B.C.-based publisher steps in to help struggling independent bookstores

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — Independent bookstores have taken a huge hit because of COVID-19, but a Victoria-based publisher is trying to soften the blow.

Heritage House Publishing is taking action after seeing a big drop in its own revenue due to the pandemic.

“Last week, our sales were down 30 per cent over last year,” says Heritage House President Rodger Touchie. “That’s kind of expected to continue until things get back to normal, but we’re just trying to stay alive.”

They’re doing that by giving retailers — their direct customers — a break.

“Well, we’re just saying to them, in all of the time that they have to have their doors closed, we’re going to continue to provide stock, we’ve kept our warehouse open.  All we can do is continue to supply and continue to get books out the door.”

Touchie says there are a number of incentives to keep those orders coming in.

“Try to give [retailers] a larger discount and we basically topped off the normal discount structure with an additional 20 per cent,” he explains. “And we will actually direct mail from our warehouse to stores’ individual customers, if they so request.”

The discount program took effect Monday and will remain in place until stores are able to fully reopen once the pandemic subsides.

He says the independents have been forced to adapt to the pandemic reality just like the rest of us.  “About 75 per cent are trying to service their customers through online sales or telephone sales or online delivery,” Touchie explains.

He is hopeful the industry can bounce back.  “These are small business people who have been in business, in lots of cases, for 25, 35 years and they’ve never seen anything like this,” he says.  “You’ve got to respect them and anybody who loves books should try to support their local stores.”

Heritage House has published a number of B.C. bestsellers, including A Matter of Confidence: The Inside Story of the Political Battle for BCHard Knox, and The Survival Guide To BC, among others.

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