Why it's hard to find a good magazine newsstand

Readers are finding outlets for single magazine copies fewer and farther between in North America, according to a story in Advertising Age. Quoting data from the Magazine Information Network, the story says that 18,000 retail outlets for magazines disappeared in North America between December 2007 and now -- a decline of 11.3%. Although subscriptions comprise the vast majority of most magazines'

Swiss distributor to open Motto Vancouver, a new source for indy titles

A new, very specialized magazine and bookstore is opening in Vancouver on December 9 at the Or Gallery, an artist-run centre at 555 Hamilton Street. It's called Motto Vancouver and it is an offshoot of a Switzerland-based company called Motto Distribution which specializes in hard-to-find indy magazines and fanzines. Started in 2007 to serve the Swiss market, it has since expanded to serve more

Used bookstore savvy and how to demonstrate it

Utne Reader's blog The Sweet Pursuit alerted us to an essay in the Toronto-based literary magazine Descant that counsels people on how to behave in used bookstores. The author of the essay should know, because it's David Mason, a bookseller with 40 years of experience. There are 44-rules of which number one is:“When you enter a used bookstore, do not ask if it is a library. A common preliminary

Former Duthie's manager to open new indy bookstore in Vancouver

It's nice, for a change, to be able to report on an indie book and magazine store starting up, rather than closing. Out of the ashes of Duthie Books is arising Sitka Books & Art, setting up shop just two blocks (and $10,000 less in rent) than Duthie's old location on West 4th Avenue in Vancouver.  Ria Bleumer (right above), the former manager of Duthie Books, which closed in February after 53