"Despite the online shopping juggernaut's best efforts, the ranks of America's indie bookstores have swelled by 70 percent since 2020. This surprising turnaround for formerly imperiled booksellers isn't just unexpected good news-it's proof Americans have both the desire and the ability to resist Big Tech."
"Back in 1995, the ABA reported a banner year, dwarfing the current bookstore boom: 5,500 stores with 7,000 locations nationwide. It was a short-lived high, however, as Amazon began operating as an online bookstore that year, undercutting traditional retailers."
"By Y2K, the number of indie bookstores had fallen by 3 percent-and that was before Amazon introduced its Kindle, which threatened to kill off the printed page altogether. ABA membership reached a modern nadir in 2009."
Independent bookstores in the U.S. have seen a resurgence, with a 70% increase since 2020, despite the challenges posed by Amazon. The American Booksellers Association now has 3,200 members, marking a significant turnaround for an industry once deemed endangered. In 1995, the ABA reported 5,500 stores, but the rise of Amazon led to a decline in indie bookstores. By 2009, ABA membership had reached a low point, and major corporate booksellers faced bankruptcy, highlighting the struggle against Big Tech's influence.
Read at The Nation
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