Relationships with bookstores

As an independent author, creating a good relationship with your local bookstore is vital. But remember, it’s a relationship … and no-one likes to be used in a relationship, so make sure you’re supporting them as much as you’d like them to support you.  

It’s a good idea to build this up over time. Be social, friendly, talk to them lots, buy books off them, recommend them to your friends – tag them on social media. Once they’ve really gotten to know you, they will be thrilled to support your books.  

Bookstores receive so many pitches from sales reps and authors they don’t know, so making sure you have a good relationship with your local booksellers can give you a real advantage when it comes time for them to decide which books to stock. 

This relationship can also indirectly help you with your book sales. People who work at bookstores are readers and they aren’t shy about sharing their favourite books. Word-of-mouth sales are every author’s bread-and-butter, so winning over your friendly neighbourhood booksellers could also lead to a spike in your initial book sales. 

Through Little Steps’ publishing model, you can, of course, offer to sell books directly to the bookstore (and your newfound friends!) without involving the distributor. If they go for this, that’s great! If they don’t, don’t fret too much as it is probably due to ease of accounting. Unless you have a connection, larger chain stores are more likely going to turn you down as their systems and processes are already streamlined to work with distributors. You might find you have better luck selling directly to smaller independent stores.  

As online re-sellers slowly take over, independent bookstores are often looking for ways to add value to their store, and you can use this to your advantage. Ways you can help add value to the store are through book launches, author talks and book signings.  

Book signings 

Call or write all your local bookstore (especially the ones you now have a rapport with) and ask if you can do an in-store signing. People like buying autographed books and bookstores give signed books a little push. If you are going to be in another city, get in touch with bookstores there, too. 

Author Talks