Traditional brick-and-mortar bookstores continue to decline. I was in a stand-alone Barnes and Noble this week, which, even though somewhat different from the stores of yesteryear, brought back memories that were garnered before Amazon and other online sellers entered the picture. Of course, Barnes and Noble and other brick-and-mortars still around also sell online to help keep them competing and staying relevant.
Knowing that some book lovers still rather buy a book they can take off a shelf, flip through, caress, and even sit down with a cup of coffee and read a little, Amazon has opened some brick-and-mortars, helping further to push out the large and small independent stores. I recall when mom-and-pop stores were some of the best in which to browse and spend some time.
Thinking of larger independent stores, the Tattered Cover stores in Colorado came to mind. Since it’s been awhile when I last visited Denver’s original Cherry Creek store and then it’s larger location on Colfax, I googled to see if it’s still around. It is, and the banner at the top of the store’s home page reads, “Snow day flash sale! 10% off your entire online order until midnight!”
This led me to think of my snowy-night bookstore experience in Detroit. The weather was pleasant upon arrival in early December. I appeared on a morning TV show, had a speaking engagement, was on an afternoon radio show, with a 7-9 p.m. book signing scheduled at a Barnes and Noble. It began snowing at about 4:30 p.m., the first major snow of the year, which I later learned became a low-visibility blizzard.
The cab driver taking me to the store said he would come back to get me at 9, but a higher tip would be expected. When I arrived at the large store, it was almost deserted — and remained that way the remainder of the evening. Book signings are always interesting and unpredictable.
I’ve engaged in signings for several of my published works through the years. The events can make you feel great or they can make you feel lower than a snake with fallen arches — if you allow them to. That’s why it’s important to keep things in perspective. That is, don’t get too full of yourself if things go well and don’t let your feelings get hurt and get down on yourself if things don’t go well.
At about 7:30 that night a woman and her husband came to the table where I was sitting, drinking coffee and twiddling my pen. The husband told me his wife heard my radio interview and made him drive to the store to meet me and get a copy of my book, which she believed could help both of them. I was happy someone came, but also felt guilty the wife had coerced her husband into coming out in such atrocious weather.
About two months later, I received a letter from the couple. They thanked me for authoring the book, for coming to Detroit to talk about it, and being at the store that evening. They gave examples of the positive differences that reading and applying the book’s principles was making in their lives, which, as Peanuts’ Charlie Brown would say, “gave me a warm feeling.”
Only two people showing up that evening helped keep me humble. But knowing how much they enjoyed and benefited from the book did give me a feeling of accomplishment. You just never can tell how something might work out.
(The store closed early, I called the cabbie, he returned, received his higher tip. All ended well.)
Carl Mays is a National Speakers Hall of Fame member and author of over a dozen books, including A Strategy For Winning.
