Washington NC is a sleepy town of 10,112, unless someone died or was born since we visited. It was deserted when we arrived, but it was 100 degrees in the shade and maybe most humans preferred to survive and declined strolling outdoors. Self titled “The Heart of the Inner Banks,” it’s bisected by the waters of the Pamlico river. There are historic houses to view from the street, ghost walks, sailing, and other leisurely activities. After a great chat with the tourist bureau, we learned of an indie in town. It sounded intriguing, and has a brand new addition, a coffee shop. I Can’t Believe It’s a Book Store–yes, that’s the name, is unusual in its location of a very old former bank. Imposing with
opening a bookshop Archive
My name is Janet Geddis, and I am proud to be an independent bookseller. I started my journey over three years ago and, despite some unbelievable downs and even more miraculous ups, I am soon expanding my business. Since 2009, Avid Bookshop has been an online and events-based bookselling business, but this summer we’re moving into our first retail storefront. I couldn’t be more excited. For people who don’t know how well many indies are doing, my enthusiasm may seem unfounded in the wake of news about the big boxes’ struggle. But independent bookselling is alive and well, and the American Booksellers Association’s membership has actually increased in the last couple of years. As the dinosaurs struggle to adapt, more adept independently-owned bookstore owners are
Being a newcomer to the the life of a bookshop owner, this blog has and continues to offer me so much in ideas and advice. It is most appreciated, indeed. As a way of saying, “Thanks.”, and possibly offering ideas and advice to other newbies, here are my thoughts on a few items of importance: 1) BE CONSISTENT Being the owner of your own business, perhaps after working years for someone else, you may be tempted to come and go as you please. DO NOT SUCCUMB TO TEMPTATION! Set your hours of operation and make sure you, or your employee(s), are there at your stated opening time and remain until your stated closing time. You want people to know when the shop is open and
In our town, there are a few places to get books. Wal-Mart and Safeway have a section of new books. The dollar stores sometimes have a few. The rummage shop has some used books. A classy gift shop has an estate collection it is selling at $2.00 a book as part of a charity that supports cancer patients who must go out of town for treatments. There is a bookcase of $2.00 books at the coffee shop, mostly romances. The library has two or three carts at the library entrance selling Friends of the Library books, and the Friends also have two sales a year. One can get books at garage sales and auctions. We are 100 miles away from a big box book store
[an ongoing series: all the posts are here..] Remember the historical society cases it took so much combined effort to remove, which I myself prefer to not remember at all, ever ever ever? They had not been moved since the flood of ‘65. So the wall behind needed some cleaning and work. And when the carpet had been installed back in the late sixties, they had run it up to the base of the cases and called it good. With the cases gone, a 30 inch stretch of yellowed linoleum tile was on view, and the edges of the carpet were ragged, and not at all straight. The little ins and outs, edged with carpet glue, were less than attractive. The carpet is gray. The
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