Brick and Mortar Thoughts

Some tips from the Pros on how to operate a successful bookshop.

Book Burning, or the Lack There Of

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Rereading articles about last September’s London riots, I became bemused over the point many newspapers and blogs made about the lack of looting and book burning during the violence. All had theories of why this was so. One–the rioters respect books, therefore didn’t touch them. I think we can rule that one out immediately. Some … Read more

Neck Deep in PODs (Publish on Demand)

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An interesting article once again explores the impact of print on demand books. A offbeat attitude is displayed by the author of the article, Clive Thompson. It’s his contention that PODs will lead to *more* physical books, not less, actually he thinks in 20 years we will all be ‘neck deep’ in them. It’s what … Read more

Do it yourself bookshelves

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There’s tons and tons of commercially available book displays out there, but that doesn’t always mean you can find QUITE what you wanted. Or at the price you wanted.  Instructables is a website full of do it yourself projects, illustrated with photos.  Some of them are brilliant, easy  projects… some you look at them and are pretty sure this person is way handier than you and if you tried it you’d be looking at a trip to the emergency room.  Bookshelves are a favorite project and there’s some fascinating takes on them.    Click the link to see the instructions on how to make them!

Bridge of books

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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All Hallow's Read

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Community involvement by brick-and-mortar bookstores is something that I’m always pushing for, so I figured I might as well actually offer a concrete example of this for once, and not just parrot some high-minded ideal. Neil Gaiman is an author.  Depending on who you ask he’s a great author.  I’m a fan of his, although I’ll admit … Read more

The Customer is Always Right?

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I  don’t believe this adage holds true in this day and time. More and more retailers are responding to obnoxious customers with being obnoxious in return. That’s if you can find some one working the floor in a Walmart or other giant warehouse type place.  As  a bookseller in an independent store, how does one … Read more

Do Reprints Lower The Sale of First Editions?

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I have no idea! And that’s why I am writing this article, because I’ve had a long discussion on another site about vintage illustration being copied, and one argument against copying public domain images from rare books or postcards is that it hurts the rare paper ephemera business and book sellers. Does it? Do say, … Read more