American booksellers go to war with Amazon

The conflict between physical and online commerce is still far from being resolved.

The American association of booksellers ABA has launched an advertising campaign against Amazon, to warn of the increased danger that the online sales giant represents for them in this period of pandemic.

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This campaign is a first of its kind.

It was triggered on the occasion of the “

”

days

, Tuesday and Wednesday, two days during which Amazon offers attractive commercial offers.

The blow too much for the association, which indicated that 35 bookstores counting among its members have gone out of business since the start of the pandemic.

She estimates that 20% independent book stores are threatened with closure.

“

” the ABA said in a statement.

Boxes against Amazon

Called "

", the campaign plays on the term "

" - which means "

" - and the word "

", which evokes the delivery boxes which abound wherever Amazon is present.

For Allison K. Hill, Executive Director of ABA, the rise of the online sales platform "

".

According to the association 104 bookstores opened in 2019, against only 30 at this stage of the year.

The campaign was launched on social networks, but also in the shops themselves, among the 1,750 members of the ABA.

Some, like Solid State Books in Washington, have covered their storefronts with a giant brown cardboard-colored coating, reminiscent of the boxes Amazon uses for its deliveries.

"

," asserts one of the slogans inscribed on the storefront, in front of which are also placed boxes covered with other shocking phrases.

"

."

According to census office data, the turnover of physical book outlets fell 31% in the first seven months of this year.

At the same time, in the second quarter of 2020, the internet represented 16.1% of retail sales, all products combined, a record, up by a third compared to the first quarter, shows the same source.