Bookselling beyond

BORDERS

As you've probably heard, Borders has filed for bankruptcy and is closing between 200 and 300 of its remaining 600 stores, including San Ramon and Pleasanton. We've been hearing lots of concern about the future of Rakestraw Books, so we'd like to address this transitional moment.

While here at Rakestraw Books we were never fans of Borders' aggressive expansion, which contributed to the closures of hundreds of locally owned independent bookstores in the US, we can not celebrate its own current failures. Borders did a lot of things right, which is why it thrived for a while. But, as so many of its stores close, I am hopeful that fewer chain stores may mean more opportunity for local indie bookstores.

And more indie stores means a healthier local economy, as indies return 40% more money to their local communities than chains, and indies return 99% more money to their local economy than online competitors.

We are concerned about the impact of Borders' collapse on publishers and authors: those creative people who produce the "product" that we love and sell. In the midst of a rough economy, the tumultuous evolution of e-books, and other challenges, they are owed hundreds of millions of dollars from Borders. That loss could have a significant ripple effect, compromising their ability to produce new and interesting books. Fewer good books isn't good for Rakestraw Books or our customers.

And, of course, we are concerned about our own long-term viability as an independent locally owned bookshop.

I should start by saying that Rakestraw Books is currently a viable and healthy business and we'll do everything within reason to stay that way. As long as readers buy enough books from us to keep the lights on, the rent paid, and our staff supported, we'll keep reading, buying, shelving, and displaying good new books. Your purchases allow us to continue to face the challenges confronting all independent businesses.

Rakestraw Books has long adapted to the changing marketplace and will continue to do so: we constantly change the mix of titles in-store; we add and remove sections in response to demand; we create and implement events that allow our customers to seek information, entertainment, and interaction with writers and other creative people.

What else is Rakestraw Books doing to remain vital?

Over the past couple years, we've relocated to a bigger, better-located space in the heart of downtown Danville. We added our own dedicated parking. The move also allowed us to expand our selection while improving the space in which you can meet visiting authors. In addition, we turned our new building — 522 Hartz Avenue — into an attractive and vital part of the downtown scene.

We're gradually layering in a selection of non-book items — book lights; stuffed animals; cards; and more — that you have told us complement your experience shopping here. We're continuing to display everything in an environment that is both lively and beautiful.

And we're doing more author and illustrator events than ever both in-store and out in the community. Not every event is free, but the ones that aren't nearly always allow us to support the vital work of area non-profit organizations. We do our best to make these events dynamic, creative, and fun because we know that your time is precious and there is much that competes for your attention and energy.

We've upgraded our computer system to better serve you. And we've improved lots of boring back-end stuff, too, for better efficiency and ultimately to allow us to make your experience here better.

We will continue to collect and remit the sales tax (unlike many online retailers) that keeps public schools open, roads paved, and police and fire services responding. We will continue to donate books, gift certificates, and money to 50+ schools and organizations — from Wardrobe for Opportunity and the California Shakespeare Theater, from Montair Elementary School to the Danville Library — that we support each year. We will continue to support local authors — from the celebrated to the new and untried — by reading and promoting their books. We will continue to be the booksellers who have fun. And we will continue to help connect the readers of our community with the larger literary world.

Finally, we're working towards selling Google e-books. These are device-agnostic, cloud-based e-books that you can access on any device (except Amazon's proprietary Kindle), any time, anywhere. And for most titles, Rakestraw's price will match everyone else's, including Apple's, Amazon's, and Google's. As soon as we're finished training our staff, we will invite customers to ask us questions — in the store, by phone, or via email — about getting started. We will also be able to help those who already have a device or those thinking of trying e-books for the first time.

Like other local business owners (but unlike chains and internet retailers), the owners and employees of Rakestraw Books live, work, study, invest, volunteer, and play in the Bay Area. We care about our community.

But it's really up to you, our customers. If you think Rakestraw Books is a necessary part of Danville and the San Ramon Valley, then shop here, or shop here more often, or allow us to special order books for you, or bring us new customers, or pay cash, or bring your own bag, or attend an author event (buy the featured book!), or Yelp or blog about us. If you're in "the media," write about us or have us on your show. Forward our email newsletter to friends who read.

We're here to help you find good books to read. And we're here to offer you much more: lively programming; great book groups; and all sorts of knowledge and information shared in a manner that is, we hope, both friendly and professional.

But if you'd rather not have a bookstore in your community, shop mostly or only at Amazon. No one should shop at Rakestraw Books only out of charity or pity or noblesse oblige, but because you want what we've got. You mold the retail landscape with every purchase; vote wisely.

And by all means, if there's something we can be doing better, please tell us. Since 1995, I've have had the privilege of being the owner of Rakestraw Books. I'm here pretty much every day except Sunday. The phone number is (925) 837-7337. I'd love to hear from you.

Sincerely yours,

Michael Barnard

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