Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Holiday Shopping
| It’s holiday season, which means crunch time for bookstores everywhere. It’s also a great chance for all of us who love independent bookstores to give the most important support possible - buying books.
Below are links to some of the best bookstores in the country. If you love the idea of independents, please shop at your local bookstore. If you don’t have a favorite local store, try one of these. I'm not encouraging rampant consumerism, but why be a tiny fraction of Amazon’s 4th quarter profits when you can be the customer a bookseller remembers as having ordered from across the country? All of the below stores have robust online ordering capabilities. They’re all actively seeking out online orders to help boost their sales. It’s a short list, feel free to add your favorite bookstore website in the comments section. Give ‘em a try. Harry W. Schwartz Milwaukee, WI www.schwartzbooks.com Schwartz has a great charity donation program. When you sign up for their free membership club, you choose from a list of about fifteen different local organizations. The bookstore donates a percentage of each of your purchases. They have one of the best email newsletter designs I’ve ever seen. Lots of seasonal graphics and colors, great book and event info. Brookline Booksmith Brookline, MA This is a supercool page of recommendations for many gift categories: www.BrooklineBooksmith.com Gift recommendations Their newsletter person is very active and creates a dialogue between her and the reader. Tattered Cover Denver, CO www.tatteredcover.com This is just my favorite bookstore in the whole, wide world. I get all gooey and aw shucks thinking about this place. I wish every city in America had a bookstore as wonderful as Tattered Cover. Four floors, big wooden banisters, world-class author events, library-green carpet, antique comfortable chairs and couches. Ok, I’ll stop now. The newsletter is great at getting store info across quickly. These stores are smaller shops where your order will really make a difference. Liberty Bay Books Poulsbo, WA www.libertybaybooks.com Suzanne Droppert runs a great shop filled with personal recommendations and unusual finds. St. Helens Book Shop St. Helens, OR www.sthelensbookshop.com Luanne Kreutzer’s store supports local Oregon authors, including signed copies from Chuck Palahniuk. A Room of One’s Own Madison, WI www.roomofonesown.com This is my local store. A great feminist bookstore on Madison’s State Street. They’ve expanded their selection to take over some of the void left when Canterbury closed earlier this year. Big Hat Books Indianapolis, IN www.bighatbooks.com This will be the store’s first Christmas. Elizabeth Houghton Barden’s store is less than two months old and already becoming a community hub. Beautiful wood bookcases and fixtures, smart selection of titles, and experienced employees. |
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