Local bookstores see mixed results on sales of President-elect Obama's books

Staff photo by Suzanne Stone

With a president-elect who marks a historic first for the Oval Office and is a two-time author, bookstore shelves are full of works on Barack Obama and his family.

Books-A-Million in Aiken Mall has responded to the election by creating a display of Obama-themed books and magazines by the main entrance. The chain store has seen a great deal of customer interest in the subject, according to general manager Aleks Kragh.

"I can't comment ultimately on the final numbers, but we've definitely seen a positive response. We're getting plenty of phone calls and plenty of interest, and we just got a shipment of Time magazines, so we'll have those," he said.

Booklovers Bookstore hasn't seen any demand, but that was exactly what the staff expected, according to co-owner Angela Poe. Booklovers does not normally carry political books.

"We just don't even go into that," she said. "We've had exactly one of those books special ordered. The order went in before the election, and the book was picked up after the election."

Aiken Office Supply carries books on politics and current events, but demand for them hasn't changed since the election, according to store owner Margaret Holley.

"We do have Obama books, but we haven't had any sales," she said. "Aiken is a very Republican county."

The Book Stall in downtown Aiken also stocks both of Obama's memoirs, but no copies have sold since the store opened in 2007, according to sales associate Susan Scherphorn.

Inquiries on Obama memoirs or election-themed books can be made by calling Books-A-Million at 642-0135, Aiken Office Supply at 648-8339, or The Book Stall at 644-0604.

Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.