Operating a used book store is a lot like owning a recycling
center-not too glamourous until you take a look at the owner's
bank account.
This is an ideal "absentee-owner" type of business, or a small
investment type business for someone to start while holding down
a regular, full time job. The type of person "best-suited" to
running a successful used book store, is a man or woman who loves
to read, has collected books over the years and enjoys
associating with people of similar interests.
Start-up risks average high, with the average time period needed
to become firmly established, about 3 years. After that "becoming
established" stage however, you should be able to enjoy ownership
of a business without extreme market fluctuations, plus an income
close to $50,000 per year or more.
Ideally, a used book store will need a market population of at
least 50,000 persons to support it. Try to locate your store in a
"high traffic" area, as near as possible to a college or
university campus. Something to bear in mind is the shopping
habits of the average used book buyer: First, he is a browser. He
notices your shop, drops in and begins looking around to see what
kind of books you have available. If he spots something that
really interests him, he'll probably buy then and there. If not,
and provided you've made him feel comfortable this first time in
your store, he'll be back-dropping in to browse whenever he's in
the area.
Shopping Malls are an excellent locations for book stores.
Locations near other, or "new" books stores are also very good-
if the buyer doesn't find what he wants in the "other" book
stores, he'll check your store. Grocery store shopping centers
are generally poor locations for book stores of any kind.
It's important that there be a lot of casual strollers in your
location area, and that you encourage these people to drop in,
and browse around.
If you want the entire front of your store to be a show
window...take pains to arrange your window display in an
uncluttered manner, showing the kinds of books you
have...However, a window display is not really necessary...more
important is a window for the passers-by to see into your
store...At any rate, if you do go with a window display, keep it
low-never more than 36 inches high leaving a lot of room for the
people passing to see in youe store, and notice the people
browsing thru your books. We know of one successful operator who
had members of his family, relatives and friends, purposely
"browsing" thru his store, just to project that kind of image for
the store.
Once you have your store location selected, paint the entire
interior in a dark, warm color, such as mahogany. Install a
lighter shade of indoor/outdoor carpet throughout. The lighting
should be indirect, and somewhat subdued to give the store a warm
feeling.
Locate your checkout counter parallel to one of the side
walls...You don't want it blocking or guarding the easy entry or
exit from your store. You want your customers to feel comfortable
just visiting your store. in other words, do everything you can
to encourage the browser,because it's proven time and time gain
that the browsers are the book buyers. Allow the people to come
and do generally as they please;to pick up thumb thru the books
that interest them; to read them and "fall in love" with them.
These will be your real book buyers.
Your book shelves should run along each side wall, and across the
back of the store. Don't build them more than six feet high.
Partition these shelves into sections about four feet wide, and
at the top of each section, place a sign
indicating the general subject matter of the books to be found
in that section.
Paper the walls of your store, from the top of your book shelves
to the ceiling with posters colorful and descriptive travel
posters, broadway show billboards, concert posters and full color
dust jackets from books that are perennially popular.
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