What do we love about indie bookstores?
Indie Bookstore Day is right around the corner and we can’t wait to celebrate all the things that make indie bookstores special. To make a list of the things we love, we asked our team what their favorite things are.
Keep reading to see what we think is so great about indie bookstores and head over to this Instagram post to tell us your favorite things.
“The smell of books, the eye candy of tempting covers, and the chance to eavesdrop on book chatter that might lead to an unexpected new find!” - Melissa
“Community! So many of the people in my life are people I met through Old Town Books. Whether they’re weekly visitors, book club members, or mainstays at our events, my life is full of book-loving besties now.” - Lane
“Can I say dogs? Because honestly, getting to know dogs by name is a highlight Amazon for sure doesn’t give you.” - Kim
“I love when customers find the perfect match with a book – and this goes for me visiting independent bookstores as well!” - Kathryn
“Shelf talkers! I love to walk around and read what booksellers at other stores are loving. The more personality-filled, the better!” - Leah
“Helping people find a new beloved read! Whether it’s because they saw it in a post on our Instagram, happened upon a shelf talker that really spoke to them while browsing, or asked one of us for a recommendation, it’s always nice to see how people of all ages light up when they find a new book they’re excited about.” - Robyn
“Getting to connect with strangers – there’s nothing I love more than hopping out from behind the counter to gab with someone about a book, or having someone join into a conversation because they couldn’t resist telling you about their favorite read! I always leave a shift with new friends. Also, I second what Kim said about dogs – many of my favorite customers are four-legged.” - Isa
“The peace of mind that comes with knowing everybody in the space loves the same thing as you, so you can nerd out. Also, I love how niche one’s reading can get in an indie. You’re not just bombarded with buzzy titles and bestsellers.” - Kai
“All of what everyone already said, but also the fun non-book/gift merch that indies curate is 🧑🍳😘. Stickers, journals, candles, etc. – bookish, funny and often representative of indie personality.” - Anna
“For me, it’s the depth of conversation and empathy that I’m grateful to experience with customers and colleagues. What often begins with discussing a book leads to a deeper exchange about loss, disappointment, fear, joy or hope. It’s really a gift to connect with others beyond a shallow transaction. You can’t get this shopping on Amazon! And the dogs, too.” - Sarah
“Tailored book recs! I can always count on an indie bookseller to introduce me to a new author or title I’ve never heard of, but that somehow perfectly suits my taste.” - Su
“I love being excited to come to work!! I love being able to read arcs – giving new authors their flowers, and getting a sneak peek at upcoming works from old favorites – and I love being the person in the friend group everyone texts when they need help finding their next read.” - Blair
“The daily reminder that people are still passionate about books and stories despite what modern media would lead us to believe.” - Maeve