The secret how to turn $100K into $1K

[pbray]

just open a bookstore.

There's a new independent bookstore that opened last month, so this afternoon I dropped by to take a look. First impressions were positive--although the store is on the small side, it's a bright, cheery space and the staff seemed helpful but equally willing to let me browse undisturbed.

The tables at the front held an interesting mix of current titles and popular litfic, including a couple of titles I've been meaning to get around to read.

As I wandered further into the store, the good impression started to fade. The bookcases towards the back are so close together that if you're standing in between them you can only view the top 3 shelves. To view titles on the lower shelves you need to kneel down or stand in the aisle and lean in. It was so frustrating that I simply gave up looking through them.

The selection in some cases was spotty--whoever is doing the ordering clearly has areas where they are knowledgeable but other sections are slighted. There were so few romance titles that it was hardly worthy of a section label. The mystery section was heavy on the first part of the alphabet and then had almost nothing from the middle of the alphabet on, leading me to suspect they ran out of space while doing the initial shelving and never got around to fixing it.

The SF section was also odd. In a literary store it's often non-existent, but here they ordered an assortment of trade paperback all of which were displayed face out, and it was an odd assortment making it look like they ordered by cover design and size, rather than picking bestsellers or new releases. The only hardcovers were local author jpsorrow's.

The children's section was extensive and organized into a number of subcategories. So many subcategories that a staff member was unable to locate a book that a customer asked for. The inventory said it should be on the shelves but she she didn't have any idea which section to look in. So she started with picture books and then made her way through the groupings until she eventually gave up and called another staff member at home, presumably whomever had arranged that section.

The history section looked good, but I would have expected to see more of a local emphasis.

In short, it looks like the kind of cute bookstore put together by someone who loves books and has never worked retail bookselling. Much like the store I'd probably put together if I ever won the lottery and wanted to turn a large chunk of money into pocket change. Though I'd like to think that I know enough friends in the booktrade that they could give me good advice.

Much of what I saw was growing pains and hopefully will be ironed out over time. In the meantime, I wish them all the best. It's been too long since there was a bookstore downtown selling new books and it would be nice if to see them succeed.

Comments

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

We can only hope they learn better, and get it right instead of going bankrupt.

So many bookstores seem to just fold :-(.

[teshilaire.livejournal.com]

The only hardcovers were local author [info]jpsorrow's.

Well, at least they got ONE thing right... But the real question is, did they have YOURS?! Maybe we should send fireun in there to give them some free advice ;)

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Well Joshua had gone over and introduced himself to the store manager and thus convinced them to carry his books. I should probably have been a diligent self-promoting author and introduced myself as well, but I was lazy and decided I would impersonate an ordinary customer instead.

[teshilaire.livejournal.com]

The question then is... as a diligent self-promoting author MASCARAING as an ordinary customer, did you ask the clerk if they happened to carry any of Patricia Bray's works and if not, would they be carrying them soon! ;-)

[teshilaire.livejournal.com]

yeah... I can spell... 'masquerading' not mascaraing :P

[libwitch.livejournal.com]

Neil Gaimen had a post last week pointing out that the simple reason why alot of independent bookstores failed and chains succeed came down to a simple fact - the independents often were ran by people who loved to read, by really, sucked at running a business - or at least a bookstore as a business.

I mean, you have to actually plan things out. Like shelving space, and ADA compliance. And stock. And how to organize said stock - it can be how you think it should be, but how everyone should think it should be too. And if you don't have the funds to please everyone, then try to please alot of people in in one area (ie specialize) and then offer a little of the other stuff.

Its not rocket science, but it a science, really. Its not just a hobby, and I think a lot of people go into that business - and restaurants - with that mindset!

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Exactly! Like all those people who think "I love to eat" or "I love to cook" and imagine that this somehow makes them qualified to open and run a restaurant.

In my idle fancies I've often thought of opening an independent bookstore, and every time I visit one I'm always taking note of what works and what (to my eyes, anyway) doesn't.

I'm particular fond of bookstores that include wine bars...

[libwitch.livejournal.com]

thats an intriguing idea...

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Joseph Beth booksellers is a small chain of mega bookstores, think Borders scale, but unlike Borders at their cafe you can get a glass of wine to go with the featured recipes of the day. And for independents, the Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Vermont has much to admire, including offering wine and microbrews in their cafe. It makes a lovely stop in the midst of the outlet shopping for which Manchester is famous.