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Even though you can store hundreds of books on your Ebook Reader or Kindle, nothing beats holding an old paper book and sifting through the pages while drinking a nice cup of tea.
It appears that the pendulum is swinging back in the favor of paper-printed mediums, seeing how used bookstores are on the rise as ebook sale speeds slow down. Even if most bookstores failed to maintain themselves afloat in the current market, being overthrown completely by digital books, some are starting to feel the hints of a slow resurgence.
Used bookstores are not just a simple store that offers its customers books at cheap prices. In our present day, they have become more akin to a cultural hub instead of a run-of-the-mill store. This somewhat interesting aspect has helped some of them resist through the years, in some cases remaining the only paper book outlets in a city. If that is the case, it is to no surprise that along with the printed media’s slow increase in popularity, their sale numbers and income have increased as well.
When compared to Amazon, these used bookstores have much cheaper prices and offer something that their web-based counterpart does not. People can easily browse through each and every book on display, not just some random pages selected by the retailer. In some cases, you can even read the book right there, if the store in question has a reading area.
In addition to this, profit margins of used books are also much higher than new books. This has even made some indie stores that sell newly printed books to add a used section in order to boost profits. But not everything is fine and dandy for used bookstores.
Ease of access is one of the most important factors when discussing on the longevity of this type of bookstore. Because of its online medium, Amazon towers significantly over brick-and-mortar book retailers. Store location and good management are also extremely important in this regard.
But used bookstore managers have decided to do something that their new book counterparts despise. They advertise their merchandise on Amazon. By gaining this increase in marketing potential, owners have seen how more and more customers arrive at their doors with each passing year.
A diverse inventory also helps in maintaining the business afloat. Even if most people do not want to part with their books when moving to another house or other similar circumstances, used bookstore still welcome them with open arms. In some cases, former book owners can still come by the store and read their favorite book until it is eventually sold.
At reading events or while simply browsing, you can socialize with people that are interested in the same subjects as you. A few used bookstores have even opened small coffee shop-like parts outside, at which people can sit and enjoy a hearty conversation while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea.
The constant ebb and flow of the media market, be it printed or online, can be easily seen if one would look at how used bookstores are on the rise as ebook sale speeds slow down. If one day, printed media will regain its now decade-old level of towering above digital media, only time will tell. But at this time, odds of this happening are pretty low.
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