Comments on: Is the heyday of online bookselling well in the past or is this just the beginning? http://bookshopblog.com/2007/07/19/is-the-heyday-of-online-bookselling-well-in-the-past-or-is-this-just-the-beginning/ ...to help you be a better bookseller Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:02:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: George http://bookshopblog.com/2007/07/19/is-the-heyday-of-online-bookselling-well-in-the-past-or-is-this-just-the-beginning/comment-page-1/#comment-2259 George Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:38:03 +0000 http://bookshopblog.com/?p=16#comment-2259 I, too, think Guy's points are valid. In fact - his remarks can be applied to retailing of all merchandise everywhere. The principles are simple and easy to abide in the early stages of a business but as sales and customers increase the inevitability of details falling through the cracks grows in direct proportion. The first point (a) hang in there - is where most failings occur. Doing the same thing day after day after day is difficult in and of itself but when you are doing it for a limited market (anytime you specialize you shrink the market even more) the obstacles eventually become insurmountable. The appeal of selling online will surely grow forever - because it looks so easy. As a brick and mortar operator who dabbled in the online for a few years - I found the opposite to be true. I am reminded of Isaac Asimov leaving science because as he became better and better at what he did he was forced into a focus which became more and more narrow - I think the world is a better place because of his decision. I do think there is a possibility of a hundred or so individuals doing something worthwhile online - but I think everyone who operates a brick and mortar store will make more of a lasting mark on their communities. I fail to see how people sending books out of a community are much of an asset to a community. Somehow, somewhere this cry in the wilderness will become louder and louder ... smile. I, too, think Guy’s points are valid.
In fact – his remarks can be applied to retailing of all merchandise everywhere.

The principles are simple and easy to abide in the early stages of a business but as sales and customers increase the inevitability of details falling through the cracks grows in direct proportion.

The first point (a) hang in there – is where most failings occur. Doing the same thing day after day after day is difficult in and of itself but when you are doing it for a limited market (anytime you specialize you shrink the market even more) the obstacles eventually become insurmountable.

The appeal of selling online will surely grow forever – because it looks so easy.
As a brick and mortar operator who dabbled in the online for a few years – I found the opposite to be true.

I am reminded of Isaac Asimov leaving science because as he became better and better at what he did he was forced into a focus which became more and more narrow – I think the world is a better place because of his decision.

I do think there is a possibility of a hundred or so individuals doing something worthwhile online – but I think everyone who operates a brick and mortar store will make more of a lasting mark on their communities.

I fail to see how people sending books out of a community are much of an asset to a community.

Somehow, somewhere this cry in the wilderness will become louder and louder … smile.

]]> By: Silvia Pena http://bookshopblog.com/2007/07/19/is-the-heyday-of-online-bookselling-well-in-the-past-or-is-this-just-the-beginning/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Silvia Pena Sun, 22 Jul 2007 20:59:52 +0000 http://bookshopblog.com/?p=16#comment-4 Appreciate this blog and Guy's ideas. I am in the process of revising my listings--many were done by others in the past and some are incomplete and/or unsatisfactorily. The idea of a virtual bookstore is my goal. But my biggest challenge is to create a uniform set of categories for online. Today I have been experimenting with Biblio's catalog mapping. Guy mention's saving contact emails from previous buyers of unusual titles. I like that, though it goes back to a uniform cataloging system as in a B&M store. Appreciate this blog and Guy’s ideas. I am in the process of revising my listings–many were done by others in the past and some are incomplete and/or unsatisfactorily. The idea of a virtual bookstore is my goal. But my biggest challenge is to create a uniform set of categories for online. Today I have been experimenting with Biblio’s catalog mapping.
Guy mention’s saving contact emails from previous buyers of unusual titles. I like that, though it goes back to a uniform cataloging system as in a B&M store.

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