For more than 60 years, the Hickory Stick Bookshop, Washington Depot, Conn., has "survived and thrived" thanks to its patrons and staff, the Litchfield News reported in its profile of the bookstore and co-owner Fran Keilty.
"We're still here because of our loyal customers," said Keilty. "Litchfield County is a very literate area, and, hopefully it will be for a long time to come. But I think what makes us stand out [from box stores and chains] is that we try to be a part of the community." That and the shop's philosophy: "To always say 'yes.' We do everything we can for our customers. But our real secret ingredient is our great staff. They are knowledgeable and love what they do."
Keilty, who purchased Hickory Stick in 2003 with her husband, Michael, acknowledged that "e-books have affected our business, but with any industry, you need to move with the times to survive. Our first major threat was stores like Waldenbooks, which are gone. The next threat was Barnes & Noble and the café bookstore chains, which have certainly seen a decline in recent years. Now it's e-books. I don't expect them to disappear, but we are adapting to the times. The goal is to give customers what they want.... And we have seen that people still want books. Parents bring their children in to pick out books.... The most rewarding thing is seeing small children, who are used to two different experiences, still wanting books."
Looking to the future, she noted that there "is a whole discussion about independent booksellers, and if they survive. Independent booksellers are passionate about what they're reading and then want to share it with others. And you're seeing new independent booksellers popping up everywhere. The tide has shifted, and you are seeing them thrive.... We've adapted and evolved with the times. That's how you survive."
