From The Bookseller:
The number of independent bookshops in the UK has fallen for the 11th year in a row, according to the Booksellers Association’s annual membership figures, but the rate of closure has slowed.
Indie bookshop numbers have almost halved in the past 11 years, according to the figures: in 2005 there were 1,535 independents and in 2017 there were 867, down from 894 in 2016. Thirty-two independents closed in 2016 and a further 16 did not renew their BA membership. However, 21 new indies opened, bringing the year’s net loss to 27.
A cocktail of pressures are responsible for the closure of indie bookshops, including rising business rates and rent (recently cited as the reason for the closure of The Theatre Bookshop in central London, which said its rent had risen 200%), competition from e-books and online retailers, and the rising popularity of other entertainment forms, such as Netflix and gaming.
. . . .
Libreria, from tech-firm accelerator Second Home’s Rohan Silva and Sam Aldenton, opened in east London’s Hanbury Street. Designed by Spanish design firm SelgasCano, it banned the use of phones in-store and stays open 24 hours a day on occasions to “play to the insomniac crowd”.
Link to the rest at The Bookseller
From the OP:
However, despite optimism around the vibrant new openings, Godfray said that “much more needs to be done” to level the playing field for bookshops in order for them to compete effectively in the marketplace.
Translation: We want the powers-that-be to drag down our competition (i.e., Amazon) to our level. Heaven forbid we should raise our own game by providing unique services and goods, thereby demonstrating our flexibility in a changing marketplace.
“Designed by Spanish design firm SelgasCano, it banned the use of phones in-store and stays open 24 hours a day on occasions to “play to the insomniac crowd”.”
So, paying extra to keep the lights and warm bodies there 24/7 with a sign at the door saying; ‘If you live on your phones — we don’t want your business’. All they need is some shrink wrap so buyers won’t trying looking at the books before paying for them.