So, hrmph, seeing that I actually bothered to write a response, I decided to post it here:
We're an indie bookshop and we have gone 'to the mattresses' in that we started out just selling books supplemented by coffees, teas and cakes. We also sold cards and wrapping paper. Within 6 months, we realised we had to sell other things too. We started doing homemade lunches so that there would be some energy in the shop during the 'death lull' in the middle of the day. Then we started selling more gifty items. More notebooks and journals. Selected toys for kids to supplement children's books.... and so on. But we didn't fare well. Our operating costs - rent, council taxes - etc was just too high. We were paying on average £300 for each sq m in tax, same as the chain restaurant next door. So we closed. But we are back 'to the mattresses' again. We're going to try again in a new neighbourhood, smaller premises, less rent, and with scaled back and more selective stock. We are going to reopen in April at Bankside, London, where we expect there'll be more footfall. The challenge will be fostering a community of locals, which we did very well in our previous location but was not enough to save us. We hope that a combination of higher footfall and loyal support can change the tide. Maybe this is just wishful thinking. Maybe we're destined to go the way of Meg Ryan's little bookshop. But booksellers are not always rational types, as you probably know :)
It's funny but my partner and I was watching You've Got Mail again during the Christmas hols. We were at that time contemplating closing down, so Meg's predicament cut close to the bone. Thank you for this article. To me, it's both a reminder of the 'danger signs' (ebooks, amazon etc) but also of why we opened a book shop in the first place.