25 Things Learned From Opening a Bookstore

Dopedangel · 01-26-2012, 02:38 AM

Someone shared his blog entry with me I thought most of us could relate
I am posting the first 7 only the rest you can read here

http://open.salon.com/blog/jlsathre/...ng_a_bookstore

1. People are getting rid of bookshelves. Treat the money you budgeted for shelving as found money. Go to garage sales and cruise the curbs.

2. While you're drafting that business plan, cut your projected profits in half. People are getting rid of bookshelves.

3. If someone comes in and asks where to find the historical fiction, they're not looking for classics, they want the romance section.

4. If someone comes in and says they read a little of everything, they also want the romance section.

5. If someone comes in and asks for a recommendation and you ask for the name of a book that they liked and they can't think of one, the person is not really a reader. Recommend Nicholas Sparks.

6. Kids will stop by your store on their way home from school if you have a free bucket of kids books. If you also give out free gum, they'll come every day and start bringing their friends.

7. If you put free books outside, cookbooks will be gone in the first hour and other non-fiction books will sit there for weeks. Except in warm weather when people are having garage sales. Then someone will back their car up and take everything, including your baskets.

carpetmojo · 01-26-2012, 06:12 AM

[QUOTE=Dopedangel;
7. If you put free books outside.........[/QUOTE]

........you will eventually end up with a sodden pile of mush 'cos you forgot you had them outside when that storm broke...

And they will nick the baskets...

Probably when they are a) full and b) dry....

Ninjalawyer · 01-26-2012, 07:43 AM

I feel like romance novels should be sold behind the counter, or only on high shelves; basically, I think porno for women should be treated the same as porno for men.

patrickt · 01-26-2012, 07:47 AM

I just thought of a new business. Paperback book covers that stick on like Post-It Notes. These covers would have boring and respectable titles and pictures to be stuck over romance novels. "Wow, Mom, you're reading "Expanding the Concepts of the Physical World"?

fjtorres · 01-26-2012, 11:19 AM

There's a reason romance is the single biggest ebook market.
By far.
No need for stick-on book covers.

Or this:
http://www.renaissance-art.com/prod89/product.aspx

BeccaPrice · 01-26-2012, 12:18 PM

there's a big difference between romance novels and porn. I suggest you hang out at Dear Author or SmartBitchesTrashyBooks.com for awhile before you make ignorant comments.

fjtorres · 01-26-2012, 12:24 PM

A sense of humor is a big help, online.

Lots of it at the SBTB site, too.

BeccaPrice · 01-26-2012, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

A sense of humor is a big help, online.

Lots of it at the SBTB site, too.

I was reacting to NinjaLawyer, not to you. I adore the Smart Bitches! I just get so tired of people referring to romance as women's porn. My DH referrs to it as relationship porn, which is perhaps more accurate. The big difference between romance and men's porn are little things like... oh, plot, characterization, little things like that.

Rich_D · 01-26-2012, 01:54 PM

20. If you don't have an AARP card, you're apparently too young to read westerns.

I must be old at heart because I have another 20+ years before I can get an AARP card and Louis L'Amour is one of my favorite authors!

BoiseShan · 01-26-2012, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dopedangel

5. If someone comes in and asks for a recommendation and you ask for the name of a book that they liked and they can't think of one, the person is not really a reader. Recommend Nicholas Sparks.

Blossom · 01-26-2012, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I was reacting to NinjaLawyer, not to you. I adore the Smart Bitches! I just get so tired of people referring to romance as women's porn. My DH referrs to it as relationship porn, which is perhaps more accurate. The big difference between romance and men's porn are little things like... oh, plot, characterization, little things like that.

I find those who react to Romance like the earlier comment have never read one and have no idea what's in them. There are plenty of romances novels that have little to no love scenes in them. Plot and characterization are most important for me in a good romance.

Nicholas Sparks is one author I wont touch. For me a romance has to have a happily ever after or I wont read it.

Apache · 01-26-2012, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_D

20. If you don't have an AARP card, you're apparently too young to read westerns.

I must be old at heart because I have another 20+ years before I can get an AARP card and Louis L'Amour is one of my favorite authors!

Louis L'Amour has always been my favorite author. And his book The Walking Drum is my favorite book and it isn't even a western.

Apache

RHWright · 01-26-2012, 02:49 PM

2. While you're drafting that business plan, cut your projected profits in half.

In this day and age, I'd add, "And then cut it in half again. And deduct another 10%."

Between the overall economy and online sellers, I've seen so many stores go out in the last 5 -10 years. The surviving ones in my area are very near to the college campuses.

Heck, I'm even going online to sell my unwanted books. Nobody in my area buys books anymore, only offering credit. And even then only taking part credit for new purchases. I don't blame them, they need the cashflow to pay the rent. But the Internet has really killed the used bookstores as I knew them growing up.

Ninjalawyer · 01-26-2012, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I was reacting to NinjaLawyer, not to you. I adore the Smart Bitches! I just get so tired of people referring to romance as women's porn. My DH referrs to it as relationship porn, which is perhaps more accurate. The big difference between romance and men's porn are little things like... oh, plot, characterization, little things like that.

Heh, I was being mostly facetious in my comment; I certainly don't look down on anyone who enjoys a good bodice ripper

Edit

And just to avoid offending anyone further, my use of the term "bodice ripper" was also facetious.

vulcan_girl · 01-26-2012, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blossom

I find those who react to Romance like the earlier comment have never read one and have no idea what's in them. There are plenty of romances novels that have little to no love scenes in them. Plot and characterization are most important for me in a good romance.

Nicholas Sparks is one author I wont touch. For me a romance has to have a happily ever after or I wont read it.

Nicholas Sparks is romance for people who say things like "I would never read a romance."

01-26-2012, 02:38 AM	#1
Dopedangel Wizard Posts: 1,759 Karma: 30063305 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Singapore Device: Boyue	25 Things Learned From Opening a Bookstore Someone shared his blog entry with me I thought most of us could relate I am posting the first 7 only the rest you can read here http://open.salon.com/blog/jlsathre/...ng_a_bookstore 1. People are getting rid of bookshelves. Treat the money you budgeted for shelving as found money. Go to garage sales and cruise the curbs. 2. While you're drafting that business plan, cut your projected profits in half. People are getting rid of bookshelves. 3. If someone comes in and asks where to find the historical fiction, they're not looking for classics, they want the romance section. 4. If someone comes in and says they read a little of everything, they also want the romance section. 5. If someone comes in and asks for a recommendation and you ask for the name of a book that they liked and they can't think of one, the person is not really a reader. Recommend Nicholas Sparks. 6. Kids will stop by your store on their way home from school if you have a free bucket of kids books. If you also give out free gum, they'll come every day and start bringing their friends. 7. If you put free books outside, cookbooks will be gone in the first hour and other non-fiction books will sit there for weeks. Except in warm weather when people are having garage sales. Then someone will back their car up and take everything, including your baskets.

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01-26-2012, 06:12 AM	#2
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	[QUOTE=Dopedangel; 7. If you put free books outside.........[/QUOTE] ........you will eventually end up with a sodden pile of mush 'cos you forgot you had them outside when that storm broke... And they will nick the baskets... Probably when they are a) full and b) dry....

01-26-2012, 07:43 AM	#3
Ninjalawyer Guru Posts: 826 Karma: 18573626 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Touch, Nexus 7 (2013)	I feel like romance novels should be sold behind the counter, or only on high shelves; basically, I think porno for women should be treated the same as porno for men.

01-26-2012, 07:47 AM	#4
patrickt Wizard Posts: 1,221 Karma: 8381518 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Device: Paperwhite 4 X 2	I just thought of a new business. Paperback book covers that stick on like Post-It Notes. These covers would have boring and respectable titles and pictures to be stuck over romance novels. "Wow, Mom, you're reading "Expanding the Concepts of the Physical World"?

01-26-2012, 11:19 AM	#5
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	There's a reason romance is the single biggest ebook market. By far. No need for stick-on book covers. Or this: http://www.renaissance-art.com/prod89/product.aspx

01-26-2012, 12:18 PM	#6
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,145 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	there's a big difference between romance novels and porn. I suggest you hang out at Dear Author or SmartBitchesTrashyBooks.com for awhile before you make ignorant comments.

01-26-2012, 12:24 PM	#7
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	A sense of humor is a big help, online. Lots of it at the SBTB site, too.

01-26-2012, 01:54 PM	#9
Rich_D Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1314896 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA Device: Android phone, Kobo Glo HD, nook ST with Glo (backup)	20. If you don't have an AARP card, you're apparently too young to read westerns. I must be old at heart because I have another 20+ years before I can get an AARP card and Louis L'Amour is one of my favorite authors!

01-26-2012, 02:49 PM	#13
RHWright Addict Posts: 219 Karma: 2617122 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: North Carolina Device: NOOK ST, Nexus 7	2. While you're drafting that business plan, cut your projected profits in half. In this day and age, I'd add, "And then cut it in half again. And deduct another 10%." Between the overall economy and online sellers, I've seen so many stores go out in the last 5 -10 years. The surviving ones in my area are very near to the college campuses. Heck, I'm even going online to sell my unwanted books. Nobody in my area buys books anymore, only offering credit. And even then only taking part credit for new purchases. I don't blame them, they need the cashflow to pay the rent. But the Internet has really killed the used bookstores as I knew them growing up.