With the seemingly continuous expansion of theChapters/Indigo bookstore chain and the consequent closures of long-established independent booksellers, one is left to question Canada’s book industry. Indeed, the future of indie booksellers looks bleak. The Montreal Gazette recently lamented that “hardly a week goes by without a bookstore closing somewhere in Canada”, and the reality of this statement is depressing but true.
Within the last year alone, four notable and influential Toronto bookstores closed its doors:Ballenford Books closed March 2008 after 29 years of operation, David Mirvish Books closed January 2009 after 25 years, Pages Bookstore closed August 2009 after 30 years, and Type Books Danforth closed September 2009 after a meagre year of business. Unfortunately, this trend is not isolated to Toronto alone, as indie booksellers all over Canada have been closing shop. Though there are not many, however, there are still a couple of new and successful booksellers thriving in this tough industry.McNally Robinson – a large, independent chain store near Don Mills – opened this past April and is doing fairly well. McNally presents a similar lounge-like atmosphere to Indigo, is beautifully furnished, extremely large, and gives their side-shop business to independent restaurant owners rather than Starbucks chain stores. Further south,Ben McNally Books opened just two years ago, yet successfully attracts the high-brow literary crowd by hosting events, readings and awards shows.
The bookselling industry leaves much to be asked, but boils down to one question (at least in my mind): Is bookselling still a viable and worthwhile business for entrepreneurs? At this time of transition, as we’re in the midst of a bookstore-monopoly and the eReader rise, it’s hard to know. Perhaps the book gods only favour indie stores with the “McNally” name tagged on somewhere.
All joking aside, after the first major question is asked, consequent questions arise. Why does Indigo persist where independent bookstores fail? Is it the sheer scope and size of Indigo that gives it an advantage? Or is it something else? Perhaps buyers simply prefer the Indigo chain and, like many other commodities, prefer the familiar experience the brand name offers. I personally can’t tell and unfortunately no immediate answers attend my questions.
As a result of this confusion, let’s attempt to clear it all up here on LiL. What do you think? Would you give your business to Chapters or to an Indie bookstore? As an added bonus, if you have the time or interest, feel free to go that extra mile and let us know WHY in the comments below.
With the seemingly continuous expansion of theChapters/Indigo bookstore chain and the consequent closures of long-established independent booksellers, one is left to question Canada’s book industry. Indeed, the future of indie booksellers looks bleak. The Montreal Gazette recently lamented that “hardly a week goes by without a bookstore closing somewhere in Canada”, and the reality of this statement is depressing but true.
Within the last year alone, four notable and influential Toronto bookstores closed its doors:Ballenford Books closed March 2008 after 29 years of operation, David Mirvish Books closed January 2009 after 25 years, Pages Bookstore closed August 2009 after 30 years, and Type Books Danforth closed September 2009 after a meagre year of business. Unfortunately, this trend is not isolated to Toronto alone, as indie booksellers all over Canada have been closing shop. Though there are not many, however, there are still a couple of new and successful booksellers thriving in this tough industry.McNally Robinson – a large, independent chain store near Don Mills – opened this past April and is doing fairly well. McNally presents a similar lounge-like atmosphere to Indigo, is beautifully furnished, extremely large, and gives their side-shop business to independent restaurant owners rather than Starbucks chain stores. Further south,Ben McNally Books opened just two years ago, yet successfully attracts the high-brow literary crowd by hosting events, readings and awards shows.
The bookselling industry leaves much to be asked, but boils down to one question (at least in my mind): Is bookselling still a viable and worthwhile business for entrepreneurs? At this time of transition, as we’re in the midst of a bookstore-monopoly and the eReader rise, it’s hard to know. Perhaps the book gods only favour indie stores with the “McNally” name tagged on somewhere.
All joking aside, after the first major question is asked, consequent questions arise. Why does Indigo persist where independent bookstores fail? Is it the sheer scope and size of Indigo that gives it an advantage? Or is it something else? Perhaps buyers simply prefer the Indigo chain and, like many other commodities, prefer the familiar experience the brand name offers. I personally can’t tell and unfortunately no immediate answers attend my questions.
As a result of this confusion, let’s attempt to clear it all up here on LiL. What do you think? Would you give your business to Chapters or to an Indie bookstore? As an added bonus, if you have the time or interest, feel free to go that extra mile and let us know WHY in the comments below.
With the seemingly continuous expansion of theChapters/Indigo bookstore chain and the consequent closures of long-established independent booksellers, one is left to question Canada’s book industry. Indeed, the future of indie booksellers looks bleak. The Montreal Gazette recently lamented that “hardly a week goes by without a bookstore closing somewhere in Canada”, and the reality of this statement is depressing but true.
Within the last year alone, four notable and influential Toronto bookstores closed its doors:Ballenford Books closed March 2008 after 29 years of operation, David Mirvish Books closed January 2009 after 25 years, Pages Bookstore closed August 2009 after 30 years, and Type Books Danforth closed September 2009 after a meagre year of business. Unfortunately, this trend is not isolated to Toronto alone, as indie booksellers all over Canada have been closing shop. Though there are not many, however, there are still a couple of new and successful booksellers thriving in this tough industry.McNally Robinson – a large, independent chain store near Don Mills – opened this past April and is doing fairly well. McNally presents a similar lounge-like atmosphere to Indigo, is beautifully furnished, extremely large, and gives their side-shop business to independent restaurant owners rather than Starbucks chain stores. Further south,Ben McNally Books opened just two years ago, yet successfully attracts the high-brow literary crowd by hosting events, readings and awards shows.
The bookselling industry leaves much to be asked, but boils down to one question (at least in my mind): Is bookselling still a viable and worthwhile business for entrepreneurs? At this time of transition, as we’re in the midst of a bookstore-monopoly and the eReader rise, it’s hard to know. Perhaps the book gods only favour indie stores with the “McNally” name tagged on somewhere.
All joking aside, after the first major question is asked, consequent questions arise. Why does Indigo persist where independent bookstores fail? Is it the sheer scope and size of Indigo that gives it an advantage? Or is it something else? Perhaps buyers simply prefer the Indigo chain and, like many other commodities, prefer the familiar experience the brand name offers. I personally can’t tell and unfortunately no immediate answers attend my questions.
As a result of this confusion, let’s attempt to clear it all up here on LiL. What do you think? Would you give your business to Chapters or to an Indie bookstore? As an added bonus, if you have the time or interest, feel free to go that extra mile and let us know WHY in the comments below.
With the seemingly continuous expansion of theChapters/Indigo bookstore chain and the consequent closures of long-established independent booksellers, one is left to question Canada’s book industry. Indeed, the future of indie booksellers looks bleak. The Montreal Gazette recently lamented that “hardly a week goes by without a bookstore closing somewhere in Canada”, and the reality of this statement is depressing but true.
Within the last year alone, four notable and influential Toronto bookstores closed its doors:Ballenford Books closed March 2008 after 29 years of operation, David Mirvish Books closed January 2009 after 25 years, Pages Bookstore closed August 2009 after 30 years, and Type Books Danforth closed September 2009 after a meagre year of business. Unfortunately, this trend is not isolated to Toronto alone, as indie booksellers all over Canada have been closing shop. Though there are not many, however, there are still a couple of new and successful booksellers thriving in this tough industry.McNally Robinson – a large, independent chain store near Don Mills – opened this past April and is doing fairly well. McNally presents a similar lounge-like atmosphere to Indigo, is beautifully furnished, extremely large, and gives their side-shop business to independent restaurant owners rather than Starbucks chain stores. Further south,Ben McNally Books opened just two years ago, yet successfully attracts the high-brow literary crowd by hosting events, readings and awards shows.
The bookselling industry leaves much to be asked, but boils down to one question (at least in my mind): Is bookselling still a viable and worthwhile business for entrepreneurs? At this time of transition, as we’re in the midst of a bookstore-monopoly and the eReader rise, it’s hard to know. Perhaps the book gods only favour indie stores with the “McNally” name tagged on somewhere.
All joking aside, after the first major question is asked, consequent questions arise. Why does Indigo persist where independent bookstores fail? Is it the sheer scope and size of Indigo that gives it an advantage? Or is it something else? Perhaps buyers simply prefer the Indigo chain and, like many other commodities, prefer the familiar experience the brand name offers. I personally can’t tell and unfortunately no immediate answers attend my questions.
As a result of this confusion, let’s attempt to clear it all up here on LiL. What do you think? Would you give your business to Chapters or to an Indie bookstore? As an added bonus, if you have the time or interest, feel free to go that extra mile and let us know WHY in the comments below.
