Recap: New and Prospective Owners Retreat

Last week's retreat for new and prospective owners covered a wide range of topics. The meeting was moderated by Julia Davis, owner of The Book Worm in Powder Springs, GA, and Courtney Ulrich Smith, owner of Underbrush Books in Rogers, AR, but its purpose was primarily for owners to connect with each other around shared issues and offer each other advice and support.

Overall, booksellers reported having many issues with city and municipal processes and delays as they worked to find a space and open their doors for business. They also felt uncertain about inventory decisions, often asking themselves, "Do I have enough? Do I have the books people want?"

Here are some of the suggestions that came out of an active and lively discussion:

Pre-Opening

• Figure out the vision of your store - what do you want to be known for? Start doing things toward that vision before you open.
  
  
• Secure your social media accounts and document your opening journey so once you open, the community already knows who you are - it can also help keep you motivated! Also, be sure your store’s Google account is updated with photos and important information, and spend time on your website, which is the first thing many people will see about your store. Focus more on community engagement than on how often you post. 
  
  
• Join the ABA and start a Bookshop.org page - can both get your name out there and start creating revenue. Bookshop can show your community what books/topics you will highlight in your store and start building your bookseller brand and personality. Sales will also help you see what your customers are interested in while curating inventory.
  
  
• Doing pop-ups/markets before you open can help make connections in your community, but be mindful that if you do them frequently, your customers may expect to see you there even after you have opened your doors.

Events

• Work with your community and find programs already in place to partner with to help build your own audience.
  
  
• If there are other bookstores in your area, get involved in joint programming such as bookstore crawls during Independent Bookstore Day, or local book festivals.

Inventory

• It is a trial-and-error process, but you will learn what your customers want.
  
  
• Don't feel pressured to stock multiple copies of books when one or two will suffice. But do order more copies of the books you are really excited about.
  
  
• Buying direct from publishers offers better terms. Inquire if they have new bookstore programs for new accounts, or look at the publishers you think you order from the most and try ordering direct from them. Remember when returning books, credits can take 4-6 weeks to appear on your account, and you pay for shipping as well.
  
  
• Stores can use Faire to discover and experiment with sidelines, and set up direct accounts later if it makes more sense.

Staff and Interns

• If using interns, be sure to check your state laws -- many states require that interns be paid.
  
  
• When hiring, be clear about the duties and expectations of the job, including the less glamorous parts, like cleaning bathrooms. Ask specific questions, such as "how much time do you spend reading every week?" and look for people who read differently from you; they will be able to cover areas you don't know as well. You can also hire for specific roles: a romance bookseller, or a children's bookseller, for example.

Booksellers' best resource is often each other. SIBA holds two retreats for new and prospective owners each year: one in the spring and one in the fall. There is also an extended in-person owners' retreat on the last day of the New Voices New Rooms Conference in August.