As much as we decry the decline of independent bookselling in the US – and rightfully so – the same problems face stores in other countries, too. The Bookseller reports that Benoit Bougerol, president of the French Booksellers Association, Syndicat de la Librairie Francaise, has spoken out against the French government and publishers, who in his mind, aren’t doing enough to support indies. “Large independent bookshops are being bought up, and small ones can barely make ends meet, so that about a third of the latter are taking home less than the national minimum gross of 1,250 euros a month,” he said. “Only medium-sized outlets are keeping their heads above water for the moment.”
And by keeping heads above water, Bougerol believes that the “the whole network will collapse like a pack of cards within five to 10 years.” A survey on the state of the trade in France is being carried out jointly by the SLF, the French Publishers Association (Syndicat National de l’Edition) and the Culture Ministry’s Book and Reading Division (Direction du Livre et de la Lecture). “Preliminary findings prove what we already know,” said Bougerol. Despite the Lang Law on fixed prices, independent booksellers are suffering from a stagnant book market and margins; rising supermarket and e-commerce sales; and higher rents, salaries and transport costs.