Right, let’s skip the preamble and get down to the mechanics of a successful book store.
Have a clear idea about the kind of shop you want. Write it down, or type it up, & keep it where you can see it — on a cork board, fridge, or the back of your spouses’ head. Keep it simple, & avoid any hyperbolic or poetic language. A couple of three-sentence paragraphs should be sufficient — any more, and you’ll end up losing the plot.
Your store, your say. Others may tell you that your shop has to be a certain way, or else it’s doomed to fail. Yes, there are certain guiding principles that all successful stores should follow, but the more intimate details of your shop must be determined by you. Things like paint colours, shelving, decor, are up to you. If you want the place to feel like a log cabin — and you believe doing so will bring in customers — then, do so.
Be prepared to deal with stress — and loads of it. As your own boss, there is no one to pass the buck to. If a customer is going Martian on you, threatening to discombobulate your store unless you give into their insane demands, it is you that must handle the situation. Taxes, wages, rent, landlord issues & a slew of unexpected trials will be regular companions. So, be prepared for a brain aneurysm or three.
Price books appropriately. Under-selling one book isn’t a big deal; under-selling your entire stock may hurt your bottom line. That trade you priced for $3 could easily have sold for $6 or more, depending on the title, condition, etc…. If your’s is a bulk bookstore model, then you can afford to keep things cheap. For those of you operating a traditional shop, you’re better off charging a little more.
There’s nothing wrong with a little wear-and-tear. In an ideal world, all of your books would look like they came fresh off the press — this, however, is the used bookstore world. Here, it’s wise to take in the good with the not-quite-as-good. By offering a blend of pristine & worn-edged, you’re able to serve the reading community as a whole — not just a select group.
Know what you sell. As one of my previous posts already addresses the need for tracking your inventory, I’ll keep this brief. The importance of keeping detailed, organized documentation of what you carry is tantamount to running a good business. Not only will doing so help you to meet customer’s needs in a professional, expeditious manner, but having that information handy is good for insurance purposes, as well.
Make yourself a community staple. Whether you sell tickets for a local stage production, participate in Midnight Madness sales, or donate books to a school library, get involved with your community. Showing people that you care about the street, neighbourhood or city you’ve planted yourself in, will encourage people to take notice of you — and, most likely, inject much-needed capital.
Tune in to your neighbourhood’s needs. This last point is probably the most important one, as not listening to what your customers want will be detrimental to your shop’s success. What books do your customers crave? What titles/authors repulse your readers? More to the point, what kind of bookstore does your neighbourhood require? Specializing in Sci Fi/Fantasywhen you’re the only game in town probably isn’t smart. And carrying a wide selection of Erotica in town full of the devout will most likely get you shut down before you open. Listen, learn & adapt — and quickly.
There’s nothing easy about running a successful bookshop, & this post hardly covers all the ins and outs. But, I hope it gives you a rough approximation of what a person needs to do in order to eke out a living as a book seller.
Of course, mine is only one of many such posts on here, so it would be wise to give them a read, too.
