Are book lovers closing the chapter on traditional bookstores?
"I’m looking after my own bank account, not theirs.”
You might not judge a book by its cover, but these days, readers are definitely judging it by their price tag.
Bookworms seem to have multiplied in recent years, thanks to the viral phenomenon known as ‘BookTok.’
It’s the corner of TikTok where readers dive into discussions about fantastical worlds, creatures, and unforgettable characters.
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Budget-friendly reads
But alongside the surge in trending titles, another habit is quietly reshaping the book-buying landscape.
They’re ditching traditional bookstores like QBD and Dymocks to instead bookmark department chains such as Big W.
Curious about the trend, Kidspot reached out to some avid readers to spoil the plot twist on their book-buying habits.
Let’s just say, the answers were anything but by the book.
“My local shopping centre has a QBD, and I have another independent book shop around, but if Big W has a book for $14, I can’t justify spending $25-$33 on the same book when I have a baby on the way and a mortgage,” Chloe explained.
Harmony agrees: “There really is no advantage to shopping at traditional bookstores anymore, and I purchase everything online now. I can’t afford to spend 25% more for books just to support traditional or independent bookstores. I’m looking after my own bank account, not theirs.”
“I tend to go to Big W and Amazon for bestsellers that you can get anywhere, and the bookstore to browse and find something a bit more out of the ordinary,” Laura shared.
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Price tags over tradition
For Big W, the lean into Booktok has been simply a no-brainer.
Their book sections have seen huge growth since the pandemic and the growth of BookTok.
With 3000 titles to pick from, and 5000 over Christmas, it’s not hard to see why.
“BookTok has been a significant influence on the way Aussie readers are discovering the latest trending book titles, and it’s fueling demand for our selection,” a spokesperson told Kidspot.
“Readers are currently flocking to get their hands on new release fiction, particularly romance and the popular ‘romantasy’ genre… Colouring books have also been flying off the shelves.”
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Amazon is also a clear favourite to source books, particularly during sale periods.
The Kindle eReader is also a big drawcard.
The library and secondhand books are also quite popular. Independent bookstores, while sometimes pricey, are something many readers love to support where possible.
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Originally published as Are book lovers closing the chapter on traditional bookstores?
