After decades of disappearing, indie bookstores bounce back
While many trends in business suggest the brick and mortar store is on its way to extinction, independent bookstores are thriving.
The National Booksellers Association reports a 40 percent growth in "indie" bookstores since 2009 and the small stores continue to raise their sales numbers, posting an increase of 2.6 percent from 2016-2017.
"Yeah, the indie renaissance has really been great. I am proud and excited to be part of it," said Jamie Fiocco who is the owner of Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill.
North Carolina has 74 independent bookstores registered in the National Booksellers Association database -- the 10th highest number in the country.
"I would say that North Carolina is a real powerhouse in indie bookstores," said Fiocco. "The fact that we have some great universities and schools doesn't hurt."
The owners of these stores point to customer service as the big key to the success. The stores hold community events, which often include author readings, and the employees are knowledgeable about the inventory, allowing them to make recommendations and build relationships with customers.
"We have author events, probably 250 a year, sometimes twice a day. We have young adult authors who come and sign their books for people. I mean that's an experience," said Lisa Poole, who owns Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh.
It hasn't always been this way for the indie bookstore. The 1990s and early 2000s were tough for the small businesses with mall bookstores, big-box stores and Amazon all competing for book sales.
"We went through it. There were the B. Daltons and the Waldens in the mall and then they went out of business because the Barnes and Nobles were starting their thing," said Poole.
The struggle of the small bookstore made its way to Hollywood in 1998 with the popular movie "You've Got Mail," which was, in part, the story of a big box store putting a charming local store out of business. Now the small stores seem to have risen from the dead.
"We are trying to overcome that idea of David and Goliath," said Fiocco, who is hoping the success speaks to the power of the Indie bookstore as more than a feel good story.
"I am very proud of what we do here," she said.
