Christian bookshops

[parsley]

Hey! You're back.

You certainly have the experience to make it work.

True!

I like the idea above of used Christian books and exchanges -- imagine how many people have books sitting around! And they like to see the notes others wrote in the margins.

On beverages... our library keeps a Keurig machine on a table, with a jar trusting people will pay. That would take very little extra time and expense, and you might undercut the neighbors' prices. (A few spills...)

I was thinking of making scripture advice cookies. Kinda like chinese fortune cookies, but with scripture inside.

That would be really nice -- people would come there with kids, just for fresh ones.

There was a company that already distributed those, but might not still exist. You can approach an online wedding favor company
to bake and insert them. (Not sure what import fees you'd have.)

Bible Verse Fortune Cookies (50 pcs. per unit)
Fortune Cookie Sayings | Custom Fortune Cookies | Personalized Fortune Cookie Messages | Always Free Custom Sayings www.FancyFortuneCookies.com

A relative of mine ran a Christian book store many years ago, and it thrived. These days when I walk into the stores, they're empty -- people buy online. You can add small specialties they can't get elsewhere, like hand-printed tee shirts or local CD's, ticket sales...

I was just reading articles on profitability of small retail stores, lol no really just five minutes ago.

Stores that did well paid attention to sales per square foot. Ones in big cities made more profit per square foot, with higher traffic/higher prices, even when rent was much higher... the spaces were small, like you describe.

Consider how much you might actually sell to the community around the store, and whether you need to pay rent on that amount of space. If the space is already determined, then maybe you could add a sideline like coffee shop, or shelf space rental to crafters.

You can get on the mailing list for CBA Christian Retailers (Booksellers)
CBAOnline | CBA: The Association for Christian Retail

Go for it! Make it work.

 

[Goodbook]

...nobody wants to do it with me...
:-(
Everyones already committed elsewhere and the ppl that are free dont read.

 

[parsley]

Do you need other people? You could set the hours you want to work, and close it other days. Or is it a kiosk where merchandise sits out while the building is unlocked?

 

[parsley]

Some people who run small shops use payroll services, temp worker services, contracted bookkeepers, cleaning services.... all contracted out, with no employees or partners. It's a little more expensive, but can give you more hope and the feeling you're supported by others. Much less overwhelming. Get yourself a square card, a tax ID number, and dive in!

 

[Goodbook]

oh..I don't know about that. I've never run a business on my own before.
It would still need to pay rent, and, then I'd be losing money on the days it was closed. I don't know that it could work on an honesty system...?
but i suppose, if putting the books online, everytime one got ordered and sold..still need to keep track of it.

I have asked a friend who knows someone who may be interested.
I have also put out some emails but so far nobody interested, at least, not interested in doing with me. It might get sold to someone else like a couple that really want it as their second income (I don't even have a proper first, and would probably be lose what I recieve already if I started this one)or heaven forbid, someone who just wants to play shopkeeper and run the business into the ground and knows nothing about books or hates customers.

 

[parsley]

You could tell the owner that if they sell it, they can give your contact information to the new owners.

Owning a business is a lot of work and no guarantee of profit, so your caution is worthwhile. But then sometimes we end up doing charitable work in the same fields and take losses, so maybe sort out in your mind how much you want to do this as a service to people, and how much a business.

Online will involve packing materials, which take up space. (At home?) Still, many brk&mtr stores end up making their money online.

One of the things people will pay for is a place to sit and feel cared for. Strange, but look at how coffee shops have a constant flow of customers (paying large profit margins without question). The environment and caring is often worth a visit.

Knowing that people buy ebooks, mbe you could sell e-readers/tablets too. (Make sure you carry items that people need (as opposed to what you can find cheap, or defining what you like.)

And look at where things are headed. Balance phone-watch tech with potential for power outages in solar storms. (-; Things change rapidly, books are an anchor.

There are stores that lose money, but also stores that make unbelievable amounts. I know someone who manages a division of a big box store, and that department makes a million profit per year -- and you know how empty home improvement stores usually look.

There's a textbook exchange that does well here ... that will wane with more etext use, but they keep a very organized electronic database and can look up a book's value and availability in seconds.

Considering a business will overload your mind for a while -- researching all aspects of it -- but the info will be useful in other aspects of life, in your future.

 

[Goodbook]

Well i thought more in terms of ministry than business
Of course dad would let me do whatever, as long as im happy, mum says no way id lose money, which she always seems to think is hers. Anyway.

Church doesnt seem that interested :-(

I thought maybe trialing the business for a week learning the ropes to see if can handke it with another friend. I could not do it on my own.

Yes thought about txt book angle but it can be more hassle than worth.
No tablets, ebooks cos my clientele would not be interested, im not driven to capture markets or make huge amounts of money i would just want it to pay its way and cover the rent, and time spent on it, any extra would be bonus.
When selling electronics you would need to deal with warranties etc. no thanks.

Friend suggest sideline of crafts like little pot plants and having sofas and place to have a cuppa. There are cafes already in the arcade, so dont want to compete with them.
Everyone talk to thinks, oh nobody buys books anymore..but ppl still need a place thats not impersonal like the public library. I found that working there, actually, many librarians didnt actually know or care about books it was just a job that paid the bills for them.

 

[parsley]

I think it's a blessing that church isn't interested, because that would add a layer of approval for everything, and decisions would be slowed by people who weren't invested in it.

In bookstores around here, bookophiles sit on the floor reading for half a day. If there are soft chairs, they are elated. (But then they are taking up space and not paying for using your books.)

Our Barnes&Noble stores are always humming, and there's always at least one person in line. They also invite writers' groups to hold meetings, and host local author book signings. Many readers still love to touch the paper, and put bookmarks in.

Crafts should work well bc that will build loyalty for fans and friends of the crafters. Some store owners rent shelf space for $30/month.

Here in the states, librarians go to college for library science, and sometimes have related MS degrees. The ones without degrees can't get above a certain level, from what I understand. But in any occupation, we run the risk of people doing it to pay the bills. We all need to pay bills.

 

[Goodbook]

well, not to boast, I do have the MLIS degree, fat lot of good it did me as could not find a decent job with it. All the degree-holding librarians are holding on to their jobs.

I was going to hold my leafy book club there. I tried to start it online but though people seemed interested, they weren't really, like I would say lets meet up and nothing happened.
If had a place like a bookshop, could have it whenever we wanted.


I have one friend willing to support me, if we do it together, could work out alright but, she does not know too much about books as english her second language. But we could have books in foreign languages and picture books, puzzles, and crafts.

It might be that..if split between two ppl, we have one do mornings and one do afternoons, meeting in the lunch break to handover. I don't think I could sit in a shop for 8 hours a day, be too long. And then anybody else who wanted to do a day, could do a day. maybe.

 

[parsley]

The half-day split is a great idea! Especially if you deal in used books -- one could be out scouting for inventory. The foreign languages could be a great draw when there are usually more foreign language speakers in the community.

Also there are people like me who collect translation books for kicks, or before they take a trip.

(PS Make sure you completely trust and respect your partner, or build in a clause where one can back out after a month.)

 

[Goodbook]

I like the scouting for books part.
Im jsut wondering if I ought to let winz know Im doing this, or rather, treat it like I do my volunteer work, which is not really income, any bonus I earn is like a gift. Cos...what they give me now I couldnt even afford to pay the rent on the shop. The lady said its more an investment than a real income and would not support a family it could only supplement what you already earn from a pension or something. As it would be gst free not have to worry about tax.

 

[parsley]

GST free, that simplifies things.
Scouting for books, half the fun!

I didn't see small biz ventures on the winz site, but they seemed to support training and studies. Sometimes organizations will help with loans or legal consultations, so dig around.

I knew of someone who got tuition, a computer and a business loan. Another who got child care and transportation for going back to school. So there might be something for launching a business, or doing volunteer work. This is connected to your field, so could be restructured somehow. Charitable hours?? Explore -- not so much for greed but keeping it viable, sustainable over time.

Learn new skills - Work and Income

 

[Unix]

Ideally You should be three individuals, so You only need to find one more who doesn't necessarily need to be as committed. Perhaps You are over-emphasizing knowledge at this stage. One can learn about books, I know I've learned a great deal in 3½ years - now I have a pretty firm grasp about Christian (academic/scholarly) books and I haven't done much seminary yet, I've learned at least 95% outside classes:

I have one friend willing to support me, if we do it together, could work out alright but, she does not know too much about books as english her second language. But we could have books in foreign languages and picture books, puzzles, and crafts.

It might be that..if split between two ppl, we have one do mornings and one do afternoons, meeting in the lunch break to handover. I don't think I could sit in a shop for 8 hours a day, be too long. And then anybody else who wanted to do a day, could do a day. maybe.

 

[Goodbook]

Yes good idea. Three would be ideal...a three fold cord is nt easily broken. But we wouldnt be competing with thechristian bookshop already in town that had theological books. That is not the clientele anyway. Jus ordinary ppl who love books.

 

[Goodbook]

I found one friend willing, just need another. Will be going there tomorrow to check it all out.

 

[parsley]

Things are moving forward! Ask a lot of questions!

But we wouldnt be competing with thechristian bookshop already in town that had theological books.

Also some bookstores sell Sunday school supplies, pastoral clothes, and Catholic accessories; it sounds like your idea, along with a cozy place near coffeehouses will draw a different clientele.

 

[Goodbook]

A friend has just given me six boxes of books as having a clear out, i have no problem finding books.

I just come back from a poetry reading at the university...and got inspired.

 

[Goodbook]

ack no wi-fi.
Im just wondering if can handle it.
I dont mind exchanging mills and boons if thats what ppl like to read...but..I had enough of erotica in the library. What do people here like to read...apart from the bible?

Give me some genres so I have an idea.
What would you look for in a bookstore. You want to browse right? You cant do that online..if you going to buy something online you must already know the title and what you after.

I would head for the gardening books..and cookbooks that don't have a celebrity chef on the cover...and bios about dead famous people that I was curious about, and memoirs.
I'm not really into fiction anymore and avoid sci-fi or fantasy like the plague unless it's Jules Verne.

 

[Goodbook]

In a christian bookstore I would go for missionary bios and testimonies and large print bibles.
And women's books, esp funny ones like 'Help! I'm intimidated by the Proverbs 31 woman!'
and practical ones on how to love, like love languages.
Also books about Israel, with pictures on places in the Bible.

I also like ones on plants in the Bible, actually my favourite, and classics like Foxes book of Matyrs and Pilgrims Progress.
Also devotions like my Utmost for His highest.
just off the top of my head. There's a lot of junk in christian bookstores too, so have to be discerning.

 

[parsley]

I like reference books that I can keep around, but that might sound boring.
With limited space you'd need impulse purchasing. (Reference is impulse for me, lol.)

A couple of us were comparing Target and Walmart (do you have those stores in NZ?) and considered Target the place for more impulse buying, and Walmart reliable for staples. Target survives with fewer customers per square foot, but might get more sales of items that just struck people as cheerful and pretty. Their frozen food shelves are stocked with ready-made dinners, where Walmart has more frozen vegetables, OJ, staples.

My point -- if you are short on space, find some things that attract attention and hold people in. Move items around frequently to make the experience fresh. Add seasonal decorations or colors.

Wireless might not cost too much if you're not including TV. Or you might negotiate to mooch off a neighbor store (is that allowed?).