OT Independent Book Store = dinosaur ???

Both my wife and my kid are nearly obsessed with books.

It occurred to me I might help them get their own book store started.

Now, practically speaking, in an age of Kindles, Amazon etc etc ... I
guess it would be hard to come up with a poorer business plan

But

Anybody have any "insider" facts/ opinions on the future of small
independent book sellers? Sources for such informed predictions?

Larry L wrote:
Both my wife and my kid are nearly obsessed with books.

It occurred to me I might help them get their own book store started.

Now, practically speaking, in an age of Kindles, Amazon etc etc ... I
guess it would be hard to come up with a poorer business plan

But

Anybody have any "insider" facts/ opinions on the future of small
independent book sellers? Sources for such informed predictions?

You should talk to Walt Winter. He owned an independent bookstore
before he started ezflyfish.com.

And, uh ..., I think that probably answers the "business plan"
question. ;-)

Walt's a great guy, he'll give it to you straight. Tell him
roff sent you.

--
Ken Fortenberry

On Mar 5, 11:35*am, Ken Fortenberry
wrote:


And, uh ..., I think that probably answers the "business plan"
question. ;-)


Yeah, just a daydream I dreamed out loud. I love modern waders,
but fear that many of the changes technology is bringing aren't
advances, just changes. :-(

On 2010-03-05 14:29:01 -0500, Larry L said:

Both my wife and my kid are nearly obsessed with books.

It occurred to me I might help them get their own book store started.

Now, practically speaking, in an age of Kindles, Amazon etc etc ... I
guess it would be hard to come up with a poorer business plan

But

Anybody have any "insider" facts/ opinions on the future of small
independent book sellers? Sources for such informed predictions?

My lawyer in Massachusetts bought a religious book store about 15 years
ago. He did very well with it and now owns four of them in four
different cities in Mass and continues to do well. But, that is a
specialized book store. Don't have any advice for a non-generic one.
I should imagine the competition with the internet, WalMart, Target, et
al would be tough with today's economy.

Dave

On Mar 5, 1:29*pm, Larry L wrote:

Now, practically speaking, in an age of Kindles, Amazon etc etc ... I
guess it would be hard to come up with a poorer business plan


I don't have any "insider" info, nor business plan tips (other than to
be "nichey" -- whatever that may mean,) but I don't think local book
stores are going where the woodbine twinneth. I know I'm not alone in
my as-steadfast-as-possible support for the indies near me. I also
know that I'm not alone in being something of a bookstore-tourist.
There is a market for this sort of thing, you just have to find it.
(That's helpful, eh?)

I doubt anyone setting up a book shop will become an overnight
millionaire, but done well (again, whatever that may mean) in an area
conducive to local businesses, said proprietor may well earn a
living.

Check out Indiebound.com. Lots of independent book stores are
represented there.

-Dan

David LaCourse wrote:

My lawyer in Massachusetts bought a religious book store about 15 years
ago. He did very well with it and now owns four of them in four
different cities in Mass and continues to do well. But, that is a
specialized book store.

Dave



ok, wayno...you take this one. as for me, i'd rather buy an honest
whorehouse.

larry...when an independent bookstore on franklin street in chapel hill,
nc goes tits up, it ain't lookin good.

jeff (deuteronomy 23...that old time religion)

On Mar 5, 1:29*pm, Larry L wrote:
Both my wife and my kid are nearly obsessed with books.

It occurred to me I might help them get their own book store started.

Now, practically speaking, in an age of Kindles, Amazon etc etc ... I
guess it would be hard to come up with a poorer business plan

But

Anybody have any "insider" facts/ opinions on the future of small
independent book sellers? * *Sources for such informed predictions?

Two or three years ago, Harry W. Schwartz books in Milwaukee appeared
to be thriving. Nationally known and often hailed as the last of the
great independents, Schwartz had a largish contingent of loyal
customers who preferred to do business with them even with several B&N
and Borders as competition in the Milwaukee metro area. With four
succesful stores in the area, they opened a fifth one on the far south
side. It lasted about a year. Last year, Scwartz went tits up on
very short notice. Two of their locations were taken over by former
employees who decided to run their own book stores there. Haven't
heard how they are doing.

I've spoken with several small book store owner/operators recently.
None of them is optimistic about the future in that business despite
the fact that some of them are actually doing pretty well at the
moment. Interestingly, none of them cited the various electronic
readers and online downloads as a serious concern. Online sellers of
traditional hard copy books are often mentioned, but the big concern
(much to my surprise) is Walmart and the other big retail chains. The
booksellers I've spoken with claim that these outlets now account for
a huge percentage of sales nation wide. Having looked at the
offerings available in such venues, I can't summon up much optimism
about the future of reading in America.....let alone that of
traditional books.

As others have suggested, accurately gauging and catering to a niche
market is undoubtedly the best approach for anyone contemplating
getting into the business......but the odds appear to favor not
getting into it at all if a financially successful enterprise is the
goal, especially given the current state of the economy.

That said, starting up and running any small business has always been
a risky venture. But the rewards (sometimes including a living
income) appear to be worth the risk and work.....or so many small time
entrepeneurs would have us believe.

giles

On Mar 5, 7:23*pm, jeff wrote:
David LaCourse wrote:

My lawyer in Massachusetts bought a religious book store about 15 years
ago. *He did very well with it and now owns four of them in four
different cities in Mass and continues to do well. *But, that is a
specialized book store. *

Dave

ok, wayno...you take this one. as for me, i'd rather buy an honest
whorehouse.

larry...when an independent bookstore on franklin street in chapel hill,
nc goes tits up, it ain't lookin good.

jeff (deuteronomy 23...that old time religion)

Joe the Elder offers--Jeff what makes you think a book store of any
sort would make it in Chapel Hill ? Those folks are too busy painting
up their faces before the big game

and trying to relive the Dean Smith days to do any reading ! Julias
Peppers (130 thousand dollars per tackle } and Mike Jordan ( so rich
he is now buying his own basketball team } are that towns heros! Doubt
any of them could name the author of the bible !!! [two
manhattens !!!!}

On 2010-03-05 19:23:40 -0500, jeff said:

David LaCourse wrote:

My lawyer in Massachusetts bought a religious book store about 15 years
ago. He did very well with it and now owns four of them in four
different cities in Mass and continues to do well. But, that is a
specialized book store.
Dave



ok, wayno...you take this one. as for me, i'd rather buy an honest whorehouse.

larry...when an independent bookstore on franklin street in chapel
hill, nc goes tits up, it ain't lookin good.

jeff (deuteronomy 23...that old time religion)

d;o)

Who was it that said, "Hilarious?"

"Larry L" wrote in message
...
Both my wife and my kid are nearly obsessed with books.

It occurred to me I might help them get their own book store started.

Now, practically speaking, in an age of Kindles, Amazon etc etc ... I
guess it would be hard to come up with a poorer business plan

But

Anybody have any "insider" facts/ opinions on the future of small
independent book sellers? Sources for such informed predictions?

Probably the only indi book store that could make it these days would
specialize in used books.