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Originally Posted by Fbone
I was even thinking smaller. Like mall kiosks in the walkways where you see the various stalls. Entrance to malls outside. Busy street corners 800 sq ft or so. Located near Starbucks or similar. Lease space in supermarkets and department stores. Keep them small and flexible. Short term leases only.
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My local supermarkets don't carry books, but drugstores do - current top selling MMPB releases, along with magazines.
Department stores tend to have book sections, and these may actually be concessions, leasing space as you suggest.
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Make books an impulse items. Put the latest books in window displays. Cater to local preferences.
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Catering to local preferences is the tricky part. First, you have to know what the local preferences are.
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Bookstores as "destinations" work for some but not everyone. How far would you drive to go to a bookstore? Too far and people turn to the internet.
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I don't drive at all to go to a bookstore. I have four within walking distance. The closest is a Borders with an adequate selection, about four blocks away. Seven blocks away is an indie bookstore with a smaller selection but more offbeat stuff. A bit farther (about a 20 minute walk) is a B&N superstore (four floors, and if it's in print they may well have it), and the Strand, a
huge second hand/closeout/recycled promo copy place that advertises "8 miles of books" and is
not joking. Farther still, but still walking distance for me, are the best Juvenile/YA specialty bookstore I'm aware of, a specialty photography bookstore, and several other things.
Of course, I'm in NYC, so my experience is not broadly applicable.
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Dennis