionary tools were just fads, proved to be the beginning of the demise of the bookstore as we know it today. 

The course has changed for writers, creatives and innovators alike too. No longer shut out by publishers and larger bookstores, these artists have all of the tools to create, distribute and market their works. From print-on-demand to ebooks, a writer can have their books available for sale on iTunes, Amazon or various blogs – including a writer’s own website.

And, lets not forget social media. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of social media and technology. Marketing can be focused directly to the intended buyers: contests, newsletters, book tour schedules and more. 

There are so many possibilities and new writers (who aren’t bestsellers yet) are no longer at the mercy of Borders or Barnes & Noble to get shelf space or to be a part of new author campaigns.

For book-lovers, buying a book has and will continue to take on a new experience. The scope and reach of the larger bookstores is diminishing everyday – not a total disappearance but a redefined role. To feel the “happy serum” rush 2.0, iTunes and Amazon have made it so much easier to browse a book. With the latter, you can purchase a print  -- if you want to actually touch it -- or digital copy. In either instance, you can see it before your buy it. 

To get the instant satisfaction of the sitting in the comfy chair and sipping tea, the online retailer can “beam the book” straight to your device. No waiting for UPS to arrive, no lines and no hassles. Books will continue to sell – just not under the old publishing and distribution business model. Now that’s an 21st Century experience!

But if digital books aren't your thing, don't worry, the Borders in Columbia is not on the list of store closures.