Local bookstores, such as Wellesley Books or the Brookline Booksmith, have updated their business models to allow customers to call in to “order” books, or order books online. Customers can then drive up to the bookstore and call the store, where someone will bring the book out to you. This type of model has been used for everything from restaurant takeout to hair dyes, but it seems especially useful and creative for books because it allows people who might need an activity to support their local businesses instead of tech giants like Amazon. It’s also a nice model because it allows customers to talk to sales associates on the phone, so associates can recommend books, keeping the customer service aspect of bookstores alive.
