It’s a family-owned bookstore that has a 50-year-long story to tell.
Black Bond Books has managed to endure the many plot twists and turns of the book business, carving out a place for itself in a tough climate. It also happens to have one of its most-loved locations right here in New Westminster.
“We’ve sort of weathered just about anything that anybody could throw at us,” Black Bond owner Cathy Jesson says with a chuckle.
First it was the big-box businesses that were going to slam the bookstore shut, and now it’s the looming threat of the eReader. But neither has been as devastating to the Black Bond as predicted.
“Now it’s a co-existence,” Jesson says about the competition. “It’s important for them to be in the market for publishers to sell their books.
“They’re selling lots and lots of blankets and candles and stuff like that, and we are still selling lots of books.”
As for the digital book business, Jesson says a couple of years ago “everyone was setting their hair on fire” over it, but market demand has leveled off at about 17 per cent.
“It’s actually been in a little bit of decline in Canada,” she says. “I think what’s happened in many, many instances, it was a device that was given to people because somebody said, ‘Oh, they like to read, so we are going to buy them one of these.’ That isn’t the way they like to read basically. People look at screens all-day long, and it’s nice to just have something you can share, too.”
Business at Black Bond is not only sustaining – it’s growing. The family recently bought The Book Warehouse on Broadway in Vancouver, taking them to 10 locations in the Lower Mainland. They are now pondering opening another location in Vancouver – not bad for a company that was started in Manitoba in 1963 by a handful of book lovers, including Jesson’s mom, Madeline Neill.
Eventually Neill, now 84 and retired, moved west and opened the first Black Bond Book location in White Rock in 1975.
The family run operation continues today with Jesson’s daughter and ex-husband, who also help run the business.
As for what’s helped them stay in business for so many years, Jesson’s chalks it up to their staff, who are passionate about books.
The New West location has also been very “strong,” Jesson’s says, because “it’s a community that values history and values some independence.”
Longtime manager Lorraine Williams has worked in the New West location for 25 years.
“I remember talking to her many, many years ago. (She said) ‘I don’t usually stay at anything very long, so don’t really expect me to stay. … I remind her of that,” Jesson says, laughing.
The store started in the city at the old New Westminster Mall, then made the move to Royal City Centre, where it was tucked in the back corner of the mall. It recently was moved near the food court to help make room for a new Wal-Mart that is rumoured to be moving into the Royal City Centre.
They love the new location, which has raised their profile and “bumped” sales, says Jesson, who is grateful to the Royal City Centre management for its support, especially after their experience with Guilford Town Centre. They waited through the renos at the Guilford centre and then were dropped by the mall’s management after 25 years.
“There’s no bookstore in that huge centre – 250 stores, and there’s no bookstore. I scratch my head at that one,” Jesson says.
One of Jesson’s favourite aspects of her jobs is traveling around and buying publishers overstocks and close-outs.
“That’s become a real core of our business,” she says. “Probably about 30 per cent of our business is based on those books, and the customers appreciate finding some real gems, just the same way I have fun finding them for the customers.”
For more information about Black Bond Books, visit www.blackbondbooks.com.
