“I sometimes get completely bogus files”admits Didier Grevel, general representative of the Association for the Development of Creative Bookstores, which financially helps booksellers to establish leases, take over or get through a difficult milestone. The latter is very tasty: “The concept of a cuddly therapy book store where the customer could buy books, while petting rabbits… I even got a budget for rabbit litter and food. “he laughs.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, new bookstores have sprung up in France, a country where the network is already one of the tightest on the planet, with nearly 3,500 stores. “Between 2019 and 2023, we counted 574 new bookstores”confirms Guillaume Husson, general representative of the French Bookstore Union (SLF). A phenomenon that has never been seen in its scale, which complements the existing offer, but which the sector sometimes has difficulty integrating due to the risks of saturation and cannibalization.
According to a study commissioned and published in June by the SLF from the consulting company Axiales, the result seems to be very mixed financially for these newcomers. Only 40% of managers who have been open for more than two years are able to pay themselves more than one minimum wage per month and, more worryingly, half of them cannot. With great problems, these new booksellers tend to be misled. They name without a doubt the “weak advantage”, the “workload”but also the “complications arising from the overproduction of books”.
They have spread throughout France, especially in Paris, but also in Brittany, Gironde, Rhône and Bouches-du-Rhône, specifying the study of Axiales. These traders mostly chose small towns. One in five is even in a town with less than 5,000 inhabitants. Didier Grevel tried to discourage couples who made a good living in a big city and dreamed of opening a bookstore a stone’s throw from their second home. Some people didn’t think “They threw themselves from the plane without checking if they had a parachute on their back”he notices. And to add: “But even a great engineer, if he sets up a bookstore in a small town with 1,500 inhabitants, it won’t work.” »
Three quarters of these new stores are general and 25% offer a cafe area, with the hope of mitigating risks. For everyone, the first three years are still the most complicated. In the Xerfi rank in June 2024 on the profitability of fifteen types of established businesses, bookstores appear at the bottom of the pack, in the three of the most profitable (with a net margin of 1.1%), together with florists and shoe merchants.
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2024-11-23 22:00:00
#economy #wire #bookstores #beginning #book #sold #win
* How are independent bookstores leveraging digital technologies and online platforms without compromising the unique experience and community focus that sets them apart from online retailers?
## Open-Ended Questions for Bookstore Owners and Industry Experts:
This article highlights the simultaneous surge and struggle of new bookstores in France. Here are some open-ended questions to encourage discussion and varied perspectives in an interview setting:
**Thematic Section 1: Boom in New Bookstores:**
1. **Why do you think France experienced a surge in new bookstore openings since the pandemic? What factors contributed to this phenomenon despite the challenges facing traditional brick-and-mortar retail?**
2. **The article mentions new bookstores are spreading across both urban and rural areas. Are there specific successful strategies that work better in each setting? How do location choices impact a bookstore’s success?**
3. **What are the motivations and passions driving these new bookstore owners? Are they defying the trend, or fulfilling a specific need in their communities?**
**Thematic Section 2: Financial Challenges and Sustainability:**
1. **Only 40% of new bookstore managers can pay themselves more than the minimum wage. What are the biggest financial hurdles new bookstores face? How could these be overcome?**
2. **The article mentions “overproduction of books” as a challenge. How does this saturation affect independent bookstores, and what strategies can they adopt to differentiate themselves?**
3. **What practical advice would you give to someone considering opening a bookstore today? What are the do’s and don’ts based on your experience?**
**Thematic Section 3: Engaging with Customers and Building Community:**
1. **Many new bookstores feature café areas. How does this approach contribute to their success? What other innovative ways are bookstores connecting with customers and building community?**
2. **How can independent bookstores foster a sense of community and become valued cultural hubs in their neighborhoods? What role can they play in promoting literacy and intellectual exploration?**
3. **Looking to the future, what trends do you see shaping the landscape for bookstores? How can independent bookstores remain relevant and thrive in an evolving world of digital publishing and online retail?**
**Additional Considerations:**
*
Encourage interviewees to share personal experiences, anecdotes, and insights from their own bookstore journeys.
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Explore both the optimistic and pessimistic perspectives on the future of independent bookstores.
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Promote a conversation about the cultural and social value of bookstores beyond their purely commercial aspects.
