I just opened a small (5,000) books, new/used bookstore, downtown in Texas. I am located across from our one and only antique mall. We have a population of about 13,000 people with many affiliated with a nearby military installation.
I offer my books at half the original publisher’s price and 25% off the new book sticker price. I am offering a 10% discount to military and teachers and was wondering if I could afford to offer the same discount to city employee’s.
Traffic is slow "downtown" other than the lunch crowd at the antique mall. I need help in bringing in more traffic to the store. I have very nice, like-new books.
I’ve advertised in our local paper twice before opening, announcing the opening, and I’m going to advertise again in one week to announce the grand opening.
Sponsored Links:
Do you think it would be wise to offer a 10% discount to city employee’s as a way of bringing in more traffic and a little free advertising?
Are small used/new bookstores making these days?
Do you sell online, is Amazon or ABE better?
I would appreciate your comments and advice.
Thanks!
Sponsored Links:
Related posts:
Follow me on Twitter 
I’m no expert but I would also use Amazon alongside your physical store.
Look up "501 ways to promote your business". I think it was written by Ray Kroc or one of his assistants.
A close friend of mine worked in a number of bookstores, one of which a small used book store in a comparably small town. I helped out a number of times there too, but on a casual basis.
What are you specializing in? It’s the specialization that tends to earn you money. The store I worked at would have slow business all week, but then one or two guys would show up having driven over an hour to get there and they’d drop enough money to make the whole week worth while. Those are the type of people who make used book stores profitable.
I’m also concerned how you’re pricing. Thinking of the number of used book stores I’ve been in, it’s really going to depend on the book for how much you can charge. People don’t often buy used hardcover fiction (unless it’s first edition, first print) because if they really wanted a nice solid book they would have bought it new. Trade paperback and mass market fiction don’t sell well used either because buying it new is so cheap anyway. The used book store I used to live near used to sell mass market paperbacks for $0.25 a piece. Sometimes $0.50.
That really only leaves you with non-fiction, but the key with non-fiction is there really is too much out there that you can cover all your basis with only 5000 books so you need to find a niche. I suggest taking a closer look at the prices at your favourite used book stores to see how they are pricing books.
The used book store I used to help out with shut down about 7 years ago. Even back then, selling used books on ABE was more profitable than it was to have a store in a small town. Hopefully with the antique mall across the street you’ll get some better foot traffic of people who have similar interests, but I strongly suggest that you spend time selling on ABE as well as from your store. (Amazon didn’t have their market place to sell books back then, so I don’t know how good they are for selling used books although I know I’ve bought a number used through amazon, so it may be even better these days).
10% discount isn’t going to get anyone more into the store. People either shopping at used bookstores or don’t. 10% isn’t big enough to change anyone’s mind on that. I would however suggest you talk to the owners of the stores in the antique mall and ask them if they could help you out by leaving a stack of flyers on their cash register for their customers to see.
I’d also suggest hitting up the owners and employees of the used book stores you love and frequent for ideas. Obviously you’d need to be physically far enough away so that it doesn’t look like you’re after their business or trade secrets, but I’m sure the used book stores that you’re a regular at would be more than willing to offer you advice if you ask.
I hate to say it, but it really doesn’t sound like you’ve done your research prior to setting up shop. Hopefully you have the flexibility to take your time to figure these things out because it’s not going to a pleasant first few months as you get your feet wet.