Q&A: Is it crazy to run an online bookstore?

Notes from Chris

Episode 1631

Today’s listener has a Black-owned independent children's bookstore. Online sales weren’t a priority until the pandemic, but now she’s wondering how she should adapt.

I love talking about books! I know that there are other forms of media (like podcasts!) and a thousand new streaming services, but I remain fond of books and booksellers …. also, people have been predicting the demise of traditional book publishing long before I started writing books a dozen years ago.

Still, the past couple of years has produced even more challenges than before for the average independent bookseller.

What do we think about her situation?

"Hi Chris, this is Kathy from South Bend, Indiana. Although I've only been listening to you for four months, I'm impressed with your knowledge and insight and could really use your help. My question is, is it crazy to try to run an online bookstore as a side hustle? I run a black-owned independent children's bookstore. Online sales were never a big channeler priority for me until the pandemic.

My sales surged when Amazon de-prioritized books and again when the country decided to buy black and closed. The physical space were mandated and I never reopened. Now, however, my online sales have started to dwindle as the country resets itself. I'm offering local pickup but not free shipping and of stocks and bookcases out on consignment. I'm just wondering if I'm focusing on the wrong things...."

Listen to today's episode to learn more...

 

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MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Learn more and support Kathy's awesome bookstore at her website, BrainLairBooks.com/.

SEE ALSO:

• Avid Reader Sells Used Books On Instagram: An IT analyst makes page-turning profits after building a dedicated audience of book enthusiasts. You can make money without a large following!
• Mother Of Five Sells Pretty Old Books: When a stay at home mom hopes to avoid returning to full-time work outside the home, she starts selling vintage books packaged by color—and her dream becomes more than a pigment of her imagination.
• Tour Guide Sells Astronomy Books to Tourists: How a British software engineer moved to the Canary Islands, started working as a tour guide, and wrote her own guidebook to accompany her tours.

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,