IS THE BOOKSHOP BUSINESS DEAD OR GOING TO GROW IN 2025?

Many people thought bookstores would die ten years ago. With the rise of Amazon, e-readers like Kindle, and subscription services like Audible and Scribd, the story was simple: "Why would anyone repurchase physical books?" But the story is much more complicated. Despite these challenges, bookstores have shown remarkable resilience, and the future looks surprisingly hopeful in 2025.

A New Age for Bookstores

Bookstores are more than just places to buy books; they're also places where people can connect. Barnes & Noble has made a comeback in the U.S. by fostering a sense of community, making its stores feel more like local independents, with cozy corners, staff picks, and events for kids. Waterstones in the UK has changed its structure to focus on local curation, which lets store managers choose books that fit the tastes of their customers. The movement is even stronger in Asia. Tsutaya Books in Japan sells books and other lifestyle items, from coffee to vinyl records. Eslite in Taiwan is known for keeping its flagship store open 24 hours a day, turning book browsing into a nighttime activity. Zhongshuge bookstores in China are more than just stores; they are architectural wonders that draw tourists from all over the world and from within China.

How to Market to Stay Alive

Bookstores today are not just surviving, they are thriving by blending old and new ideas. Their adaptability and innovative strategies are inspiring. Here are some of the most effective methods they are using:

• Experiential Retail: Author talks, workshops, poetry nights, and book clubs make going to the store a fun experience.

• Social Media Aesthetics: Independent stores like Daunt Books in London do well on Instagram, where bookstagrammers love to take pictures of their beautiful interiors.

• Collaborations between different industries: Penguin Random House worked with Uniqlo to make T-shirt collections with famous book covers on them. All of a sudden, books are fashionable.

• Digital Integration: A lot of stores now have apps with gamified loyalty programs that give discounts for book challenges or digital recommendations.

Looking Ahead: 2025 and After

It's clear that the trend is that bookstores are not going away; they are changing. They are doing well as mixed-use spaces where people can shop, hang out, and reconnect with culture. Analysts say that niche bookstores that focus on community values, rare editions, or sustainability will keep growing. Our Business Administration program at Raffles Jakarta teaches students how to spot changes in consumer behavior like this and come up with new ways to help industries that others think are "finished." The story of bookshops shows that there is always another chapter in business.

Arman POUREISA

Marketing Manager

Business Management Lecturer

Raffles Jakarta

References

 CBS News. (2023, September 10). Inside one of the country’s oldest bookshops. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/video/inside-one-of-the-countrys-oldest-bookshops/Gessen, K. (2023, August 21). The surprising second life of bookstores. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/Wischenbart, R. (2024). Global publishing industry trends 2024. Publishing Perspectives.