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Originally Posted by darryl
Clearly I do not assume that the people who do frequent such events are like me, since I basically don't attend such events. Nevertheless I am very glad that they continue to have the opportunity to pursue what interests them. Some surviving bookstores do indeed tout this social engagement as integral to their relative success, though I have not come across any hard data to support or explain this, or for that matter to quantify it. Are there only a few areas this approach works, or is there a magic formula for success?
My point is that this social function is not something which is peculiar only to bookstores, nor are bookstores peculiarly suited to do it to the exclusion of all others. Nor do I think it is a worthwhile marketing tactic for a bookstore in all but a few areas. Certainly in many areas a library with sufficient copies of a book available to borrow at no cost would be far more attractive than a bookstore trying to flog as many full priced hardback new releases as they could.
It is interesting that your local libraries are not filling this role. I suspect that if these social bookshops were to meet their demise, the libraries may well step in if there is sufficient demand. They may do so anyway, as the role of the library has, as discussed, changed significantly and continues to change. Libraries becoming social hubs are peculiarly suitable to social activities such as book clubs, author signings and the like.
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There is never a major formula that works in all areas.
I suspect in areas where bookstores don't meet the need, book clubs would simply start meeting in coffee shops and the like. Individual libraries rarely carry that many individual copies of a given book. Libraries are downsizing, not expanding in this area. Atlanta was considering selling the main library building and the library budget has been going down. A lot of cities in the US have budget issues. Why that is so is a political question.
My main point is that successful businesses find a lot of ways to bring in customers. They identify and fill needs. If a book club can bring customers into the store, then it's something worth trying. My karate school is constantly doing events to keep customers coming back. It also has multiple revenue streams and is on the look out for new trends. That's how you survive 20+ years in a business where many schools struggle to stay in business. For a bookstore to stay in business, they have to give the customers reasons to get in the car and drive over rather than just order the book online. Those reasons tend to be more social and experience than price.