Title: Bookstore Tourism

Author: Larry Portzlin 

ISBN 0975893408

Genre: General Non-Fiction/Literary 

The following review was contributed by: Paul Lappen -CLICK TO VIEW>>>>Paul Lappen's Reviews

  Bookstore Tourism is a new way to help independent
  bookstores by marketing them as tourist destinations
  and encouraging booklovers to plan bus trips to towns
  with unique bookstores. Instead of, for instance,
  taking a bus trip to the Statue of Liberty, why not
  take a trip to the bookstores in Greenwich Village?
 
  The book looks at the present situation for the
  independent bookstore. The news is not very good.
  While some store are able to survive, even thrive,
  more stores are closing every day. There are a number
  of reasons, including the coming of the chains, the
  economy, skyrocketing rents and the internet. Another
  problem is the sheer number of new books published,
  reaching 175,000 in 2003 from over 78,000 publishers.
 
  What can indie bookstores do to survive? First and
  foremost, customer service is everything. Selling used
  books creates more profit than new books. Get creative
  with entertainment and special events. Consider a
  makeover of the decor to find that balance between fun
  and functional. Including a cafe encourages customers
  to linger and buy more books. Get involved in the
  community. Perhaps shrinking the store is the way to
  go. Cross promote with neighboring businesses.
 
  The book also explores the mechanics of setting up a
  bookstore tour. Included are things like making sure
  that the destination stores are still there, anyone
  can plan a bookstore trip, handling reservations, the
  best day to go, the best kind of transportation,
  seeing if the destination stores will hold special
  events during your trip, where to eat, things to do
  while in transit, publicizing the trip and dealing
  with the bus company, among many others.
 
  Bookstore tourism is a wonderful idea (anything that
  helps independent bookstores is a wonderful idea) and
  this is an excellent book that ended much too soon. I
  really enjoying reading it. The author mentions that
  more books on independent bookstores are planned in
  the future. I can't wait.