Comments on: How do you save a struggling bookstore? Ask HackerNews

By: Randall

Randall — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 02:52:51 +0000

Have lots of autograph parties for authors. Send out a weekly newsletter, making it easy to preorder signed books by coming authors. M is for Mystery (San Mateo, CA) had several signing a week, but the owner retired and store went to used books. Keplers (Menlo Park, CA went for months only open for autograph parties, has reopened with normal hours and many signings. The small Books, Inc chain in CA has at least one signing a day spread out among the stores.

By: San Zen

San Zen — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 23:08:41 +0000

The chances of selling books online are probably a better bet that foot traffic. A bit of work to create intrigue is required such as writing original content. The articles can be in the form of reviews or small business concerns etc.
With the amount of inventory in the bookstore, there’s plenty of material to write about and get exposure online. Some places like notemote allow for both, building a business profile and listing goods for sale. Either way, trying something new at this point can be the ticket to better things.

By: Taylor Trask

Taylor Trask — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:06:37 +0000

Care to elaborate as to “why” they suck?

By: Eric Riback

Eric Riback — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:07:37 +0000

Selling sidelines such as stationery and coffee have long been the things that saved bookstores. Illustrated childrens books are important because they have not been successfully represented on digital readers yet. plus they are great gifts.

By: Eric Riback

Eric Riback — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:04:44 +0000

The referral-fee from amazon idea is cute. And certainly one can argue that getting a few percent is better than not. But the bookstore will go out of business anyhow because the writer is not actually buying any books, just a magazine once a month. All the referral fees in the world won’t pay the rent, not to mention the inventory he is browsing and not purchasing. If he’d like the bookstore to survive as a place for him to discover what books he’d like to read, he’s going to need to buy some books. He can give them away and buy the kindle version for himself if he prefers.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 12:38:59 +0000

These ideas suck.

By: Consuelo Roland

Consuelo Roland — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 19:58:12 +0000

A bookshop owner I know runs a successful mail-order book club for readers who live in remote areas, don’t have the time to peruse book choices themselves, or just like someone else to select a specific type of books for them – books like Fall on Your Knees are popular with her members. She also sells art stationery in part of the shop and combines it all with a coffee shop! Another bookshop owner I know concentrated on children’s books because she reckoned people were prepared to spend money on beautiful books for kids.