Toronto Women's Bookstore

"Superstores... are starting to capitalize on markets they have previously ignored."

A frightening phenomenon within the bookselling industry is threatening the very survival of independent bookstores like the Toronto Women's Bookstore. This phenomenon is the proliferation of superstores, chains and on-line booksellers. These corporate entities have aggressively targeted the customer base of independent bookstores (a customer base many of us have spent decades building). Their huge competitive advantage allows them to purchase large volumes of books, which they are then able to sell at cheaper prices. Once their monopoly is established, however, they will effectively control the industry.

They are also starting to capitalize on markets they have previously ignored (women, communities of colour, gays and lesbians etc) by showcasing historically marginalized authors - many of whom gained their original audiences in independent bookstores. Although we are acting decisively to retain our customer base, the result has been a marked decline in sales and sadly, in many unfortunate cases, the demise of countless independent bookstores across North America.

As independent booksellers, we have far more than a simple retail and profit-based relationship to the communities we serve. We are committed to giving back to the community through our 10% Venture. We hold many events with both well-known and also not-as-well-known authors. Many authors read with us before they became popular and we are proud and thrilled to continue to provide such a space for women writers. Who else would you expect to support first time authors like Kerri Sakamoto, Camilla Gibb, and the Taste This Collective to name just a few?

The staff at independent bookstores are dedicated, knowledgeable book lovers. Here at the Toronto Women's Bookstore we work hard to ensure that there remains a space for women in Toronto to read, meet, talk, organize and flirt! We want to be able to continue to provide all the great services and products that we always have. Every dollar spent in a superstore is a dollar that could be much better spent in an independent bookstore.

The ultimate survival of independent bookstores depends on you, the book-buying public. Please work with us to ensure our survival and success. Your support is very much needed. If there was ever a time to put politics into action, that time is now.