The French government created a law this past Thursday that prevents the gigantic online retail store, Amazon, to offer free delivery to customers on top of a maximum 5 percent discount on books. This is a part of France’s movement to protect small and local bookstores from supermarket chains. Online book sales rose to 13.1 percent of total book sales in 2011, and an increasingly high number of book buyers now gear towards buying online rather than in stores. The French are taking aim at U.S.-based Internet giants that take away from local business owners.

With the emergence of large supermarket chains that sell just about anything, local businesses have been hit the heaviest.  More and more consumers have been making the shift from locally-owned stores to massive franchises, but there are many benefits to buying local. It not only boosts the economy, but it creates more job opportunities for the people within the community. Contrary to the dominance of supermarket chains, there has been a noticeable shift by many companies to support local businesses. It has become a new marketing mechanism to attract potential customers. Society has come to realize that sustainability is a key element to the future.

Article Links:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/04/business/France-Takes-Aim-at-Amazon-to-Protect-Local-Bookshops.html?ref=international&_r=0