Small businesses vs. big.

[libertango]

Avenue Victor Hugo, a book shop in Boston, is closing.

I, like many, hate to see an independent book shop close. And I can appreciate fond memories.

But, boy, there's an essay on the linked page about the "Twelve reasons for the death of small and independent book stores" -- eg, everyone in the world except the Noble and Put-upon Shop Owners -- and it's a bitter pill.

Especially since it's right above what I suspect is the real reason they're no longer competitive: "Our hours are Monday through Saturday 10-8 and Sunday 12-8."

Given that the average chain shop is usually open until 11pm, that's a minimum of 21 hours a week of business where AVH just can't be bothered to take my custom. In a university town. And I'll bet the rest of Newbury St. doesn't roll up the sidewalks at 8pm. Which would mean they'd be closed while other businesses around them are open... what a message to send to customers, eh? (I'd be glad to be corrected on this.)

In my own experience, I'd compare this to Cliff's Books, in Pasadena, Calif. Cliff's not only is open 'til midnight seven days a week, it has 250,000 items compared to AVH's 100K... and, oh yes, it opened in the early 1990's, right when the chain stores were blossoming.

And, what a surprise, Powell's is open 'til 11pm.

My point is that those book stores that can be bothered to actually compete do quite well. Those that don't, don't.

Comments

[cluefairy-j.livejournal.com]

Actually, most of the stores on Newbury St. do close early. Restaurants, Virgin Records (at the end of Newbury St.) and Ben & Jerry's stay open later than 8p.m. on Newbury St.. But for the most part, Newbury St. is like shopping in Europe, where the hours aren't 24x7. Where you can sleep in on a Saturday morning, have breakfast, and then commence your shopping activities. All for an expensive price, of course. :-)

The american lifestyle is 24x7 now, people choose not only bookstores that are open 24x7, but restaurants, clothing stores, etc. We're not used to being told "No". And I think that has contributed to the small, independent store owner plight, too.