2023-04-21 18:43:26
Time.news – “After the Covid pandemic, things have taken a different direction than in the past and we have started selling books again. Customers have returned and so have requests because the real reader reads on paper, he likes the smell of books” . Massimo Botrini, owner of Cicero Library in Rome near the Galleria Alberto Sordi, one of the last independent booksellers who ‘survived’ the crisis linked to the pandemic, tells Time.news how he did it.
“Today tourism has resumed at a significant pace, so the incidence of this type of occasional customer has increased significantly, which was not there in the past – he explains – and for us who are in the historic center it is crucial, even if the level is not it’s top notch, of course.”
The Cicerone bookshop is located near Piazza Colonna and with the end of the emergency Covid and the return of tourism, including international tourism, has seen an increase in occasional or passing customers, to whom it also offers ad hoc products. “Being in the historic center there are obviously also many items for tourists because there must be something in the drawer in the evening”, says Botrini.
Minister Sangiuliano’s proposal on the fair rent for subsidized rents for bookshops housed in non-privately owned properties owned by Municipalities and Regions, banks and other entities is appreciated by Botrini: “A proposal that aims to help bookshops is welcome – he explains – the fair rent was fine, as was the tax credit of his predecessor, Minister Franceschini: everything that is done is welcome, small aids are fine”.
The battle against Amazon
To go ahead, the Cicero bookshop has not relied solely on the flow of tourists. Alongside these, the owner explains, there is a good number of loyal customers because “we have niche publishing products that cannot be found elsewhere. We deal with small and medium-sized publishing, so we have customers who are often amazed to find books that aren’t even on Amazon”.
And, speaking of theecommerce, the bookseller explains that obtorto collo must use it together with the classic sale. “We are on all fronts, so even mail order of which I am an enemy – he says – but, as I said, the drawer in the evening must smile. I confess that I like the figure of the old-time bookseller”.
The incidence of online, however, is not particularly significant even if on average at least 20 of his books are purchased through e-commerce every day. “It’s a method I hate, but it’s necessary,” she adds. The Cicerone bookshop is located a few meters from Palazzo Chigi, so it is inevitable to talk about politicians-readers.
Politicians-readers like white flies
“Do politicians read? It doesn’t appear to me – comments bitterly Botrini – at least not those of today. My bookshop has been in front of Palazzo Chigi for a lifetime and the various people have often passed here Andreotti, Cossiga, Spadolini in addition to many others. I shook Giovanni Spadolini’s hand more than thirty years ago and I never washed it again. Today, seeing a politician in here is an exceptional event”.
Massimo Botrini with his work as a bookseller is, despite himself, a witness of the time. “The politicians who frequent the bookstore today can be counted on the fingers of their hands – he explains – the generation of politicians has changed and we no longer have loyal customers as happened, for example, with Giovanni Spadolini. Which ones do I see most often? Senator De Carlo, the Honorable Mollicone, Senator De Priamo, Senator Montevecchi come to mind … but they are rare cases ”, he concludes.
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