Writers Tricks of the Trade Volume 5, Issue 6

PRESS “CONTROL” THEN CLICK “BUY” TO PURCHASE ANY BOOK AMAZON OPENS FIRST BRICK AND MORTAR STORE (CONT’D) item the second it was purchased, as well as the personal touch of a knowledgeable sales clerk. Even the hints at a drone delivery program could not compete with that. With the amazing amount data it generates from shopping patterns on its website, it seems Amazon is betting they will have an advantage in this retail location that other bookstores can’t match. Based upon the data, it will pick titles that will most appeal to Seattle shoppers. BUY Many authors aren’t aware that retailers can return unsold books in any condition for full credit up to as long as one year, depending upon the publisher and distributor. Maybe using all of this collected data could be at least a partial solution to the problem that constantly plagues other booksellers: unsold books that gather dust on shelves and get sent back to publishers. Amazon probably has the deepest insight into customer buying habits, allowing them to stock its store with titles most likely to move. In addition to stocking best sellers, the company will also include books that get the highest ratings from its customers, some of which may be little-known titles. Still, data only goes so far, and book lovers often see stores as a piece of their community. Some definitely blame Amazon, and online retail more broadly, for the ongoing demise of independent booksellers. BUY Amazon’s customers will help select books for the store in other ways as well. For example, one title the new store includes is “Bald, Fat & Crazy: How I Beat Cancer While Pregnant with One Daughter and Adopting Another” by Stephanie Hosford, a title that ranks 622,923 in books sold on Amazon. Taking the human factor into consideration, since books won’t be selected strictly by data, those who have read it seem to love it. The book has a 5-star rating from all 56 customers who have reviewed it on the site. There is another significant way the 5,500 square feet of retail space is distinct from traditional bookstores: Every book will face out, rather than be stacked tightly with only their spines showing. That leaves far less space for books. But Jennifer Cast, vice president of Amazon Books, said Amazon wanted to showcase authors and their work, rather than cramming as many titles as possible on shelves. BUY While the store will showcase some of Amazon’s gadgets, such as its Kindle ereaders, Fire tablets and Fire TV streaming-media devices, it will be first and foremost a bookstore. “Our goal is to do a great job selling lots of books,” Cast said. NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2015 PAGE 24 WRITERS’ TRICKS OF THE TRADE

Writers Tricks of the Trade Volume 5, Issue 6 | Page 26