In each region of Quebec, independent bookstores play an essential role in promoting reading and Quebec culture. They are much more than simple points of sale: they are cultural crossroads, places where local works come to life and find their audience.
However, danger threatens. By relying on large chains, supermarkets or web services like Amazon, which have no significant footprint in our local culture, we risk extinguishing this vibrant network which reflects our identity so well.
As leaders of our society today, guarantors of that of tomorrow, we cannot give up. For our part, we refuse to do so. The cooperative of independent Librairies of Quebec is proof that you can be successful on the Web and move in the direction of what people want.
It is in this spirit that our cooperative, Les Librairies independents du Québec (LIQ), is mobilizing to preserve and strengthen the specificity of independent bookstores. We support our members with cutting-edge technological tools, adapted services and the sharing of expertise between bookstores.
When the pandemic disrupted consumer habits, we responded with determination. Rather than cede the ground to the Web giants, we invested with our partners in our online platform, leslibraires.ca, thus offering Quebecers a local alternative for purchasing books online. This strategic choice has allowed independent bookstores to resist and even prosper in an increasingly competitive market.
Unfortunately, bookstores are not the only SMEs having to deal with the impacts of the pandemic, inflation and logistical challenges linked to online commerce and shipping. Meanwhile, players like Amazon continue to erode the local economy and social fabric. According to a report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, 76% of retailers find it difficult to compete with online giants, and Amazon’s practices make the competition even more complex for those who offer their products there.
The economic gap is telling: every dollar spent at a small business injects $0.66 into the local economy, compared to just $0.08 for a purchase from a giant like Amazon. This figure underlines the profound impact of consumer choices: spending locally means supporting our jobs, our services and our entrepreneurial dynamism.
-Let’s support our independent bookstores, because they are the guardians of our culture and the ambassadors of our collective identity. Each book purchased from them is a gesture to preserve our cultural heritage and enrich our communities.
Jean-Benoît Dumais General Manager Les Librairies independents du Québec, cooperative (LIQ)
Jean-Benoît Dumais
General manager
Independent Bookstores of Quebec, cooperative (LIQ)
