Opening Your Bookstore
Owning a bookstore is a time-honored profession but it’s falling along the wayside considering how many books are now available only online or on e-reader. If you’ve got your sights set on being a bookstore owner there are a few things you need to consider before going in to business:
Online or Offline: Or better yet, a combination of both? If you’re thinking about opening a bookstore you’ve got to think about having an online presence, too, where people can order over the web. Look into bank card processing as well for the store and for the website.
Vendor Relations: One key to managing a store is having great vendors so think about how you’re going to develop those relationships. Timeliness, courtesy, and bulk discounts all need to come into play when you’re ordering books.
Something Special: A local bookstore can’t compete with the big box stores on price, so think about what you’re going to offer that’s different. Is it service? Coffee shop? Out of print or rare books? You’ve got to have a selling point.