Solidifying Your Bookstore in the Digital Age
Default / 25/05/2021

The digital age struck a major blow to brick-and-mortar bookstores. The number of traditional bookstores, including major chains like Borders, has dwindled over the last decade. Many will point to the rise in popularity of e-readers and Amazon delivery services. In certain respects, a niche, hole-in-the-wall store is a thing of the past. However, smart branding and positioning are key elements that allow stores to keep their lights on despite digital encroachment. Diversifying Your Brick-and-Mortar Bookstore Traditional bookstores are not inherently obsolete. The reality is, printed books and independent stores were thriving as recently as 2017. Some of these stores were even out-performing digital competitors. The result was that even Amazon went as far as to open a brick-and-mortar store to sell their products. There is a market for these stores, but they need to have the right pull. Denver’s BookBar is a bookstore that does it well. The indie bookstore and wine bar married two appealing elements: a bookstore for wine enthusiasts and a wine bar for book shoppers. The store’s niche environment offers a social experience that clients would otherwise miss at home. Combining the two also restores a previously dismissed sense of community through events that connect…