9/12/2023 0 Comments Bookends in kailua![]() Big corporate booksellers only offer books that appeal to many different kinds of people in a wide variety of locations, but we work hard to find books of particular interest to our local audiences,” said Pat Banning, owner of BookEnds, an independent bookstore in Kailua.Īnother big benefit of the indies is they offer their customers the joy of discovery. “We are in touch with what our customers want. On, you can get cheaper books but you have to know what you are looking for. It is a more curated experience and most importantly it is human-to-human contact,” he said. “The book industry, and in particular indies, strongly cater to this and really provide communities with voices, stories and books that fit and meet those needs. Da Shop/Elyse ButlerĭeLuca said today’s demographic of 20 to 50 year olds favors more personalized retail experiences in almost everything they buy from handcrafted lattes to yoga clothes. ![]() Customers browse in Da Shop bookstore in Kaimuki. When Da Shop was launched in 2018, co-owner David DeLuca said he was encouraged to watch other book businesses open on Oahu at about the same time: Bas Bookshop in Chinatown and the nonprofit Friends of the Library, which opened its own used bookshop in Ward Center. More and more independent bookstores started to spring up in Hawaii even before the pandemic, including one in my neighborhood, Da Shop in Kaimuki. “During the pandemic we also saw a renaissance of reading … and a renewed commitment to shop local … both of which increased demand for indie bookstores.” “The loss of life and livelihood that so many experienced during the pandemic has inspired new perspectives for people, inspiring them to finally pursue their dream of work that aligns with their values or that they believe is meaningful to their community,” she said. “People have discovered these formats as a means to enter into the book industry,” Hill said, adding that a shift in values is another reason more people are supporting independent bookstores and opening stores themselves. Retailers also started to experiment with new ways to sell products such as pop-up stores and mobile stores. One reason for the increase is the closure of businesses during the pandemic, leaving behind empty storefronts and good rent deals, Hill said in an email. More than 300 independent bookstores have opened nationwide since the public health crisis began in 2020. That’s according to Allison Hill, the CEO of the American Booksellers Association, the trade organization of independent booksellers. Not many good things have come out of the coronavirus pandemic, but a small and perhaps unnoticed benefit has been the growth of independent book stores.
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