Jan 15 2009
Opening a Used Bookstore (Part 2)
In part one of “Opening a Used Bookstore” we discussed choosing between selling books online or opening a brick and mortar store. In this article we will discuss purchasing books and inventory. If you are going to open an actual bookstore, once you are open people will start bringing their used books to you. One of the most important tips about accepting books is to “have a plan.” Know before a person comes in with their books how you will handle these situations. Will you actually pay the person up front for their books or will you offer them a commission after the books are sold?
Purchasing Used Books
Before you open your new bookstore, consider that you need to have enough books to fill the shelves. You don’t want your new shop to look like a project in progress, but the done deal. Call your local library(s) and find out when they have their annual sale. Be there, on the day, early so that you can collect the best books for your store. Check out garage sales on the weekends, here’s where you can get real deals. Place an ad in the paper. Place flyers in public places. All of these ideas for gathering books are good even if you have chosen to just sell online.
There are certain genres and types of books you will want to stay away from. Any kind of dated materials should not be purchased, if they don’t sell within a certain time period you will have lost money. Romance novels are not big sellers, believe it or not. Yes, you should have a small section, but watch how much of these you purchase. Also, new age materials are not exceptional sellers. Perhaps because people are always looking for the newest materials and by the time you get them in your store they are old news.
Book Inventory
It’s not just the book business that needs to keep good tabs on their inventory. It is at the top of the list of any successful business. You must know what books you have on hand. If a customer walks in your door asking for a particular book, and all you have to do is locate it on your computer and you can go straight to it’s location, you will have a return customer as well as word-of-mouth advertising that is priceless.
