Politics and Prose will bookstore will soon add an Espresso Book Machine, allowing customers to order print-on-demand books in the store.
Since acquiring Politics & Prose, co-owners Bradley Graham and Lissa Muscatine have made it their mission to ensure that the DC-based independent bookstore stays competitive on both a local and digital level.
Graham talked about the positives of owning such a machine with SecondAct: “You can actually watch a 500-page book being produced and have it in six minutes …We’re still working out the economics, but it’s going to be really affordable. We’re not just talking about full-sized books. People will be able to print family histories, or anything else that can go between soft covers. And it’s very professional-looking.”
Besides the espresso book machine, the husband-wife bookseller duo have other plans for growth. The store will spotlight a selection of books written by local authors and expand its community event offerings. They also embrace eReader users by selling eBooks on the Politics & Prose website and hosting seminars on how to download eBooks into different devices. What services would you like to see your indie bookseller offer?