48 Years in Bookselling: Changes, Survival, Thoughts 

Dear Book Lovers, 

We have just finished our yearly inventory – counting all the books is a big job, just ask our staff! This annual count becomes a part of our year end review. A snap shot to give us an over view of where we stand, and to help direct us in the future. What we have come to notice this year is that the sale of physical books has been slipping in response to the advent of the various E-readers now available on the market.  As an independent store in Canada, we have no access to selling E-books at this time. At the moment all we can do is look for some resolution to this issue, but until such time arrives we are effectively shut out from providing this book format to our customers. 

The growth of online sales has been huge. Canadians, as a whole, have embraced the internet shopping mall as no other country has. One study has found that even the most avid independent bookstore fans were making only 4 out of every 10 book purchases at independent stores, with the rest being purchased elsewhere. Our customers often ask us what they can do to ensure Black Bond Books has the ability to remain viable in this new sales frontier, to which we respond, “Please consider taking our ONE BOOK PLEDGE”. We are asking our customers to make one more of your book purchases at Black Bond Books, and one less from Amazon, or elsewhere. We are not asking you to buy all of your books from us, just one more at a Black Bond Books location. In return we will continue to be available with our staff of caring, knowledgeable booksellers to satisfy your reading needs. We work hard to make browsing and shopping in our stores a pleasurable experience offering special events, author signings, informational seminars, as well as our commitment to our “Feed the Mind” initiative promoting literacy through our associations with local food banks. We offer a personal experience in what seems to becoming a rather impersonal point and click world. It is only through your support that we can continue to remain an integral part of our communities.  

We are so thankful, and appreciative of you, our most valued customers. Black Bond Books is entering its 48th year of bookselling. The changes lately have been at a dizzying pace. Your help is our first step in the quest for continued longevity. 

Sincerely, 

Cathy, Mel and all the Booksellers at Black Bond Books