Question

why do small bookstores fail in todays world

Answer 1

The bookstores face variety of challenges in the technological age with availability of many avenues where a book buff can be distracted to. These include CD ROMs, kindle, ebooks, online libraries for those who are not miffed by the idea of reading it online. Even for those who like to read their book in the conventional way, there are online retailers who make it possible to order it from the comfort of the home. Even those, who like to buy it from the shelf, there are swanky chains of bookstore offering not only a huge collection of books to be explored, but also a place for meeting, socialising and reading over a cup of coffee or some snacks to make it a complete buying experience, that is different from what it used to be some time ago.

Small bookstores have a uphill task with so much competition around. They can offer limited variety, owing to their constrained ability to hold inventory, can't provide a unique experience and a huge place to read and mingle over a coffee, can't innovate much, owing to their limited financial resources and can't offer big bargains, again due to financial constraints and inviability. They also find themselves in difficult situation against the etailers with deep pockets who offer home delivery of books at lower prices and a favorable return policy. As a result, they can't find the business sustainable.