In each Quebec region, independent bookstores play an essential role in the development of Quebec reading and culture. They are much more than simple points of sale: they are cultural crossroads, places where the works of us come to life and find their audience.
However, a danger threatens. By betting on large channels, on supermarkets or on web services like Amazon, which have no significant imprint in our local culture, we risk extinguishing this vibrating network which so well reflects our identity.
As the leaders of our society today, guarantors of that of tomorrow, we cannot give up. For our part, we refuse. The Cooperative of Independent Bookstores in Quebec is proof that we can know success on the web and go in the direction of what people want.
It is in this spirit that our cooperative, independent bookstores in Quebec (LIQ), is mobilized to preserve and strengthen the specificity of independent bookstores. We support our members thanks to advanced technological tools, suitable services and the sharing of expertise between bookstores.
When the pandemic upset consumption habits, we reacted with determination. Rather than yielding the field to the web giants, we have invested with our partners in our online platform, leslibraires.ca, offering Quebecers a local option to buy online books. This strategic choice allowed independent bookstores to resist and even prosper in an increasingly competitive market.
Unfortunately, bookstores are not the only SMEs to have to deal with the impacts of the pandemic, inflation and logistical challenges linked to online businesses and shipping. Meanwhile, actors and Amazon continue to erode the local economy and the social fabric. According to a report by the Canadian Federation of the Independent Company, 76% of retail businesses deem it difficult to compete with online giants, and Amazon practices make competition even more complex for those who offer their products.
The economic gap is indicative: each dollar spent in a small business injects $ 0.66 into the local economy, compared to only $ 0.08 for a purchase from a giant like Amazon. This figure highlights the deep impact of consumption choices: spending locally means supporting our jobs, services and our entrepreneurial dynamism.
-Let us support our independent bookstores, because they are the guardians of our culture and the ambassadors of our collective identity. Each book bought from them is a gesture to preserve our cultural heritage and enrich our communities.
Jean-Benoît Dumais, CEO, Independent bookstores in Quebec, Cooperative (LIQ)
Jean-Benoît Dumais
General manager
Independent bookstores in Quebec, cooperative (LIQ)
