Booksellers as placemakers: Innovative roles of independent booksellers in high street retailing

High street vitality and viability has been a long-standing topic in UK research and policy debates. While the presence and role of the independent retailer is discussed in the associated academic literature, specific consideration of independent bookstores has been lacking, given their perceived position as a special type of retailer within the high street ecosystem. There is, to date, very limited knowledge regarding booksellers’ contributions to high street vitality and viability. We explore the role(s) of booksellers by demonstrating how they can help drive the vitality and viability of their high streets in the UK and Ireland – identifying booksellers as social entrepreneurs, value co-creators, multifunctional initiators and speciality anchors. As such, their placemaking activities extend far beyond retailing. We argue that by assuming such innovative roles, placemaking efforts undertaken by booksellers can catalyse town centre transformation and contribute to revitalisation. https://doi.org/10.1177/02690942241291000

Forfatter

Regine Sønderland Saga, Nikos Ntounis, Cathy Parker, Gary Warnaby, Chris Gregory

Utgitt

04.10.2024

Type

Vitenskapelig artikkel i tidsskrift eller serier