“Do any of you feel like exploding from your chair when you’re at work?” Maybe some of you enjoy the experience so much that you never tire of it. I wouldn’t say that I’m “tired,” but I want to do more. Is this a claustrophobic chronic disease of the independent bookseller?

Ever feel like you just don’t belong in the book business? Ever think that you don’t know half of what you should in order to be a proper bookseller?

Well, Gottwals Books has been open almost 3 years.  We started with almost zero knowledge of opening a book store.  We had roughly 7500 titles in stock, and half of our shelving was bought at …

It’s amazing how little some store owners seem to own the space they lease.  It’s a common problem in America, isn’t it?  We don’t value anything unless we own it, and, even then, we don’t …

No One Cares

This chapter is sort of a side-note to everything that is being discussed in this book.  Of course, with a good selection, fair pricing, and a nice store, most everyone will appreciate your …

The title of this article comes from a lady who is actually in my store right now.
Like many people, she complained from the get-go about hardback books. She only wanted paperback because she said that they were easier to read. OK, fair enough….

Slow Day at the Bookstore
Shane Gottwals
Gottwals Books
www.gottwalsbooks.com
Slow days stink.  There’s no two ways about it.  They stink.
Slow days put me down.  I can’t shake the feeling.  They just do.
The only remedy (besides prayer and reading …

Advertising in the Used Book World
Shane Gottwals
Gottwals Books
www.gottwalsbooks.com

A recent article I wrote really got me to thinking about advertising and the small, independent bookstore.  Is it just my experience, but do you never see bookstores …

There is no book or article that can map out your success, but there are plenty of highways toward failure. I know I have a long way to go, but you’re in a good spot when you know what you’re doing.

I didn’t think about franchising until a friend of mine brought up the concept. Think about it. If you have a trade system, an acquisitions system, an employee requirement system, a pricing system, a fixture system, a sorting system, an advertising system…