Watch above: The book selling landscape is changing with the advent of online buying and reading. Aaron Streck takes a look at the local scene and finds out how many owners and authors are writing new plots for their futures.
SASKATOON – After 11 years at it’s 11th Street East location in Saskatoon, Turning the Tide closed the book on the chapter Tuesday.
“There’s definitely a lot of memories that are coming back as we are packing up, every hour you see things empty out a little bit more,” said Turning the Tide owner Peter Garden.
Despite the online book market being one of his biggest challenges over the last five years, the real estate market and development in the area is what turned the tide on Garden’s business.
READ MORE: Iconic Saskatoon building could be demolished
“I’m not ready to call it quits yet but it’s certainly, the independent book scene is a … it’s not the easiest thing to make a go of, it’s still possible but it’s not the easiest thing,” said Garden.
Wes Funk’s books used to be on the shelves at Turning the Tide. The local author is about to release his fifth book and says he’s seen a shift in the industry first hand.
“The pressure is on more now then ever before for writers to make an impact with their stuff. We have to really reel readers in with those first few pages, it has to be extraordinarily dynamic for a book to fly,” said Funk.
With everything a click away, seeing two independent book stores close down within the last month is just the start to what Funk thinks will happen down the road.
“I think there will always be book stores but not as many, I think there will be a few elite book stores that will remain in the world but I hate to be a downer but I can see a lot of them falling away in the next five-10 years,” said Funk.
“If people don’t support their local book store, the local book store won’t be there the next time they want it,” said Caroline Walker, the inventory manager at McNally Robinson.
Diversification may be the key to survival in the book selling industry.
“Book stores have to think now about creative things they can do, most book stores are now carrying what they call sidelines, whether it’s gift wear, food items, scarves and jewellery and all that kind of stuff,” said Walker.
While the passion for reading material will always be there, how people continue to access it has yet to be written.
Turning the Tide book store is hoping to open at a new location in the Broadway area this spring.
Comments