Richard AgamaThe independent bookstore is a long-heralded oasis for bookworms, hipsters, and folks looking for a quiet place to sip their overpriced lattes. Maybe the satisfying sounds of a fresh hard-back binding cracking open for the first time draw us in. Or perhaps, the promise of a serene atmosphere is what we find most appealing about these shops.
Either way, they’ve stood the test of time. So something about them must be worth keeping. With that said, the game is changing. Attracting customers to your independent bookshop isn’t as simple as it used to be.
Luckily, we’ve created a list of practical strategies that can help you keep the customers rolling into your extraordinary, bookish oasis.
E-Commerce Websites Are All the Rage
It’s no secret that we’re living in an era where digital marketing is a must for most businesses. Bookshops are no exception to this rule, either. If you want to compete with the likes of the enormous online-ordering market, you’ll have to build and operate an e-commerce site of your own.
Fortunately, plenty of user-friendly third-party services help you create an ideal site to showcase and sell your books and other products. When you start building your site, you’ll want to keep the following things in mind regarding its design:
- User-friendliness (is it easy to navigate?)
- On-brand design (do the colors palettes, layouts, and content fit your brand?)
- Convenience features (do you have online ordering and payment systems?)
Considering and implementing these things into your e-commerce website will help you attract customers through the digital realms.
Diversify Your Marketplace and Make Friends
As an independent bookshop, diversifying your marketplace and making friends is imperative to drawing customers in. These days, diversifying where you sell is also relatively simple. After all, there are tons of options available to you.
There are online resources that allow you to sell your books among an entire database of other indie shops. This is great for expanding your marketplace. Plus, it can help you compete with the enormous online booksellers making it a bit tougher for the little guy. Further, it’s wise to make as many friends as you can.
That is to say, partnering with complementary businesses—like the coffeehouse across the street—is an excellent way to attract more customers. Plus, if you agree to promote each other’s establishments, you’ll support another small business while doing something great for your own.
Create a Unique and Personal In-Store Experience
Sometimes the best thing you can do to attract customers is create a unique and personal in-store experience. After all, if we’re being honest, our favorite bookshops are the ones that have cozy lounging or study areas, Wi-Fi, and even a built-in pastry and coffee bar.
Thus, if you want to set your shop apart from the rest for the patrons who walk past it daily, you’ll offer them some or all of these things. Customers also love loyalty rewards and gift cards—especially regarding books. So setting up a gift card system might be worth considering.
In short, indie bookshops are still alive and thriving. But how you attract customers to one has to evolve if you want to keep it that way. Luckily, with these methods, doing so should be pretty straightforward.
The independent bookstore is a long-heralded oasis for bookworms, hipsters, and folks looking for a quiet place to sip their overpriced lattes. Maybe the satisfying sounds of a fresh hard-back binding cracking open for the first time draw us in. Or perhaps, the promise of a serene atmosphere is what we find most appealing about these shops.
Either way, they’ve stood the test of time. So something about them must be worth keeping. With that said, the game is changing. Attracting customers to your independent bookshop isn’t as simple as it used to be.
Luckily, we’ve created a list of practical strategies that can help you keep the customers rolling into your extraordinary, bookish oasis.
E-Commerce Websites Are All the Rage
It’s no secret that we’re living in an era where digital marketing is a must for most businesses. Bookshops are no exception to this rule, either. If you want to compete with the likes of the enormous online-ordering market, you’ll have to build and operate an e-commerce site of your own.
Fortunately, plenty of user-friendly third-party services help you create an ideal site to showcase and sell your books and other products. When you start building your site, you’ll want to keep the following things in mind regarding its design:
- User-friendliness (is it easy to navigate?)
- On-brand design (do the colors palettes, layouts, and content fit your brand?)
- Convenience features (do you have online ordering and payment systems?)
Considering and implementing these things into your e-commerce website will help you attract customers through the digital realms.
Diversify Your Marketplace and Make Friends
As an independent bookshop, diversifying your marketplace and making friends is imperative to drawing customers in. These days, diversifying where you sell is also relatively simple. After all, there are tons of options available to you.
There are online resources that allow you to sell your books among an entire database of other indie shops. This is great for expanding your marketplace. Plus, it can help you compete with the enormous online booksellers making it a bit tougher for the little guy. Further, it’s wise to make as many friends as you can.
That is to say, partnering with complementary businesses—like the coffeehouse across the street—is an excellent way to attract more customers. Plus, if you agree to promote each other’s establishments, you’ll support another small business while doing something great for your own.
Create a Unique and Personal In-Store Experience
Sometimes the best thing you can do to attract customers is create a unique and personal in-store experience. After all, if we’re being honest, our favorite bookshops are the ones that have cozy lounging or study areas, Wi-Fi, and even a built-in pastry and coffee bar.
Thus, if you want to set your shop apart from the rest for the patrons who walk past it daily, you’ll offer them some or all of these things. Customers also love loyalty rewards and gift cards—especially regarding books. So setting up a gift card system might be worth considering.
In short, indie bookshops are still alive and thriving. But how you attract customers to one has to evolve if you want to keep it that way. Luckily, with these methods, doing so should be pretty straightforward.
