Bookstores in SC use creativity to avoid market crisis

The opinion of most is that bookstores are dying in Brazil, especially after the giant Saraiva closed the last units in the country. However, data from the National Association of Bookstores (ANL) show that this is not the case in Santa Catarina, where there has been a 12% increase in stores in the sector over the last 10 years. This happened because large chains closed and made way for companies with a different set-up.

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The number of bookstores in Santa Catarina increased from 95, in 2013, to 107, in 2023. The state is the sixth in the country with the most stores in the sector, according to information from the 5th edition of the National Bookstores Yearbook. , derived from field research with publishers, bookstores, distributors and partners in each Brazilian municipality.

In Brazil, the number of bookstores decreased by 1.8%. Currently, there are 2,972 physical stores, based on all units of the union. The decrease is considered small by ANL, which expected a greater impact on the industry in recent years.

Number of bookstores by state

• PS: 1,167
• MG: 353
• RS: 293
• RJ: 252
• PR: 161
• SC: 107
• CE: 71
• BA: 60
• DF: 54
• PE: 50
• CONTINUE: 44
• EN: 42
• PI: 36
• PS: 36
• MT: 34
• MISS: 33
• PA: 27
• RN: 25
• AM: 22
• MA: 21
• SEE: 19
• RO: 18
• AL: 16
• TO: 10
• RR: 10
• AC: 7
• AP: 4

Restoration of bookstores

Bookstores faced a serious economic crisis even before the pandemic, mainly due to competition from online giants, such as Amazon, who can offer books at much lower prices, as the president of ANL and owner of the Leitura chain, Marcus explained. Phones. Saraiva e Cultura, Brazil’s largest bookstore chains until 2018, went into court recovery and closed several stores across the country.

However, the decrease in the number of bookstores was not so significant, as large stores were replaced by smaller stores. The pandemic delayed the opening of new businesses a little, but since the second half of 2021, physical bookstores have been recovering and growing again, according to the president of ANL.

— The cases of large networks are similar. They are in an area that is very «struggled» by the Internet (…) When Saraiva and Cultura close, the mall wants a bookstore, so it replaces it. So, what actually happened was to replace the ones that were doing poorly financially, with losses and accumulating debt, with other bookstores – the highlight of Teles.

Bookstores in Florianópolis become cultural spaces

Bookstores were reborn with a different profile. In addition to being smaller, many stores also found division to be a promising market. This is the case of Livraria Dijante, in Florianópolis, with a focus on children. The space was opened in March 2022 by Rio native Ana Paula Viana.

The entrepreneur, who is also a mother, says that despite a wide range of outdoor activities, she could not find activities with her children on cold and rainy days and was confined to shopping malls and restaurants. Passionate about books, Ana Paula opened Livraria Dijante with the aim of not only being a store, but also an outing for the whole family.

— To bring children closer to literature and reading habits, books need to be presented in an interesting, attractive and accessible way. It is ours to guide children and responsible adults, teach everyone how to interact with books. The suggestion is not to open a store that sells books. The idea is to open a space where families can enjoy moments together around good books – says the owner of Livraria Dijante.

The experience goes beyond reading. There are also handicraft workshops, storytelling, acting classes, dance, music, among others. Although the company’s profitability comes from book sales, the leisure options attract the public.

— I think that if I put myself in the traditional format of opening a retail establishment that sold books, I wouldn’t be here today. I think the trick was to turn a space, originally just advertising, into a cultural, leisure and viewing space – explains the entrepreneur.

See photos of Livraria Dijante:

Livraria Dijante is located in the Itacorubi neighborhood (Photo: Tiago Ghizoni, DC)

The bookstore was founded in March 2022 (Photo: Tiago Ghizoni, DC)

Ana Paula Viana is the owner of the store (Photo: Tiago Ghizoni, DC)

Bookstore is aimed at children of all ages (Photo: Tiago Ghizoni, DC)

Cultural activities are also held on site (Photo: Tiago Ghizoni, DC)

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Another establishment that aims to be more than a bookstore is Latinas Livrarias, in Lisbon’s Santo Antônio district, founded in June 2022. The bookstore has a special collection of works on themes ranging from spiritual to literary. However, to enter the space, the books need to connect to the realm of gender, race, and class, which gives the bookstore a personality.

The current co-owner, Pétula Deyse Rodrigues, who is also co-owner of Livros e Livros, a traditional bookstore located within the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), took over Latinas in April 2023 and transformed the place into a cultural space. and debates.

The place’s profitability comes mainly from book sales, as the co-owner explains, but they also sell handmade products such as essential oils, mugs, scented candles, decorative items, etc. There are also exhibitions of works by artists from Florianópolis and other events.

— We like to give privileges to artisans here so we can also spread the art. In addition to selling books and specialized products, we are a cultural space where book launches, conversation circles and discussions take place, mainly in the areas of gender, race and class – a highlight of Pétula.

See photos of Latina Livrarias:

Latinas Livraria is located in the Santo Antônio district of Lisbon (Photo: Tiago Ghizoni, DC)

The bookstore was founded in June 2022 (Photo: Tiago Ghizoni, DC)

Pétula Deyse Rodrigues is the co-owner of the store (Photo: Tiago Ghizoni, DC)

Bookstore focuses on books related to gender, race and class (Photo: Tiago Ghizoni, DC)

Handmade products are also sold there (Photo: Tiago Ghizoni, DC)

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