Happy New Year to all and thank you so, so, so very much for a successful holiday season at Cornerstone Books! 

I wanted to take a moment to express my sincerest thanks to all of our customers who made a conscious decision to shop locally this season.  Whether you purchased books from us, cosmetics from Rouge, gifts from Pamplemousse, or clothes from J. Mode, I cannot express how critically important it is that you chose to reinvest your hard-earned dollars in Salem as opposed to sending it to malls and big boxers.

 
Whether we know if or not, every day we make decisions that can help or hinder downtown and community growth.  Dollars spent in Salem stay in Salem; dollars spent at Amazon go to Seattle, Washington.  It’s pretty simple when you think about it.  But it’s not so easy to do.  We’re a fast culture and we’re used to “cheapest,” “quick” and “convenience.”  But there are some other words people are starting to add to that list: “knowledgeable,” “friendly,” “community-oriented,” and “green.”

I’ll go even one step further.  We’re inexpensive, quick and convenient, too!  Add to the cost of your Amazon order the cost of shipping, or to your trip to the mall the cost of gas, and suddenly that bargain isn’t such a bargain after all.  Not to mention that our own webstore also has a huge selection of (discounted) books, video and music that can also be mailed to your home, with the added benefit of supporting local business.  Finally, we’re constantly offering ways to save even more on the relatively inexpensive and long-lasting entertainment books provide.

2009 is going to be a tough year all around.  Like most business, we’ll be doing what we can to tighten our belts and prepare for the worst.  And yet we’re optimistic that all the changes we’re seeing we’ll ultimately be good for this country.  This is a time to re-evaluate and take stock of what’s most important to us.  We’ve seen what corporate greed and quick-money schemes have done on Wall Street.  We’ve seen the poor decisions that giant corporations have made that have benefited the few to the detriment of many.  You will not hear much about the small businessman amid all the gnashing of teeth to come, but quietly in the background, you’ll see those small businesses are the backbone of this country, and indeed, what made the country great.
 
Take a look at this video from our fellow bookstore, The Clinton Bookshop in New Jersey.  I couldn’t have said it better myself.

I’m going to make one prediction for 2009, and that’s that people will vote with their feet and dollars.  See you in the months to come!
Gil