Is there anything better than going shopping? For us book lovers, it’s a trip to the bookstore that we find calling us in like a siren’s song. By now, we all know that local bookstores are the ideal choice when purchasing new novels for our collection, but selling books isn’t the only thing they do anymore. My local shop hosts a ton of events, such as a silent book club, Dungeons & Dragons game nights, a kids-oriented music hour, and themed crafting days. The store also sells a wide variety of books, fun stickers, themed gifts, and toys.
Why Readers Love Book Merch
Fans appreciate having ways to express their passion for reading while also showcasing their individuality. By finding exclusive merchandise tied to their favorite book series or romantic tropes, readers feel a sense of community, which can lead to deeper connections. As we become more emotionally attached to our items, we find ourselves wanting more to display around our living space or in our daily wardrobe. That turns these simplistic trinkets into conversation starters and cherished keepsakes.
The Bookish Shop in Gilbert, AZ excels at offering a wide variety of merchandise, allowing readers to display their passions. Art prints, key chains, Kindle covers, pins, and so much more to discover while picking out your next book. There are so many different things to choose from, it’s hard to pick only one! — and you can explore even more curated items like minimal bookish essentials at partner shops for readers who want to align their space with their passion.
How Indie Bookstores Build Community with Fan Merch
When indie bookstores work together with local artists, they are able to support each other in ways that are mutually beneficial. These partnerships shine a spotlight on the creativity of local talent while allowing the shoppers to access items they may not have known existed. It is that combination of literature and art that can transform the bookstore experience from something mundane into something that celebrates reading and creativity together.
The Plot Twist Book Bar in Denton, TX found an atmosphere that they wanted and committed entirely. Their shop features a bar with themed cocktails or mocktails, dark-painted walls, brilliant chandeliers, cozy chairs, and immaculate wall art. Alongside the many books, they sell tea, bookmarks, shirts, cups, subscription boxes, and so much more.
The rise of handmade items available parallels the rise of online maker spaces allowing bookstores to tailor the experience they want for their buyers. Themed apparel, beautifully designed art prints, quirky keychains, and even genre-themed tea blends are starting to hit the shelves of bookstores. By allowing fans to create, buy, and connect with each other through merchandise, bookstores begin to grow a sense of community.
Whether we go to a book fair, an author signing, or our local book club, we can feel more connected to others through our favorite characters. A trip to the bookstore doesn’t have to be a chore — blasphemous, I know — but it can be an adventure filled with merch, cold drinks, and comfortable chairs.
Slow Burn Books, located in Calgary, Alberta, calls themselves “the spiciest specialty bookstore in Calgary,” and they have the titles to back it up. Since they specialize in a specific genre, this provides a haven for fans and collectors to discover books, merchandise, and perhaps a friend or two along the way.
Going to a bookstore that has been themed towards science fiction, for example, you are more likely to find people who are also interested in or love that genre. Just as the books you find would be different than a romance-themed bookstore, so would the merch. Nurturing these environments solidifies our love for literature, community, and collectibles.
How Merch Keeps Indie Bookstores Thriving
As we know, today’s retail environment poses nothing but challenges to small stores as they face the overwhelming presence of online retailers and chain stores. However, by carving out a niche to attract loyal customers by utilizing merchandise, these small businesses can, and do, thrive. This unique take on theming bookstores not only draws in customers but fosters that ever-important sense of community and connection.
Eras Bookstore, located in Oxford, MI, is themed with a nod to Taylor Swift and offers a variety of fan-based merchandise in-store. Inside, you can find books (of course), apparel, a coffee shop, and a vendor booth sourced from a local artist. They also take care to highlight indie authors in their store and even have a form on their website to let them know you would like a spot on their shelf.
Offering unique merchandise that isn’t available via other retailers can help a small business stand out in an otherwise oversaturated market. In turn, indie bookstores can showcase their brand identity through creativity, allowing the charm and personality of their owners to seep through. By being intentional with their choices, independent stores can craft an environment and atmosphere that turns each visit into an experience as well as a shopping trip.
Why Bookish Merch Matters
We all express ourselves differently and have preferences for certain items over others. As we embrace our individuality, a cozy sweatshirt can become a wardrobe staple, a collector’s pin can embellish any of our many totes — I can’t be the only one — or we add to our water bottle’s sticker collection. All of these trinkets can help us showcase our passion and spark conversations wherever we go.
There’s almost as much merch being made to decorate our homes with. Fortunately, this assists our constant need for more bookshelves, providing a perfect excuse to buy new ones to fill them up. With the influx of art prints, candles, and shelf sitters available, finding enough space has become a delightful challenge.
Meet Cute Bookshop, located in San Diego, CA, offers a wall of stickers for your decorating needs. Hats, totes, and enamel pins are all sold here as well, so you really have a variety while you find your newest no-third-act-breakup cozy read.
Whether you’re looking to support a small business, looking for a new cozy sweater, or need every handmade bookmark you come across, bookstore merch is a great way to curate an aesthetic, a brand, and a community. Tell us which piece of merch is your auto-buy when you’re out at the bookstores on social media via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Tumblr!
If that wasn’t enough, here are 5 Reasons Why Small Independent Bookstores are the Best.
For books to shop for at your local independent bookstore, check out the Bookstr Team Recommendations Bookshelf on Bookshop.
