Boston is one of the main battlefields of the epic book superstore vs. indie bookstore battle that currently rages through America. Bostonist assumes that this is the case because this town is perhaps the only place where the indies have a fair shot at winning - people in Boston do love the high-brow experience of an indie bookstore, particularly if they can throw around a few snooty comments about how much they prefer the indies to the chains. Harvard Book Store and Brookline Booksmith - the two Boston stalwarts indies - seem to be faring rather well against their behemoth neighbors, while the last few years has seen the closing of Wordworth, Globe Corner Bookshop (to reopen soon at 90 Mt. Auburn in Harvard Square), and Tatnuck in Worcester.
So Bostonist was intrigued to see the article in Slate this morning in which Tyler Cowen proposes that there's nothing that special about indie bookstores apart from their customer service and cozy atmosphere. (Um, duh?) Cowen is an econ professor and thereby most likely does not have feelings, so we have to take his “I'm-a-capitalist-hear-me-roar” piece with a grain of salt, but he comes uncomfortably close to the nail's head when he points out that indie bookstores are just as profit-driven (and sometimes cutthroat) as their superstore neighbors. Harvard Book Store, after all, has the Frequent Buyer Card, which fits nicely in your wallet next to your CVS card, Stop&Shop card, and other mass consumer cards. And Brookline Booksmith is giving away a plasma tv at an author event this week, albeit due to a publisher's mandate. Perhaps Cowen is right, and even indie bookstores are shamelessly out for your money, or perhaps these poor noble enterprises are just trying to survive. Either way, perhaps you should take your halo down a notch when you walk into an indie.
Post contributed by Janet Potter
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I am still loyal to my Brookline Booksmith, despite the fact of a free plasma TV giveaway. They always have the best author events in the area, a basement full of used books, and I just stocked up at their huge sale of cards/gift stuff. Can you tell I like this place? Perhaps I should take on another part-time job working at the Booksmith...
Isn't this more of a "locally owned business" question? Given the length of Remembrance of Things Past, is fifteen bucks really that much to pay? Is there a time when I should have my halo turned up a notch?
These and other questions at 8 o'clock, following extensive coverage of the weather...
Why would this be about halos? Profit isn't a bad thing. How does a business survive if it doesn't make a profit? No, it's about who's making the profit - some behemouth, headless monster of a conglomerate that lives in some castle in Wyoming, or some regular people living in your own area. I choose the regular folk any old day. Otherwise, one day we'll all be working (or not) for the same company...
yeah, of course indie bookstores are out for money. There are two main differences though:
1. Selection - Borders/B&N tends to have a cookie cutter approach to books. If you can find it in Ann Arbor, you'll probably find it here. The face-outs you see at Borders/B&N that's because there is a contract between the publisher and the store. Or there are directives sent down from the home office telling the store what books to put where.
If you go to some place like Brookline Booksmith, they may have some contracts as well, but they have a really amazing selection of very good books, and tailor their selection to their clientele.
2. As you mentioned the atmosphere is better. Customer service may be better too, maybe they treat their employees better which results in better customer service. Or maybe it is that an indie bookstore doesnt look like every other Borders and B&N you've ever been too. Or maybe it is that Harvard Bookstore and Brookline Booksmith have incredible events with amazing authors.
For me personally, there is something a little soul crushing about the homogenization of bookstores, which should be funky and independent.
[full disclosure: I work at Borders]
I hit this site by googling marimekko and huron village.
>this town is perhaps the only place where the indies have a fair shot at winning -
I definitely think SF has more and more independant bookstores. I was so surprised of the number of barnes and nobles.