The article discusses the concerns of Irish booksellers regarding the launch of Amazon.ie. The arrival of Amazon is viewed as a significant threat to independent bookstores, potentially leading to closures and a loss of cultural diversity in the Irish book market.
Independent booksellers express worries about Amazon's pricing strategies and ability to offer significantly lower prices due to economies of scale. They highlight the "indignity" of seeing customers photograph books in their stores to purchase them online cheaper. The loss of schoolbook sales due to a free schoolbooks scheme also adds to the vulnerability of these small businesses.
Beyond retail, the article discusses Amazon's extensive influence on the literary world, encompassing ebooks, audiobooks, publishing platforms, and online book reviews. The author cites a literary scholar who notes Amazon's influence on every dimension of literary experience.
The article questions the potential role of the Irish government in protecting independent bookstores. While the government's programme for government supports small businesses and the arts sector, it also recognizes the significance of data centers to the economy, suggesting a potential tension in its approach.
Publishers face a dilemma, balancing the desire for wider reach through Amazon's platform against their strong relationships with Irish bookstores, which play a crucial role in promoting Irish authors and culture.
The launch of Amazon.ie poses a significant challenge to the Irish book industry. The article emphasizes the importance of independent bookshops and highlights the potential need for government support to counteract Amazon's impact on these businesses and safeguard Irish literary culture. The long-term success of Irish bookstores and the balance between online and physical retail remain uncertain.