It's the Little Extras That Allow Indie Booksellers to Compete with Amazon

I stumbled upon a great article this morning from The Telegraph UK discussing independent bookstores, namely how, in a world of disappearing bookstores and immediate Amazon eBook downloads, independent booksellers can remain competitive and relevant. The article, titled "You Can't Get This Book From Amazon," points out that it is the little extras that booksellers include with their books that really make them stand out from Amazon.

"It would have been understandable had booksellers held up their hands and surrendered. But booksellers are made of sterner stuff...They have the missionary’s zeal to unite people with the books they know they are going to enjoy reading. Such people have a vocation, and people with vocations do not give up easily--they fight back.

One of the ways in which they can fight back is to give the customer something more than just the book itself. My publishers recently asked me to write something extra that booksellers could give away with my new novel, Trains and Lovers.

You can read the full article here.

Looking for some quick ideas for things to include with books? Check out our full page of shelf talkers, stuffers, and other downloads, or sign up for our New Moon Newsletter (shelf talkers and stuffers are included in each issue).