Over at Bookgasm Rod Lott has posted his list of "The 9 Most Annoying People I Always See at the Bookstore.""I think the real reason behind the booksellers' declining fortunes is due to the people who crap in their public bathrooms. And who sit on the floor in the sci-fi section. And who go there to "study." says Lott.The 9 offenders are:Coffee DrinkersDumpersOverly Eager EmployeesFirst-TimersAisle SittersCouch SittersStudy GroupsHalitosis Checkout GuyOl' WhistlenoseLott deals with each of these in depth.I would add a few others:The Cell Phoners- People who have no clue that their private life is of little interest to fellow...
The Dark Side of Seattle’s Rise in the Publishing World
Is there a downside to Seattle's anointment as one of the most influential cities in the publishing world?Julie Bick's recent piece in the New York Times Book Lovers Ask, What's Seattle's Secret? paints only a partial picture of the effect the new bookselling triumvirate; Amazon-Starbucks- Costco, has had on the world of publishing and its "increasing influence of what America reads."There is no doubting the merits of Seattle as a literary town, books and book culture have played a significant role in the city's rise from an outpost to a leading 21st century city but there is doubt as to...
Bauman Rare Books Bets on Vegas
Last week it was announced that the Reading Room at Mandalay Bay, the last independent bookstore in Las Vegas, was closing its doors. This week word comes that Bauman Rare Books, one of the preeminent antiquarian booksellers, is opening a store at Shoppes at the Palazzo. The Palazzo is home to some of the world's premier luxury brands and Bauman is hoping to fit right in.Those of you who read the Book Review section of the Sunday New York Times are familiar with Bauman's frequent back page ad offering various hi-spots of collectible books.They might be the only bookseller with...
The Cassidy 18: A Bookseller Reflects on His First Year
A little over year ago Brian Cassidy took over the Cannery Row Old Book Co. in Monterey, California and set up shop.His recent blog post 18 Things I've Learned This Year (Or: 2007, A Bookseller’s Year in Review) is packed with little nuggets of bookselling wisdom and is a must read (and comprehend) for anyone who thinks that the bookselling life might be for them.The Cassidy 18:1) I will never run out of books. Never. There are always more books to be bought.2) A corollary: There are always more GOOD books to be bought. If I feel like I’m not...
Books Thriving: Online and Off
A new study released from Nielsen touts that 41% of all internet purchases worldwide were for books, an increase of 7% in the last two years and the number of people who shop online has grown 40% in the same two years.“Some of the biggest buyers of books on the Internet are from developing countries—China, Brazil, Vietnam and Egypt—indicating massive growth potential for online retailers that can specifically target these fast-growing markets" says Jonathan Carson of Nielsen Online.Here at home books made up 38% of all online purchases.While sales climb online sales at brick and mortar bookstores were up in...