How Chapters Curates Unique Reading Experiences for Book Lovers

The most obvious task for a bookseller is to buy books for their store. That’s also the most addictive part of the whole gig, especially, if buying books is your go to therapy for everything. It never gets mundane and before you realize, you end up spending an entire day blissfully lost in the jungle of books at the distributor’s warehouse, or overloading your web browser with a kajillion tabs to read samples of books, old and new. And when the order arrives at your store, that brief sense of ownership of books triggers major serotonin spikes (until you do month end accounting, but that’s a story for a different blog). While all this is very fascinating, the biggest challenge is to pick just the right books for customers when you have an independent bookstore operating on limited budgets and shelf space. So, here’s how we do it.

Understanding our readers

At Chapters, it is all about putting readers first. We love talking to our regular customers about their reading preferences and goals, and discussing the latest trends with our vibrant reader communities and book clubs. This approach not only helps us offer the books our customers want, but also introduce them to new stories that challenge and expand their tastes.

Getting to know the books

The joy of reading is all about discovering new worlds and perspectives. That's why we're always on the lookout for hidden gems - books that may not be on the bestseller lists, but have the power to captivate and inspire. Whether it's a thought-provoking work of literary fiction, a gripping historical narrative, or a genre-bending masterpiece, we strive to bring our customers the most unique and engaging reading experiences. A significant portion of our time goes into personally reviewing each book. It helps us answer questions like - is it relevant for the type of readers who visit us frequently? Will it match or challenge their taste? Will it generate rich conversations? Is it a keeper for readers who cherish their home libraries? What level of readers will be comfortable reading this book? And so much more! You’ve got to know your books well. Even if you are unable to read them all (wishful and ambitious), it helps if you know what they are about. 

Fostering reading communities

It is not only important to support existing reading communities but also foster a sense of community amongst our customers. We host regular book club meetings, where readers can come together to discuss their favorite titles, share recommendations, and engage in lively conversations. These gatherings are not just about the books themselves, but about the connections we make through our shared love of reading. It helps us gain insight on what people want to read, and where we lack.

Listening at every opportunity

We actively seek out feedback and recommendations from our customers across all channels, both in-store and online across forums and social media apps. By listening to the voices of our community, we're able to stay ahead of the curve and curate a selection that truly reflects the diverse interests and tastes of our readers. Whether it's a new release that's generating buzz or a hidden gem that deserves more attention, we love bringing our readers the best of the literary world.

Reading as much as we can

You just can’t escape this. Everyone has a different reading style and pace, and the same applies to our team. So while it is difficult to read everything, it helps that we make reading our primary hobby to keep it going without making it feel like a boring task. To be honest, at times it does feel a bit embarrassing when a customer asks if we have read the book that we are recommending and we have to say no. But we don’t miss out on getting to know a book through samples, reviews or conversation with other readers to share the most honest and unbiased notes. In the end, reading is always a journey and one can never read enough, right?

At the end of the day, our goal at Chapters is to create a space where book lovers can come together, discover new stories, and deepen their appreciation for the written word. By carefully curating our selection and fostering a sense of community, we try to provide our readers with a truly unique and enriching reading experience. So whether you're a lifelong bibliophile or a casual reader looking to expand your horizons, we invite you to visit Chapters and get on your next literary adventure.