This is a short documentary on BooksActually in Singapore - inspiring as it is sobering. This makes me think of the many trips where Shivaun and I always make it a point to drop in at the local indie and pick out something unusual because we see in the owner-booksellers a shared dream to create a haven or a community hub of some sort, and we recognise in them the same pressures of staying solvent.
We like to talking to indie booksellers and to hear about their experience. For example, several months ago, we were in the US for a holiday, so we dropped into McIntyre's at Fearrington Village and also The Golden Notebook at Woodstock. At the latter in particular, we saw almost a mirror image of ourselves - their journey was reminiscent of ours: owners who didn't earn a minimum wage for a long time (or in our case, never have), who put in unearthly hours because they wanted to (though we do have a great team who help shoulder the burden so I can work in my home office and Shivaun still gets to do other 'projects' - among them, her PhD), and a little doggie in his bed which reminded me of Matzo...
I don't like to 'guilt' people into buying from an indie. It would be easier to pontificate if we weren't bookshop owners ourselves. However, watching this documentary makes me want to get on my soapbox and I hope you'll indulge me: Go on, go to your local indie, drop in, say 'hi', buy something if you can, even something small little like a greeting card. (Here's a link from the Booksellers Association to find your local bookshop - http://www.booksellers.org.uk/bookshopsearch) They'll appreciate your supporting their efforts. I also hope you realise that your support doesn't just feed the owners' egos or aspirations and helps them survive (though that's all part of the deal for sure), but that in doing so, you have become an integral part of a little sanctuary for the senses.
PS. I really like how Renee (Kenny's team member) puts it in the documentary, that their journey has been a humbling experience in that the survival or success of BooksActually could not have been done alone without their supporters and customers.