Have y'all read this article? As a marketer, there's so many ways indie bookstores can take advantage of their position....

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/despite-decline-mega-bookstore-chains-indie-enjoying-thomas-mitchell/

Well it depends on the market. In an environment with plenty of consumers who read a superstore like B&N can coexist with a good niche indie store.  B&N, as big as they are, can't possibly carry, and be as knowledgeable, in any given genre, as a strong independent bookstore.  Not even Amazon's algorithm (which is profit driven) or their customer reviews (unprofessional and often suspicious) can do what a good bookseller can do.

 

The so-called renaissance in indie stores is a bit premature for those interested in reading books written by Black writers.  Basically Amazon owns the business of selling books written by Black writers, and they do a really good job at pushing the ebooks that they've published and convincing authors it is in their interest to publish with them -- even given Amazon exclusive rights to sell!

 

The reality is that it is much harder for, all but the most popular, Black authors to find an audience today -- despite the so called renaissance in indie stores.  The job of a marketer of books is much more difficult today.