Last year, for the first time since Amazon’s Kindle hit the market nearly a decade ago, physical book sales rose as sales of e-books slumped. This unexpected boom means growing revenue for Westchester’s own booksellers, each of whom has a theory on just why paper books have been raking in so much paper lately:
“When it comes to e-readers, the luster is a bit off the rose, and more people are finding that they like reading an actual book. It doesn’t mean they are going to give up their e-readers, but certain books they want to have, touch, feel, and read.”
–Eugene Sgarlata, owner, Womrath’s Book Shop, Bronxville
“Sales have been good, and I have been surprised how enthusiastic the community has been. So many people come in and say, ‘I am so relieved to just be able to buy a book.’”
–Laura Schaefer, owner, Scattered Books, Chappaqua
“The growth of electronic readers was enormous, and it seemed that if things stayed along that curve that physical books were going to disappear. But electronic reading has become more steady, and, as I’ve discovered, there are a lot of people who read both ways.”
–Roy Solomon, owner, The Village Bookstore, Pleasantville
By The Numbers
2.5% rise in physical book sales over 2015
11% slump in e-book sales over the same period
$11.17 billion physical book sales in 2015
$10.89 billion physical book sales in 2014
2007 last year that book sales rose against e-books
