David Piovesan is a researcher who focuses on the role and future of bookstores in Europe. In this conversation, he reflects on the challenges faced by independent booksellers, their cultural significance, and the importance of bibliodiversity.
What are some of the main challenges small booksellers are facing today, in France and globally?
The first is survival, in the face of economic pressures and competition from online platforms and large cultural chains. Another essential issue is ecology. Few in the book industry are aware of it, but it already affects bookshops across Europe.
Why is in-person sale of books in bookstores so important?
On the Internet, we mostly buy bestsellers or books by authors we already know. Bookstores allow us to discover new worlds, encounter different voices, and enrich our lives. They are places of curiosity and intelligence. It is no coincidence that authoritarian regimes silence publishers and booksellers.
What are some of the differences you noticed between Slovene and French bookstore culture?
In France, independent bookshops still account for around a quarter of the market. Booksellers’ associations and unions play an important role, providing professional training and strengthening the prestige of the profession. Bookshops remain vibrant places, frequented by many customers.
How can we support independent bookstores in a given community?
We are what we eat. We are what we read. Choosing independent bookshops is a societal choice – just as eating industrial food damages health and the planet, consuming only “industrial” books destroys bibliodiversity and our ability to think differently.
Is it important that bookstores also host events, like readings or quizzes?
Yes. Such events help people meet, talk, and discover new authors. They create spaces of connection.
Is it harder for specialized bookstores to survive?
General bookstores are more likely to thrive, but it depends on location. Specialization is easier in big cities than in rural areas. Ultimately, the number of customers is decisive.
How profitable are bookstores?
Bookshops are among the least profitable businesses in Europe. They survive thanks to long-term sustainability – many books sold at low margins over time. Rising costs of rent, staff, and transport now threaten this fragile balance.
How can we help the sales of lesser-known books?
Booksellers play a crucial role. They read, curate, and recommend. Through inventive displays, notes, and personal conversations, they bring hidden gems to life. Each bookstore becomes its own universe, rewarding to discover.
Besides social media, how can we promote lesser-known authors?
We need booksellers, critics, journalists, and festivals. Algorithms privilege the big industry players, and AI will only flood the market with “fake” books. Human mediators are essential to keep bibliodiversity alive.
What literary trends are you noticing in France?
Manga, self-development, dark romance, and comics dominate. But thanks to protection measures, small independent publishers continue to publish unique creative works that defy trends.
What is the added value of bookstores for cities and communities?
Beyond economics, bookshops are places of social exchange and intellectual life. They help communities imagine new futures in the face of ecological, political, and cultural challenges. Cutting support for them is deeply worrying.
What innovative tactics do you see among bookstores?
Some diversify, but the most original approach is to persist in being a bookseller — what I call a “strategy of rooting.” Reinventing the craft while staying true to its essence.
One piece of advice for anyone opening a bookstore?
Be curious, courageous, and persistent. Talk to other booksellers — you are never alone. Survival depends on collective action and cooperation.