Giant Local Bookstores Can Beat National Chains
April 4th, 2009
Salt Lake City's Sam Weller's Books can still thrive, if they adapt to the online age
Walking around downtown recently I was trying to imagine 250 South Main Street without Sam Weller's Books. What could possibly fill the void they will be leaving behind?
Main Street is an ideal location for a local bookstore of their class, character and size.
Wellers offers a slice of charm found only in Salt Lake City: a walk up outdoor coffee counter; an over hanging awning; a beautiful glowing neon sign; and cheap old books displayed at their front entrance on a folding table.
Walk in and its easy to tell you aren't in a Barnes and Noble. Weller's employees don't follow the herd. You might see an employee with a mohawk or a girl wearing a one-of-a-kind sweater, her grandmother knited. At the Coffee Garden area there are people reading and pondering. Downstairs there are guys who know exactly where to find a Greek New Testement or an early edition of Angle of Repose.
Certainly Weller's is the biggest and best bookstore in Utah. But customers must come to their store to realize its greatness. This was a viable business model for booksellers until about five years ago, when it became clear to compete local bookstores needed to embrace the digital age. Weller's website is very 1990s and doesn't provide any sort of database or search for their giant collection. I received this comment today:
From my perspective as a consumer, They do not have an up-to-date catalog or an effective online presence. SW's website is cumbersome and old. They would be good to specialize in topics of regional interest--utah, western studies, mormonism, environment, etc. Sam Weller should look to Washington DC-based "Busboys and Poets" for a model. - JB
Sam Weller's is a Utah living institution. They need to realize their store must act as more of a service provider than just a retail center. They already offer many events, but in order to connect more people with the ideas and litterature of Utah they need to share their collection online, and embrace the online marketplace. This way they can continue to offer the greatest selection of new, used and rare books in Utah and still act as a hub for the community of readers and authors in Salt Lake City.
For an article hilighting serveral local bookstores thriving despite the obvious competative disadvantages visit indiebound
Tony Weller has appeared in Utah Stories' videos and reports since we started. Utah Stories is a huge fan of Weller's books and our coverage has been proudly biased in their favor since we began.
Past Stories Featuring Weller
From the following videos you can see Weller's opinions on the history of Main Street and what his opinions are concerning the City Creek Center Development.
Utah Stories recently interviewed tony Weller for our story: Main Street Merchants Hang on For City Creek Completion
