Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1109659
wbjournal.com | April 29, 2019 | Worcester Business Journal 15 comeback, worries about ongoing survival haven't dissipated. Aer all, wage and property tax costs are always a factor, along with the same whims of consumers affecting all kinds of retail. "It's still a struggle," said Ineson, who took over the New England Independent Booksellers Association aer a long career in publishing. "ey continue to have to struggle every day." CUSTOMIZE YOUR CAPITAL SOLUTION TODAY Contact Richard Conley RConley@communityp.com | 646.822.9356 CLOSED: $1 Million Acquisition • Freddie Mac Small Balance Loan | 4.91% • 18 units | Worcester, MA UNMATCHED SERVICE AND EXECUTION Fannie Mae • FHA • Freddie Mac Multifamily Capital Solutions CONSTRUCTION | REFINANCE | ACQUISITION CONVENTIONAL FINANCING | AFFORDABLE HOUSING SMALL BALANCE LOANS | FLEXIBLE BRIDGE FINANCING W S M A L L B U S I N E S S F O C U S To be part of our commemorative publication to celebrate the opening (print and digital) contact Chris Juetten at 508-755-8004 x270 or cjuetten@wbjournal.com From the publishers of Worcester Business Journal WBJ Worcester Public Market & Kelly Square Lofts will open this summer! Please join us in celebrating this exciting new addition to Worcester's Canal District Rising number of independent bookstores '09 '16 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 '18 '17 Number of locations 1,651 2,470 Source: American Booksellers Association Independent Booksellers Association. Author events are critical, as are a social media presence alerting readers to the latest staff recommendations, readings or releases. "It has a profound impact on the stores' bottom lines: the number of events they're able to have," Ineson said. "Events are extremely important." Bookstores are making a comeback across the country, with the New York- based American Booksellers Association seeing a 50% rise in the past decade in the number of its member locations. Teicher, the association CEO, attribut- ed that rebound to not only a shop-local movement but to growing research showing how oen readers discover books not through scrolling online but through browsing bookshelves in a store. Technology has helped – not just threat- en – small bookstores, he said, thanks to point-of-sale, payroll and accounting soware making running a small busi- ness a bit easier than in the past. "A lot of folks are surprised to hear this, and it's kind of contrary to the wide- ly held view that indie bookstores were squashed by big box stores and now by Amazon," Teicher said. "ere's no single thing that has happened that has turned things around." Despite independent bookstores'