Comments for Pilot Books http://www.pilotbooksseattle.com/sales Shop Our Favorites Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:32:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on What does 100% indie lit mean on the internet? by Tom DeBeauchamp http://www.pilotbooksseattle.com/sales/?p=370&cpage=1#comment-910 Tom DeBeauchamp Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:32:38 +0000 http://www.pilotbooksseattle.com/sales/?p=370#comment-910 Independent books are a different thing. The outlets are fewer, the number of copies is smaller, the market-scope is niche. Because of that, you really have to know what you're looking for, where you need to look for it, that it even exists, etc before you can even start browsing. The hunt is part of the joy, sure, but at the same time you have to wonder how many hunters go home hungry. If small publisher A wants to sell book B, and buyer L wants to buy book B but has no idea that it's been written--doesn't that just break your heart? Pilot Books is amazing. You sell good books I can't find anywhere else in Seattle, which means you sell books I can't find anywhere else in Washington State. That's pretty cool. Now say you expand that. Now I don't have to be limited by Seattle, and you don't have to be limited by the tree fort size of your lovely location. Your curatorial majesty is magnified, people log in and learn, they buy, and every body wins. I'm having a hard time coming up with draw backs. The first to come to mind is "Amazon already does that." And the second is silly. It's "isn't that selling out." Number one--not really. Amazon does sell a lot of books of all sizes, they incorporate a lot of sellers, they have a corner on the ebook market in a big way, and they do provide user content in their reviews. Many people come back looking for those reviews. And, of course, they also have those "may I suggest" algorithms, but I honestly believe, given the kind of people interested in indie-books, suggestions from passionate people, reviews by the same, will go further. I expect you'll see flock to it. In droves. We've been waiting so long. Number two--the selling out thing. I'm not going to address it. I'm just going to say, your major overhaul will allow your awesome store to exist, it's going to allow the independent sellers to sell more copies of their books (even if they're making less per copy), it's going to do the same for the authors, and the readers will--I mean seriously--the readers are gonna shit themselves. They're gonna love it! Independent books are a different thing. The outlets are fewer, the number of copies is smaller, the market-scope is niche. Because of that, you really have to know what you’re looking for, where you need to look for it, that it even exists, etc before you can even start browsing. The hunt is part of the joy, sure, but at the same time you have to wonder how many hunters go home hungry. If small publisher A wants to sell book B, and buyer L wants to buy book B but has no idea that it’s been written–doesn’t that just break your heart?

Pilot Books is amazing. You sell good books I can’t find anywhere else in Seattle, which means you sell books I can’t find anywhere else in Washington State. That’s pretty cool. Now say you expand that. Now I don’t have to be limited by Seattle, and you don’t have to be limited by the tree fort size of your lovely location. Your curatorial majesty is magnified, people log in and learn, they buy, and every body wins.

I’m having a hard time coming up with draw backs.

The first to come to mind is “Amazon already does that.” And the second is silly. It’s “isn’t that selling out.”

Number one–not really. Amazon does sell a lot of books of all sizes, they incorporate a lot of sellers, they have a corner on the ebook market in a big way, and they do provide user content in their reviews. Many people come back looking for those reviews. And, of course, they also have those “may I suggest” algorithms, but I honestly believe, given the kind of people interested in indie-books, suggestions from passionate people, reviews by the same, will go further. I expect you’ll see flock to it. In droves. We’ve been waiting so long.

Number two–the selling out thing. I’m not going to address it. I’m just going to say, your major overhaul will allow your awesome store to exist, it’s going to allow the independent sellers to sell more copies of their books (even if they’re making less per copy), it’s going to do the same for the authors, and the readers will–I mean seriously–the readers are gonna shit themselves. They’re gonna love it!

]]> Comment on What does 100% indie lit mean on the internet? by Jeremy http://www.pilotbooksseattle.com/sales/?p=370&cpage=1#comment-905 Jeremy Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:53:33 +0000 http://www.pilotbooksseattle.com/sales/?p=370#comment-905 A rigorously indie bookstore would be incredibly welcomed. Instead of a giant collection of bookmarked presses, one spot to search would be greatly appreciated and used. A rigorously indie bookstore would be incredibly welcomed. Instead of a giant collection of bookmarked presses, one spot to search would be greatly appreciated and used.

]]> Comment on What does 100% indie lit mean on the internet? by Jefferson http://www.pilotbooksseattle.com/sales/?p=370&cpage=1#comment-899 Jefferson Thu, 08 Jul 2010 18:48:25 +0000 http://www.pilotbooksseattle.com/sales/?p=370#comment-899 Very much so! With established larger print publishers having such a high profile on the net, finding smaller print requires really knowing your search parameters and being hyper-specific in how you go about seeking them out. Having many in one site as a 'hub' and resource (with links direct to the publisher/authors sites) would be an excellent way to bring all these resources together as both a commerce and cultural exploration resource. Cool. Very much so! With established larger print publishers having such a high profile on the net, finding smaller print requires really knowing your search parameters and being hyper-specific in how you go about seeking them out. Having many in one site as a ‘hub’ and resource (with links direct to the publisher/authors sites) would be an excellent way to bring all these resources together as both a commerce and cultural exploration resource. Cool.

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