Opening a bookstore

[!dragonfly!]

I am hoping that there are some people on the forum that can help me.

As long as I can remember, my dream in life has been to open my own bookstore. I have finally decided that I am really going to look into pursuing this dream. My question is, is there anyone here that has gone down this route. Any information would be helpful.

How did you first get started, how much did you need for start-up costs, was it what you hoped it would be, for the better or for the worse? Do you use a certain wholesaler and if so, how would i get in contact with them?

I have started doing alot of research on being an entrepreneur and starting my own business, but I would really like some information from someone that has been in the book business. Any information that you can give me about the workings of a small bookstore would be invaluable. I would really appreciate anything that anyone has to say

[Nightshade]

havent done it but as its one of my dreams too Good for you! Go for it!

:D:D

[mtpspur]

I tend to hibernate at the Bookery Fantasy in Fairborn OH and I have known the owner Tim since 1987 and have watched it grow into one of the more pretiguous comicbook stores (at least in Ohio). His constant moans and groans are the quarterly taxes involved. He has determined (over the years) what his market is and has adapted to the times. In '87 he was a small comic shop with a small inventory. The store now has new/old comics, DVDs, toys, gaming materials, posters, pulp magazines. There is a core of steady customers that probably spend 70% towards his income. I average about $150 a month and I'm a small collector.

This may help--go to this web site ICV2.COM and read articles especially from a colunist using the overall title Sharpening the Sword.

Biggest step--have inventory that you can afford to maintain year in and year out hoping to sell and keep an eye out for the trends.

This is pretty much off my head as I'm a hangar on at the store just observing its growth over the years and they are always adapting to the audience.

[OZEED]

Have you thought of opening a little coffee shop along with the store. I love the book store that I go to, They have this really comfy couch that I just flop on. I can think of nothing better, double espresso and a great hard cover.

[miss tenderness]

wow, I love when people start their dreams>>>>gp for it and give us a ticket for the openning!

[wilbur lim]

A wondrous dream.

[kasie]

Great to have dreams - now for a reality check: have you any experience in retail? Have you, specifically, any experience in retailing books (apart from as a purchaser)?

Before you even begin to think of setting up shop, I think it would be a good idea to see if you can get a job in a book shop to see just what is involved in selling books, to start seeing books as units of sale, because the hard reality of business is vastly different to the amorphous dream of what you would like to see in your Ideal Bookshop. I'm not trying to put you off. It's my own experience that being in business, having to consider cash flows, profit and loss, market research, the Bottom Line, is a harsh awakening and will realign you point of view very quickly. It might be a good idea to try to begin this adjustment, if possible with someone who has already done it and has not been soured by the struggle and still loves the enterprise, before you sink your life savings (or an expensive loan from the bank) into the project.