CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE Has E-Commerce Changed the Los Angeles Bookstore Landscape?
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CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE Has E-commerce Changed the Los Angeles Bookstore Landscape? A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Master of Arts in Geography By Andre Balanji December 2015 The thesis of Andre Balanji is approved by: ______________________________ __________________ Dr. Soheil Boroushaki Date ______________________________ __________________ Dr. James Craine Date ______________________________ __________________ Dr. Yifei Sun, Chair Date California State University of Northridge ii Acknowledgements I would like to thank the teachers and faculty at Northridge for making my stay a very educational and pleasant one. I have learned so much and have been able to progress my knowledge to a level I never thought possible. I would further like to thank Dr. Soheil Boroushaki, for advising my through my program and helping with my thesis. I also would like to thank Dr. James Craine, for always being there helping me with my studies and my thesis. I would especially like to thank Dr. Yifei Sun for being my chair and helping me with this whole process and helping me finish and perfect my thesis. I also would like to thanks my classmates for always given me constructive criticism and being there to help. Especially Tina Markary for helping me throughout the whole process, and allowing me only better my knowledge of map making. I finally would like to thank my friends and family for always being there and supporting me through this whole process. iii Table of Contents Signature Page .................................................................................................................... II Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... III Abstract ............................................................................................................................. VI Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 Background ............................................................................................................... 3 Objective ................................................................................................................... 4 Research Questions................................................................................................... 5 Study Area ................................................................................................................ 6 Expectations.............................................................................................................. 8 Limitations ................................................................................................................ 9 Literature Review ............................................................................................................. 10 Books ....................................................................................................................... 10 Shopping .................................................................................................................. 11 Bookstores ............................................................................................................... 13 E-Commerce ............................................................................................................ 15 E-books vs. Books ................................................................................................... 17 Book Response ........................................................................................................ 20 Online Book Retailers ............................................................................................. 21 Data and Methodology ...................................................................................................... 24 Finding Bookstores.................................................................................................. 25 Mapping the Bookstores .......................................................................................... 26 Maps ........................................................................................................................ 27 Survey ...................................................................................................................... 34 Results ............................................................................................................................... 37 Map Results .............................................................................................................. 37 Survey Results .......................................................................................................... 40 Interpreting Survey Results ...................................................................................... 44 Bookstore Owners .................................................................................................... 47 New Changes ........................................................................................................... 51 Notable Closed Bookstores ...................................................................................... 53 Vacant Stores ........................................................................................................... 55 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 58 References ......................................................................................................................... 61 iv Table of Figures: Figure 1 Map of LA County ............................................................................................... 7 Figure 2 Independent Bookstore Chart ............................................................................. 22 Figure 3 All Stores ............................................................................................................ 27 Figure 4 Open Stores ........................................................................................................ 28 Figure 5 Closed Stores ...................................................................................................... 29 Figure 6 Income vs. Open ................................................................................................. 30 Figure 7 Income vs Closed ............................................................................................... 31 Figure 8 Education vs Open .............................................................................................. 32 Figure 9 Education vs Closed ........................................................................................... 33 v Abstract Has E-commerce Changed the Los Angeles Bookstore Landscape? By Andre Balanji Master of Art in Geography Over the past few years with the rise of e-commerce, bookstores everywhere have been closing down. This study aims to see if e-commerce has had an effect on the closing of these bookstores. This study used consumer surveys, interviews of bookstore owners, and GIS techniques to find the effects e-commerce has had on bookstores in Los Angeles County. It appears consumers prefer e-commerce as the form of buying books, and most but not all bookstore owners have had a tough time competing. Also income and education levels proved to be a factor in the opening of bookstores but not in the success of a store. Bookstores have closed everywhere across Los Angeles, and it is evident that the landscape has changed. vi Introduction As long as there have been humans around there has been shopping. Marketplaces have existed as early as the ancient Greeks. As demand, population and currency grew so did the need for larger and more effective shopping marketplaces. By the mid 1800’s department stores and malls began to appear all over the map. Soon enough there where stores for every one of our needs. Over time we advanced our thinking and figured more efficient ways to go shopping. Soon enough by the beginning of the 21st century, we were so technologically advanced that we can now do almost all our shopping online. Now we can just sit back at home and order what it is we wanted and it would just be delivered to our houses. On the other hand as online shopping (e-commerce) grew, the need for brick and mortar stores began to decrease. We no longer need to go to stores for things such as books, movies, and electronics. We can sit at home, click a few buttons, and save money and time. Now books have all but completely become electronic. Paper books have become ancient. Why would we drive, pay extra, and take up space in our homes, when books can be at our fingertips at a moment’s notice? This also applies for movies: who would need to rent a movie from an actual store, when you can watch whatever it is you want whenever you would like? You have retailers like Amazon and Walmart, taking over the whole market. They are selling whatever you need for a cheaper price and at your convenience. This is why I believe e-commerce has completely changed the shape and landscape of bookstores in Los Angeles. Bookstores everywhere are slowly going out of business. Even the biggest 1 chains like, Barnes and Noble and Boarders have closed so many stores down. These large companies do have the ability to use e-commerce as well, however it has not really helped their business models. If these larger bookstores