#LoveYourBookstore – A Movement That Needs You

Physical bookstores need the love and support from the communities they serve and from the book publishing industry they keep in business.  As the holiday season nears, one book publisher took action to gather attention for brick and mortar bookstores.

The publisher and CEO of Sourcebooks, Dominique Raccah, along with steering committee members Publishers Weekly President George Slovik, Jr., Children’s Book Council Executive Director Carl Lennertz, and Anderson’s Bookshops Owner Becky Anderson, formed www.LoveYourBookstore.com.

They ask that everyone – authors, publisher, fans – celebrate with local bookstores during the Nov. 10-16 week, by going to the bookstore and taking a photo of the book you are most excited to gift this holiday season.  Post it on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with the hashtag #loveyourbookstore and you’ll enter a contest to win bookish prizes.

The idea of starting a united campaign to support bookstores is not new but it’s very much needed.  The industry lacks a central spokesperson, mascot, or promotable voice. Yes, the American Booksellers Association and other trade groups champion bookstores, but we all need to play a part in speaking up for our concrete book palaces – or risk their closures.

Perhaps this initiative would benefit from a few other steps, such as:

·         The site should include a widget so that one can locate a bookstore near them.

·         The site should provide clear reasons as to why bookstores are important and what we can do to support them.

·         Bookstores should hold event during  that week to celebrate books, their stores, and the role consumers cans have in shaping our book landscape.

·         Bookstores should offer special discounts during Nov. 10-16.

·         Chambers of Commerce should work with local bookstores to give them a needed boost.

·         A concerted effort needs to be made to reach those who don’t understand that giving Amazon all of their book business is a danger and a mistake.

·         Create a contest and have people submit an answer to: Why do you love your bookstore?

I certainly hope #loveyourbookstore takes off.  Start now by using the hashtag in your social media posts. Run to the bookstore – buy something for yourself and for others.  You do a good deed in the process.

“Bookstores are special places, full of the smell of new books, browsing the shelves for your next great read, booksellers you know you can count on for great, personal recommendations, a community you know will be open and welcoming.

‘We know that booksellers help readers discover and share the magic of books.  They are dedicated to helping you find the book you need—the book that could change your life.  When they recommend a book to you, they are genuinely looking to make a connection and create an experience for you.”

--www.LoveYourBookstore.com

Please feel free to join me on LinkedIn --https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum/.

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Brian Feinblum’s insightful views, provocative opinions, and interesting ideas expressed in this terrific blog are his alone and not that of his employer or anyone else. You can – and should -- follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels much more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2018. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s Independent.  This was named one of the best book marketing blogs by Book Baby http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. Also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America and participated in a PR panel at the Sarah Lawrence College Writers Institute Conference.