France Versus Amazon: Who Will Win?

The French government is passing a law requiring a minimum shipping fee, hoping to help independent bookshops survive the dominance of Amazon and other big retailers. In 2021, France was busy fighting global commerce giants in the middle of the pandemic. This time, they were coming to the defense of the local independent bookshop. The … Read more

The Sensory, The Cluttery, The Bookery

While perusing the charming downtown streets of Lexington, Virginia, I found it very easy to get lost in the magical little town. Littered with small businesses, restaurants, and eccentric stores, Lexington is the perfect home to the small independent bookstore, The Bookery. Seated comfortably between the Lexington Pet Place and the Mountain City Masonic Lodge, … Read more

Independent Bookstores Are Indispensable

“It’s so much cheaper.” “Books just arrive faster when I order online.” “I don’t feel like leaving the house.” All these are commonly expressed phrases by those who routinely purchase from online booksellers, such as Amazon, Target, and many other large, corporate stores that are able to drop the prices of books and ship them … Read more

Bookstores: Refuges of Soul

For readers, walking by a bookstore and not entering is inconceivable. We just can’t bring ourselves to not pass through that door and take in that “bookstore smell.” It’s a real thing the bookstore smell, like a seductive perfume. There’s a mixture of ink, paper, old hardwood floors, and ageless wisdom with a few shakes … Read more

Inside {Pages} a Bookstore

As waves hit the shore nearby, the reader takes one step through the welcoming Dutch double door and enters {pages} a bookstore, a safe haven where troubles are left behind and a hub of literary offerings and activities await. Shelf-talkers call out titles and offer recommendations, enticing readers to try something different. Diverse specialty book … Read more

This Mountain Town Bookshop Is Having an Unexpected New Normal

When he opened Main Street Books in 1988, Fred Powell’s plan was limited to serving the community. He had no experience in writing or publishing nor did he have a love of books greater than any other educated person. He had adopted Frostburg and wanted to start a business that his neighbors said they thought … Read more