Sidelines
Shane Gottwals
Gottwals Books
www.gottwalsbooks.com
What are those “extra” items you keep in stock? My wife and I have recently begun to carry educational puzzles and toys, with mixed success. (I, of course, want them to fly off the shelves, but I guess I should be patient.)
I was told one time that “Books are what makes the business; sidelines are what keep the doors open.” Gottwals Books is opening a second location (www.gottwalsbooks.com), and we just decided to stock $20,000 worth of toys by the time we open in another month or so.
A well-known toy store in our shopping center closed down (due to the fact that it was a national chain that went belly-up). So, the thought of replacing this shop while opening our own is very appealing. Why not bring those customers into our shop that might be coming in for toys?
Well, I have been a little concerned with the decision. I want people to know that we carry toys, but I don’t want to lose our identity as a serious bookstore. We have 30-40 feet of window space to display the pretty, colorful, plush toys, but will that push anyone away? I assume that, as long as we keep it a “bookstore that carries toys” instead of a “book and toy store,” we’ll keep that long-acquired identity.