Dear Friends:

Vertigo Books is at risk. We have short and long versions of why this is so, but both end with the same request: vote with your dollars now if you value our local economy and this store.

Where you spend your money affects the world in which you live. For every $10 you spend at locally owned businesses, $4.50 stays in our community. The math is simple and compelling:
Vertigo Books         $4.50
Barnes & Noble/Borders/Costco     $1.30
Amazon             $0.00
The money you spend with us continues to circulate as we pay employees, buy supplies and pay taxes that are used to provide basic services to residents.

Why are we struggling? It may be a perfect storm:

• Market forces have not been kind to independent businesses and competition from internet and chain booksellers is keen.
• DC area residents use the internet more than many areas.
• An entire generation has grown up believing that Barnes & Noble, Borders and Amazon are the only places to buy books and this matters in a college town.
• The area lacks a coherent Buy Local effort that makes consumers aware of the real cost of chains.

Sales in 2008 are down substantially over last year. Vertigo Books simply cannot survive only on good wishes and fond thoughts.

If you believe, as we do, that bookstores are more than places of commerce, but places of community, conversation and ideas, we urge you to come in and shop. We’ll recognize more than your credit card. Frequently we’ll know your reading tastes (if not your name), ask how the new job is, whether your mom is doing well and lead you to the new book by your favorite writer. There is no log-in, no password required: just walk in the door.

You vote with your dollars as you shop, so please reflect a moment before you purchase books for friends and family online. Support retail diversity: shop consciously. You will do more to build a healthy local and state economy by shopping with locally owned businesses—even in this gloomy time. Independents live in your community, support your causes, pay taxes, find your book like no search engine can (when you can only remember the color…and that turns out to be wrong) and bring you outstanding value and events.

We enjoy serving the community we live in and have always told new employees our customers were the best around. But without your renewed support…

Well, in the spirit of optimism, let’s just close with our thanks for your commitment to keeping thoughtful bookselling, with a little irreverence and independence, alive here on Route 1.

Todd Stewart, Bridget Warren &
The Staff of Vertigo Books

PS-In thanks, we’ll offer a galley (a book in prepublication form) to those who purchase $25 or more while supplies last. Quantities and selection limited.