The Association of American Publishers recently said that the success of bookstores, especially locally-owned ones, is greater overall than chain bookstores or online book sellers — even in a day and age where almost everything can be bought online.
A 2014 report by the publisher's organization said that there was an increase of 311 independent members since 2009. One local member of the larger trend in independence and bookselling is Changing Hands Bookstore, with locations in Tempe and Phoenix.
ASU students use this store to their advantage, buying books for class and for their own reading pleasure.
Changing Hands Bookstore has been in Tempe as a locally and privately owned business since April 1, 1974. Since then, the store has grown rapidly into the community, constantly needing to expand and moving from location to location in the local downtown and regular Tempe area.
Business communications freshman Samuel De La Ossa said he’s been visiting Changing Hands Bookstore ever since he was a child because it is an “Arizona-native hotspot.”
“I’ve bought half of my textbooks at that store and more books for myself than I can count,” De La Ossa said. “Changing Hands is an inviting environment that allows family and children to congregate and bond over many different genres of books. I would go to Changing Hands before I go to any other bookstore or before I start buying my books online.”
The Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe is located on Guadalupe Road and McClintock Drive, in connection with the café right next to it, The Wildflower Bread Co. As explained in its vision on the store's website, “when you shop at Changing Hands, you join with us in building community.”
Dance sophomore Rebeka Rodriguez said she visits Changing Hands Bookstore solely for the environment and the wide range of books the store has.
“I’ve spent many days reading books at that store, talking to the employees or buying a few books to go over to Wildflower Bread Co. next door to read and do my homework,” Rodriguez said. “The workers are super nice and give me the best book recommendations. Changing Hands is my home away from home, and my go to place when I need to unwind and relax.”
Cindy Dach, co-owner and the store's general manager, said the overall operations of the store grew along with the customer base, and the connection she has made with the customers has only increased along with it.
“While we do sell e-books, they don’t nearly connect with our customers like a print book. We even recycle our customer’s old books for store credit so they can continue to read other new books and expand their experience with our books,” Dach said.
Dach said the staff makes sure to connect with their customers as well, having “staff picks” on their website and in store encourages shoppers to read something they normally wouldn’t.
“Our store has had its struggles, but it’s been thriving for a while now. Our sales are up, we are getting more high profile authors to come in and do signing, and it seems like we are busier than the day before every time we open up,” Dach said.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story included information from a source that identified themselves as a store employee but could not be verified. This version has been updated to remove the information she provided.
Related Links:
Student brings first published novel to Changing Hands
Literally Speaking: New Changing Hands Bookstore Location
Reach the reporter at ekingso1@asu.edu or follow @emilykingsley95 on Twitter.
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