Open a bookstore

Bookstores are wonderful places to go and grab new books. But I have hundreds of books that are just sitting on every available surface with literally nothing to do but take up space. I rarely have enough money to part with to buy new books these days. And when I donate a book to the local library for them to use in the library, they sell it and make a quarter. Hey! I paid $25 bucks for that book because you didn’t have it. Use it. So, I’m going to open a place where people can come in and swap their old books and pick out new books for nothing. Just working on getting that initial inventory and finding the right place.

I should say a Books Etc store because I wouldn’t just sell books, but I think that would be the main focus at least at first. I particularly like the idea of selling used books because it’s green.

I love to read books about the soul, books that inspire one to slow down and smell the roses and be in the present, books about Mother Nature and books about the spiritual path.

But alas, these seldom make it to the shelves of the major book retailers in my part of town, so I’ve been shipping 2 copies of every book that I will read from Amazon. They’re all stacked up on a shelf right now and in March will move into a nice old house where my ‘unofficial’ bookstore will be.

I pretty much know where I’ll be doing this. Though I haven’t found the exact location I have the perfect general area. I’ll be catering to a certain niche as well. But for the first time in my life I have no idea where to begin. Where would I buy these books, if anyone has begun their research and can lead me in the proper direction I’d truly appreciate it.

I want to open a bookstore where people feel comfortable curling up in the corner on a comfy couch with a book, or chatting about current events, or browsing.

I want it to be full of the smell of used books and old bookcases.
I want sunny nooks and a cozy fireplace.

Somday I will figure out how I can financially fulfill this.

It’s a disease, you know … the love of books.

I trace it back to childhood: those moves of residence when it seemed that the only significant possessions we owned were the crates of books from my Dad’s study; the early adventures in learning to read when the real lesson taught was the entertainment that awaited inside the covers of a book; those afternoons where the sanctuary of a bookstore distracted from the summer heat or winter blast, and treasure could be counted by the running foot of shelfspace.

I have more books than any sane person should own … and I think I can bring myself to share them with appreciative owners … so why not a bookstore? (And what was that perfect reply the movie-star guest gave on late-night T.V. about people who marvelled at the trove of books that overwhelmed his New York apartment: “Have you read all these books?” “Of course not! If I’d read them all, why would I still have them?”)

Thanks to ABE, I suppose I can consider a location anywhere there’s a post office nearby, as long as the potential is there to create the ambience appreciated by others similarly infected with bibliophilia.

There is no cure … only the next fix!

I would love to have a book store, and the freedom to decide what will be there, and what will not be. Even working on the layout and organization would be great. This is something I would really like to accomplish, but currently it is little more than an idea. I do keep my eyes open, though, when browsing to try and gather information and get ideas for the future.

I’m just in the very earliest stages of achieving this goal, literally just researching right now. So if anyone has any tips, dos&donts, etc. I’ve got wide open ears for them!

I really hope this isn’t one of those ideas of mine that I have completely romanticized in my head.

Obviously there will be hard work and rough times, but it should all be worth it, right? I’m not trying to make a million dollars (thought it would be nice), I’m trying to do something that will make me happy.

I want to open a Inspirational bookstore/cafe that also sells:
Inspirational Music
Beautiful Ceramic and Porcelin Mugs
Summer Fedora Hats
Embroidered Cotten and Linen Band Collar Shirts
German Cakes
Inspirational Movie Night
Inspirational Prints
Beautiful Journals/Quality Pens
Meditation Area
A place to inspire others everyday.

I want people to leave our place refreshed from the food, fun, and fellowship. I need ideas,sources for top quality products.