"Put a bookstore in a neighborhood, and you really feel the roots of a community growing," said Lois Harvey, owner of West Side Books.
That's from a Saturday article in the Denver Post about the community bookstores in that great bookish town.
I thought it was a perfect expression of not only why Rebecca and I want to start our bookstore in Fort Greene, but why the neighborhood wants one.
A bookstore isn't just a place to get books; there are lots of those. It's a place to spend your leisure time, to meet your neighbors, to talk to folks with shared interests, to hear new authors read, to learn about issues or what's coming up. It's what's often called a Third Place, like a pub or a social club: not home, not work, but the place in between, where the life of the neighborhood really is. It's where our shared history gets made.
Fort Greene has strong roots already, and it's also got lots of newer residents who have been attracted to that history and identity. When the Fort Greene Association's Retail Survey revealed that residents of all backgrounds and races were hoping for a bookstore, that revealed something: that the neighborhood wants to strengthen and grow those roots.
We hope Greenlight Bookstore is going to be a place that together the different threads of the neighborhood, where all our roots can grow together.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Fort Greene Friday!
Without getting ahead of ourselves, and without tipping our hand (or teasing you too much with the lack of true dish in this post), Jessica and I ask that you keep us in your thoughts on Friday, as we've got some interesting irons on the fire.
Possibly more to come...
Possibly more to come...
Friday, March 6, 2009
Bergen Street Comics & Retailer Optimism
In my Friday ramblings around Fort Greene and Park Slope, I found myself walking home past the Pintchick Oracle on Bergen and Flatbush. Along with the usual weather report, this time it had information about the independent shops on Bergen Street between Flatbush and 5th Avenue. Some great new ones have opened up on the block in the last year or two, from a used-and-new bookstore to a girl-friendly sex shop to clothing stores of both the hip hop and maternity persuasions. I was surprised, though, to see the Oracle announce "Bergen Street Comics - Opens Friday, March 6." Um, today? I thought, a little Scott Pilgrim-like in my glee.
Today indeed, as it turns out. I went down the block and turned in at the Bergen Street Comics Sign. "Did you just open today?" I asked. "Just a few hours ago, actually," said the young man behind the counter. His name is Tom, and he's the owner. We started talking shop immediately, and he told me that he had long wanted to open his own comics shop, and worked at Midtown Comics for the last few years to learn the trade. He clearly learned his inventory there, but the aesthetic at Bergen Street is a lot more "high end", as a customer coming in after me noted: exposed brick walls, dark wood cases, none of the florescent lighting and cheap wire-mesh fixtures associated with boys-only comics stores.
I browsed happily, noting classic favorites (including an entire bookcase devoted to Watchmen -- smart move), and new finds, including a Vietnam comic called Guerillas and the collected Freakangels by Warren Ellis, which I'd read parts of online.
I ended up buying 40 dollars worth of comics (Alan Moore's DC Universe, since I just read Watchmen, and the Freakangels collection), which I can't really afford and could probably get cheaper through my day job. But it was too exciting to be buying something from a brand new store on its first day -- and I was hoping to help it be a good one. And he was giving out good customer service: when I brought up Freakangels in hardcover, he pointed out that "while he didn't want to turn down money", it was also available in paperback, which I did actually prefer. "I'm not a collector, just a reader," I said. "That's the audience we're hoping to serve," he replied. Good market research, I think.
Of course I had told Tom about my own ambitions to open a bookstore in Fort Greene within the first five minutes, and he was very encouraging. "If your experience is like mine," he said, "a lot of people are going to say to you 'Are you crazy? Have you noticed what we're in right now?'" -- i.e., a recession. But he said he'd also gotten lots of good advice and support from people in his industry, particularly a comic store owner in the Bay area. That comics retailer told him he'd opened his store in the midst of the Dot Com Bust, which was followed immediately by 9/11 -- and yet his sales had continued to grow every year. Tom and I agreed that it took some luck, and some business know-how, but -- well, you know. It's worth doing, and it's totally possible to make it work.
I left wishing Tom and Bergen Street Comics the best of luck. I kicked myself later for not taking pictures of the place on its first day, but I did save my receipt, so I have proof I was really there at the inception.
Bergen Street Comics doesn't have a website yet -- they're still putting books on the shelves, give them a break! -- but I look forward to following their progress, and welcoming another bookish institution to the neighborhood. We can all use more of Tom's kind of crazy.
Today indeed, as it turns out. I went down the block and turned in at the Bergen Street Comics Sign. "Did you just open today?" I asked. "Just a few hours ago, actually," said the young man behind the counter. His name is Tom, and he's the owner. We started talking shop immediately, and he told me that he had long wanted to open his own comics shop, and worked at Midtown Comics for the last few years to learn the trade. He clearly learned his inventory there, but the aesthetic at Bergen Street is a lot more "high end", as a customer coming in after me noted: exposed brick walls, dark wood cases, none of the florescent lighting and cheap wire-mesh fixtures associated with boys-only comics stores.
I browsed happily, noting classic favorites (including an entire bookcase devoted to Watchmen -- smart move), and new finds, including a Vietnam comic called Guerillas and the collected Freakangels by Warren Ellis, which I'd read parts of online.
I ended up buying 40 dollars worth of comics (Alan Moore's DC Universe, since I just read Watchmen, and the Freakangels collection), which I can't really afford and could probably get cheaper through my day job. But it was too exciting to be buying something from a brand new store on its first day -- and I was hoping to help it be a good one. And he was giving out good customer service: when I brought up Freakangels in hardcover, he pointed out that "while he didn't want to turn down money", it was also available in paperback, which I did actually prefer. "I'm not a collector, just a reader," I said. "That's the audience we're hoping to serve," he replied. Good market research, I think.
Of course I had told Tom about my own ambitions to open a bookstore in Fort Greene within the first five minutes, and he was very encouraging. "If your experience is like mine," he said, "a lot of people are going to say to you 'Are you crazy? Have you noticed what we're in right now?'" -- i.e., a recession. But he said he'd also gotten lots of good advice and support from people in his industry, particularly a comic store owner in the Bay area. That comics retailer told him he'd opened his store in the midst of the Dot Com Bust, which was followed immediately by 9/11 -- and yet his sales had continued to grow every year. Tom and I agreed that it took some luck, and some business know-how, but -- well, you know. It's worth doing, and it's totally possible to make it work.
I left wishing Tom and Bergen Street Comics the best of luck. I kicked myself later for not taking pictures of the place on its first day, but I did save my receipt, so I have proof I was really there at the inception.
Bergen Street Comics doesn't have a website yet -- they're still putting books on the shelves, give them a break! -- but I look forward to following their progress, and welcoming another bookish institution to the neighborhood. We can all use more of Tom's kind of crazy.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tidying Up
It feels like things getting kinda real lately, and it's high time to tidy up around here a bit. I've changed the name of our blog from A Bookstore In Brooklyn to Greenlight Bookstore Blog - this is the redirect for greenlightbookstore.com, which will eventually be our bookstore website, so I thought it made sense to make that clear. I've added an "About Us" to summarize our project up top. I changed the color scheme, as you might have noticed. And I updated all the press coverage we've gotten over the past year and a half, from the PowerUp competition to the Fort Greene Association relationship to the wonderful party in September. Click through there if you'd like to see some of the things journalists and bloggers have said about us.
And let me know if you have ideas for other stuff we should be including here or on our Facebook page. Rebecca and I think of these tools as the beginning of what we'll want to do once the store is open: ways of connecting to readers and customers. Hope you enjoy!
And let me know if you have ideas for other stuff we should be including here or on our Facebook page. Rebecca and I think of these tools as the beginning of what we'll want to do once the store is open: ways of connecting to readers and customers. Hope you enjoy!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Breaking News: Landlord meeting!
Rebecca and I have an appointment this morning with the owner of a VERY interesting retail space in Fort Greene. It remains to be seen whether this will be a good fit for us in terms of financials, timing, etc. etc., but we're rather excited -- this is the first really good prospect that has come along in awhile. Send good vibes our way -- we'll keep you posted!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Greenlight on Facebook!
Rebecca and I have both discovered the joys of Facebook in the last months, and though we're still in the process of looking for space for Greenlight Bookstore, we thought it's definitely not too early to get Greenlight on Facebook. Join the Greenlight Bookstore group for updates on our progress, and you can say you knew us when!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Trends, Counter-Trends, and Re-Evaluations
At the PowerUp! ceremony last night, I mentioned the headline of the (otherwise lovely) New York Times article on my bookstore party, which read "A Woman Dreams of Opening a Bookstore, and Defying the Trends." I asserted that the existence of the 75 stellar business plans in this year's competition suggest that my efforts to open an indie bookstore actually embody any number of trends: toward localism, toward idealistic entrepreneurship, toward communities taking charge of their own sustainability, toward valuing books, toward the growth of vibrant, savvy independent businesses.
Thus, it was rather gratifying to read in book industry newsletter Shelf Awareness today that two major papers have been revisiting the common perception of the trends.
The Wall Street Journal article "Folks Are Flocking to the Library, a Cozy Place to Look for a Job" begins
"A few years ago, public libraries were being written off as goners. The Internet had made them irrelevant, the argument went. But libraries across the country are reporting jumps in attendance of as much as 65% over the past year..."
Business librarian Maud Andrews and I discussed this issue at the reception last night: that bookstores and libraries have certainly had to revamp their business model, to become gathering places for the sharing of information rather than warehouses of information on paper. But it's working, for both of us.
The San Francisco Chronicle's piece "Bay Area indie bookstores beat the odds" (deja vu to the Times article) begins thusly:
"As everyone knows, independent bookstores are dead. Or at least dying. Next to opening an indie video rental store, it is hard to imagine a less promising investment opportunity.....
Defying conventional wisdom, and despite what you hear every time a landmark bookstore closes - Stacey's on Market Street is the latest example - independent bookstores are thriving in San Francisco."
The article details the passion and smarts of Preveen Madan and Christin Evans, who bought the small indie store Booksmith and are succeeding in their goal to "push the boundaries of a bookstore for the 21st century," along with Pete Mulvihill, one of the three partners that runs Green Apple Books, who talks about indie bookstores curatorial role.
It feels serendipitous to hear these stories that question the negative "trends" by really observing the successes and changes that are occurring in the world of books, after going out on a limb to assert that the trends are not as they are often assumed to be. Given the wonderful plans I saw last night, and the passion and energy evident in the entrepreneurs, the future is not so bleak as it might have appeared.
(cross-posted on The Written Nerd)
Thus, it was rather gratifying to read in book industry newsletter Shelf Awareness today that two major papers have been revisiting the common perception of the trends.
The Wall Street Journal article "Folks Are Flocking to the Library, a Cozy Place to Look for a Job" begins
"A few years ago, public libraries were being written off as goners. The Internet had made them irrelevant, the argument went. But libraries across the country are reporting jumps in attendance of as much as 65% over the past year..."
Business librarian Maud Andrews and I discussed this issue at the reception last night: that bookstores and libraries have certainly had to revamp their business model, to become gathering places for the sharing of information rather than warehouses of information on paper. But it's working, for both of us.
The San Francisco Chronicle's piece "Bay Area indie bookstores beat the odds" (deja vu to the Times article) begins thusly:
"As everyone knows, independent bookstores are dead. Or at least dying. Next to opening an indie video rental store, it is hard to imagine a less promising investment opportunity.....
Defying conventional wisdom, and despite what you hear every time a landmark bookstore closes - Stacey's on Market Street is the latest example - independent bookstores are thriving in San Francisco."
The article details the passion and smarts of Preveen Madan and Christin Evans, who bought the small indie store Booksmith and are succeeding in their goal to "push the boundaries of a bookstore for the 21st century," along with Pete Mulvihill, one of the three partners that runs Green Apple Books, who talks about indie bookstores curatorial role.
It feels serendipitous to hear these stories that question the negative "trends" by really observing the successes and changes that are occurring in the world of books, after going out on a limb to assert that the trends are not as they are often assumed to be. Given the wonderful plans I saw last night, and the passion and energy evident in the entrepreneurs, the future is not so bleak as it might have appeared.
(cross-posted on The Written Nerd)
Monday, January 12, 2009
Return to PowerUp!
This Wednesday, January 14 at 6:00 PM is the awards ceremony for the Brooklyn Business Library's PowerUp! Business plan competition. Just to draw out the tension before awarding the $5,000 and $15,000 prizes, the library invites local business figures and past winners to speak.
As last year's grand prize winner, I've been asked to say a few words, so I'll be there representing Greenlight Bookstore as one of the speakers. Though we don't have a bookstore yet to point to, I'll talk a bit about working with the Fort Greene Indie Bookstore Initiative, partnering with Rebecca, and the business plan as a living, adaptable document. I'm drawing up my "remarks" today -- it's a good opportunity to look back over the past year.
I'm excited to see this year's winners. If you're interested in attending, it's free -- registration info is here.
Kudos to the wonderful librarians and staff at the Brooklyn Business Library for making this possible again. And congrats to all the entrepreneurs who got their plans completed for the competition -- it's an important first step.
As last year's grand prize winner, I've been asked to say a few words, so I'll be there representing Greenlight Bookstore as one of the speakers. Though we don't have a bookstore yet to point to, I'll talk a bit about working with the Fort Greene Indie Bookstore Initiative, partnering with Rebecca, and the business plan as a living, adaptable document. I'm drawing up my "remarks" today -- it's a good opportunity to look back over the past year.
I'm excited to see this year's winners. If you're interested in attending, it's free -- registration info is here.
Kudos to the wonderful librarians and staff at the Brooklyn Business Library for making this possible again. And congrats to all the entrepreneurs who got their plans completed for the competition -- it's an important first step.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Response to our Yellow Light announcement
After the heartache and difficulty of making the decision to postpone our attempts to open the store, and worries that we're letting down the community and the industry that have been so encouraging, Rebecca and I have been so gratified by the responses to our announcement via email and our blog post on Monday. Our supporters have been so incredibly... well, supportive. I wanted to share with you some of their good words, which mirror our own feelings of long-term optimism.
"Thanks for the update. An unfortunate turn of events, but probably a wise strategy."
- Fort Greene resident
"I think your circumspection is as good a reassuring signal to potential investors as you can offer. None of us knows just what will be in the near future, and I am glad your original stake is secure. Do keep us in the loop."
- potential investor
"Timing is everything in business and I applaud that you have the perspective to realize that this is not the best time to launch. I know the ambition is still burning and we will see Greenlight Books, albeit on a later schedule."
- member of the FGIBI committee
"I can't tell you how sorry I am that this economy has proven bad timing for the bookstore, but I know you will persevere and wish you the best of luck!"
- member of the FGIBI committee
"Thanks so much for this update and for your passion for this bookstore in our community."
- Clinton Hill resident and publishing executive
I think it's a wise choice. We'll all be here when you feel it's the right time. All best wishes (for all of us!)"
- publishing executive
"keep us posted!!! we have have high hopes for 2009:)"
- potential investor
"Great to hear. Don’t give up!"
- literary agent
"I am sure it has been a bit of a rough time for you to have to put a brake on your dream. I know how tough that must be. but rest assured, It Will Happen! I actually think it is prudent to ease off for the moment, and a year is not such a long time and will allow you some time to survey the retail scene: rental, consumer, bookselling. I can't wait for Greenlight Bookstore!"
- fellow bookseller
Thanks so much to all of you who have offered your wise words and your continuing support. We WILL keep you posted, we will NOT give up, and It Will Happen.
P.S. Credit where credit is due: Kelly Amabile of Book Culture and the IBNYC coined the phrase "a yellow light for Greenlight" when she learned about our name and our plans. Thanks to her especially for her creativity and her outlook: this is only temporary, after all.
"Thanks for the update. An unfortunate turn of events, but probably a wise strategy."
- Fort Greene resident
"I think your circumspection is as good a reassuring signal to potential investors as you can offer. None of us knows just what will be in the near future, and I am glad your original stake is secure. Do keep us in the loop."
- potential investor
"Timing is everything in business and I applaud that you have the perspective to realize that this is not the best time to launch. I know the ambition is still burning and we will see Greenlight Books, albeit on a later schedule."
- member of the FGIBI committee
"I can't tell you how sorry I am that this economy has proven bad timing for the bookstore, but I know you will persevere and wish you the best of luck!"
- member of the FGIBI committee
"Thanks so much for this update and for your passion for this bookstore in our community."
- Clinton Hill resident and publishing executive
I think it's a wise choice. We'll all be here when you feel it's the right time. All best wishes (for all of us!)"
- publishing executive
"keep us posted!!! we have have high hopes for 2009:)"
- potential investor
"Great to hear. Don’t give up!"
- literary agent
"I am sure it has been a bit of a rough time for you to have to put a brake on your dream. I know how tough that must be. but rest assured, It Will Happen! I actually think it is prudent to ease off for the moment, and a year is not such a long time and will allow you some time to survey the retail scene: rental, consumer, bookselling. I can't wait for Greenlight Bookstore!"
- fellow bookseller
Thanks so much to all of you who have offered your wise words and your continuing support. We WILL keep you posted, we will NOT give up, and It Will Happen.
P.S. Credit where credit is due: Kelly Amabile of Book Culture and the IBNYC coined the phrase "a yellow light for Greenlight" when she learned about our name and our plans. Thanks to her especially for her creativity and her outlook: this is only temporary, after all.
Monday, January 5, 2009
A Yellow Light for Greenlight
Two announcements today:
1) We're releasing the name of our future bookstore: Greenlight Bookstore! Much more about that name later on.
2) If you haven't heard from us on this blog for a while, it's because we've been wrestling with some tough decisions. The letter below is one we sent to some of our supporters, which we're now sharing publicly. In the next few days we'll be sharing some of the feedback we've gotten. Feel free to leave your own comments here -- we appreciate hearing from you.
Dear supporters of Greenlight Bookstore,
Back in mid-September, Jessica and Rebecca, along with the Fort Greene Indie Bookstore Initiative, threw a party that embodied our excitement about opening a new independent bookstore in Fort Greene. The response of the community showed us that our enthusiasm was shared by many. We set out with high hopes that we would secure a location and additional financing and open as quickly as possible. We have been looking for the right space since then, and contacting those who expressed interest about becoming investors in order to raise the remainder of our capital.
Between the party three months ago and today, some things have changed. There have been huge changes in the national economy, which we have seen manifested here in Brooklyn. Many who would have liked to invest in the bookstore have found themselves unable to do so. Consumer spending has fallen as everyone makes sacrifices – even on something as important as books. As with all retail sectors, independent bookstores have seen a significant drop in sales over the last two months. Our trusted mentors in the industry have advised us that it would be extremely risky to start our business now. The first year of a retail business is difficult enough; to make that beginning now, in this extremely uncertain climate, would be to give ourselves a handicap we might not recover from.
Some things have not changed, however. We still have every intention of opening a bookstore in Fort Greene that will benefit the community and showcase Brooklyn's vibrant literary culture. Our own capital is still secure: we didn't have any of our money in the stock market, so our financial situation is the same as it was in September (which is to say, better financed than most small businesses starting out). But after some soul-searching, we have decided that we must adjust our time frame. Rather than hoping to open the bookstore in early 2009, we will be looking at the later part of the year, or early 2010, depending on how the economy looks between now and then. Of course, if we were to find a wonderful location at a well-below market rent, we might consider opening earlier, but only if it were something truly out of the ordinary to offset the risks we would be taking. We feel this is the best strategy to ensure that the bookstore we create will be able to survive and thrive for years to come.
In light of this, we're asking those who have considered or committed to becoming community lenders to wait as well. As we monitor the economic situation and adjust our business plan accordingly, we will be in touch again when we are ready to move forward. We hope that by waiting we'll be able to give lenders the best value for their dollar, as well as saving the business from accruing debt before we are ready to begin work.
Thank you for your understanding of this difficult decision, and for your ongoing support of the bookstore's efforts. We will certainly keep you posted on our progress or any developments, primarily via our blog, which you can now find at www.greenlightbookstore.com. We wish each of you the best in the year to come, and look forward to partnering with you on creating the best bookstore possible when the time is right.
Best regards,
Jessica Stockton Bagnulo and Rebecca Fitting
Proprietors, Greenlight Bookstore LLC
1) We're releasing the name of our future bookstore: Greenlight Bookstore! Much more about that name later on.
2) If you haven't heard from us on this blog for a while, it's because we've been wrestling with some tough decisions. The letter below is one we sent to some of our supporters, which we're now sharing publicly. In the next few days we'll be sharing some of the feedback we've gotten. Feel free to leave your own comments here -- we appreciate hearing from you.
Dear supporters of Greenlight Bookstore,
Back in mid-September, Jessica and Rebecca, along with the Fort Greene Indie Bookstore Initiative, threw a party that embodied our excitement about opening a new independent bookstore in Fort Greene. The response of the community showed us that our enthusiasm was shared by many. We set out with high hopes that we would secure a location and additional financing and open as quickly as possible. We have been looking for the right space since then, and contacting those who expressed interest about becoming investors in order to raise the remainder of our capital.
Between the party three months ago and today, some things have changed. There have been huge changes in the national economy, which we have seen manifested here in Brooklyn. Many who would have liked to invest in the bookstore have found themselves unable to do so. Consumer spending has fallen as everyone makes sacrifices – even on something as important as books. As with all retail sectors, independent bookstores have seen a significant drop in sales over the last two months. Our trusted mentors in the industry have advised us that it would be extremely risky to start our business now. The first year of a retail business is difficult enough; to make that beginning now, in this extremely uncertain climate, would be to give ourselves a handicap we might not recover from.
Some things have not changed, however. We still have every intention of opening a bookstore in Fort Greene that will benefit the community and showcase Brooklyn's vibrant literary culture. Our own capital is still secure: we didn't have any of our money in the stock market, so our financial situation is the same as it was in September (which is to say, better financed than most small businesses starting out). But after some soul-searching, we have decided that we must adjust our time frame. Rather than hoping to open the bookstore in early 2009, we will be looking at the later part of the year, or early 2010, depending on how the economy looks between now and then. Of course, if we were to find a wonderful location at a well-below market rent, we might consider opening earlier, but only if it were something truly out of the ordinary to offset the risks we would be taking. We feel this is the best strategy to ensure that the bookstore we create will be able to survive and thrive for years to come.
In light of this, we're asking those who have considered or committed to becoming community lenders to wait as well. As we monitor the economic situation and adjust our business plan accordingly, we will be in touch again when we are ready to move forward. We hope that by waiting we'll be able to give lenders the best value for their dollar, as well as saving the business from accruing debt before we are ready to begin work.
Thank you for your understanding of this difficult decision, and for your ongoing support of the bookstore's efforts. We will certainly keep you posted on our progress or any developments, primarily via our blog, which you can now find at www.greenlightbookstore.com. We wish each of you the best in the year to come, and look forward to partnering with you on creating the best bookstore possible when the time is right.
Best regards,
Jessica Stockton Bagnulo and Rebecca Fitting
Proprietors, Greenlight Bookstore LLC
Monday, December 29, 2008
Hope
My McNally Jackson coworker Cheryl Sucher (who's also a novelist and journalist) published a piece called "Glimmers of Hope" in a recent issue of Publishers Weekly. This holiday season was a very busy one at the SoHo bookshop, and Cheryl's article reveals a lot about why, and about what it takes to bring an independent bookstore into the 21st century. . Her last line is something to treasure:
"Holding our breath, we move forward into this holiday season, keeping our eyes on the glimmers of hope on the horizon."
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
James Glieck is right
Amid a certain amount of gloom in the book industry these days, I am grateful for the clear-headed optimism of New York Times op-ed writer James Glieck, in his article "How to Publish Without Perishing."
He talks about how despite technological advances (the Kindle) and shifts in paradigm (the Google copyright agreement), there's no need to worry about the longevity of the book. I strongly encourage you to read the entire piece, but here are my favorite bits:
Book as hammer, book as bicycle. I like this metaphor: that which is useful and necessary and ubiquitous, even when there are more high-tech options out there.
Glieck is also surprisingly sanguine about the results of Google's agreement with the Authors Guild, despite being on the opposite side in the legal challenge. Google now has the right to digitize not only books in the public domain, but those protected by copyright but out of print. What does that mean?
I feel like someone just articulated what I've been saying all along. Here's hoping publishers, booksellers, and readers are listening.
He talks about how despite technological advances (the Kindle) and shifts in paradigm (the Google copyright agreement), there's no need to worry about the longevity of the book. I strongly encourage you to read the entire piece, but here are my favorite bits:
"As a technology, the book is like a hammer. That is to say, it is perfect: a tool ideally suited to its task. Hammers can be tweaked and varied but will never go obsolete. Even when builders pound nails by the thousand with pneumatic nail guns, every household needs a hammer. Likewise, the bicycle is alive and well. It was invented in a world without automobiles, and for speed and range it was quickly surpassed by motorcycles and all kinds of powered scooters. But there is nothing quaint about bicycles. They outsell cars."
Book as hammer, book as bicycle. I like this metaphor: that which is useful and necessary and ubiquitous, even when there are more high-tech options out there.
Glieck is also surprisingly sanguine about the results of Google's agreement with the Authors Guild, despite being on the opposite side in the legal challenge. Google now has the right to digitize not only books in the public domain, but those protected by copyright but out of print. What does that mean?
"In bookstores, the trend for a decade or more has been toward shorter shelf life. Books have had to sell fast or move aside. Now even modest titles have been granted a gift of unlimited longevity.What should an old-fashioned book publisher do with this gift? Forget about cost-cutting and the mass market. Don’t aim for instant blockbuster successes. You won’t win on quick distribution, and you won’t win on price. Cyberspace has that covered.
Go back to an old-fashioned idea: that a book, printed in ink on durable paper, acid-free for longevity, is a thing of beauty. Make it as well as you can. People want to cherish it."
I feel like someone just articulated what I've been saying all along. Here's hoping publishers, booksellers, and readers are listening.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Phone banking
Rebecca's post about the awesome wish list feature on IndieBound below is what I'd rather be thinking about now -- I spent a good portion of this morning blogging about it and other holiday independent bookstore shopping initiatives over at The Written Nerd.
This evening, though, I've been making phone calls to those wonderful folks who filled out a survey at our party, commented on our blog, or otherwise got in touch to let us know that they might be interested in investing in our bookstore. They've all received the cover letter in the post below, so I'm just calling to follow up on their expressed interest.
But it feels a lot like calling to ask people for money.
It also feels like the brief stint I did at the Obama campaign phone bank here in Brooklyn. We were working just before the election to make sure folks in battleground states had the information they needed to get to the polls. I was calling Florida voters to make sure that they know were their polling place was, that they had a ride, that they had a plan for voting. We'd been given lists of folks who had supposedly already expressed support for Obama, so we weren't trying to change any minds -- just providing information, and a reminder.
But that didn't mean it was easy calling strangers. And it didn't mean that we didn't get a range of responses -- from outrage at yet another campaign phone call, to indifference or apathy about voting, to lots and lots of answering machines. There was some profanity, on their part. There was some terror and guilt and frustration, on mine.
As with the phone banking, I don't know most of our potential investors personally. And I've already gotten a range of responses. I've gotten some wrong numbers. I've gotten some folks whose financial situation has changed, so they can't do what they thought they could. I've gotten some who don't seem to remember expressing interest, which is the most awkward of all. I've gotten some tough questions about our loan terms, and our plans overall.
As I checked out after my campaign phone banking shift, I told the campaign leader ruefully that I hadn't gotten a single "yes, I will be voting for Obama" call. But you left a lot of messages, she told me. And you provided the information that is going to help some people vote.
And then Obama won Florida.
I can't know whether my sixty-odd voicemails made any difference. But I like to think I was part of the rising tide.
The Fort Greene bookstore already has a handful of $1000 investors ready to sign their loan documents. And we've got a handful contemplating much larger amounts. And we've left a lot of voicemails. And there are a lot more phone numbers left to be called.
There are moments of terror and frustration, working on this kind of project. But oh, it's worth it, for those moments of satisfaction you can take to the bank.
This evening, though, I've been making phone calls to those wonderful folks who filled out a survey at our party, commented on our blog, or otherwise got in touch to let us know that they might be interested in investing in our bookstore. They've all received the cover letter in the post below, so I'm just calling to follow up on their expressed interest.
But it feels a lot like calling to ask people for money.
It also feels like the brief stint I did at the Obama campaign phone bank here in Brooklyn. We were working just before the election to make sure folks in battleground states had the information they needed to get to the polls. I was calling Florida voters to make sure that they know were their polling place was, that they had a ride, that they had a plan for voting. We'd been given lists of folks who had supposedly already expressed support for Obama, so we weren't trying to change any minds -- just providing information, and a reminder.
But that didn't mean it was easy calling strangers. And it didn't mean that we didn't get a range of responses -- from outrage at yet another campaign phone call, to indifference or apathy about voting, to lots and lots of answering machines. There was some profanity, on their part. There was some terror and guilt and frustration, on mine.
As with the phone banking, I don't know most of our potential investors personally. And I've already gotten a range of responses. I've gotten some wrong numbers. I've gotten some folks whose financial situation has changed, so they can't do what they thought they could. I've gotten some who don't seem to remember expressing interest, which is the most awkward of all. I've gotten some tough questions about our loan terms, and our plans overall.
As I checked out after my campaign phone banking shift, I told the campaign leader ruefully that I hadn't gotten a single "yes, I will be voting for Obama" call. But you left a lot of messages, she told me. And you provided the information that is going to help some people vote.
And then Obama won Florida.
I can't know whether my sixty-odd voicemails made any difference. But I like to think I was part of the rising tide.
The Fort Greene bookstore already has a handful of $1000 investors ready to sign their loan documents. And we've got a handful contemplating much larger amounts. And we've left a lot of voicemails. And there are a lot more phone numbers left to be called.
There are moments of terror and frustration, working on this kind of project. But oh, it's worth it, for those moments of satisfaction you can take to the bank.
Monday, November 17, 2008
I love this!
Okay so this post has nothing specifically to do with our bookstore plans, but still. It's kind of fantastic.
Books are a grrrreat gift
I love how on the indiebound site, you can create a book wishlist, then you can take it a step farther and create a list of independent bookstores that you like, to go along with your wishlist. Nothing is finer than having a book you crave bought for you by someone you like, at a store you love.
Books are a grrrreat gift
I love how on the indiebound site, you can create a book wishlist, then you can take it a step farther and create a list of independent bookstores that you like, to go along with your wishlist. Nothing is finer than having a book you crave bought for you by someone you like, at a store you love.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Investing in the Fort Greene bookstore!
This is an adapted version of the letter we've just sent out to everyone who has expressed interest in investing in the bookstore. You hate to send a form letter about something so personal as money, but we wanted to make sure everyone has the basic information before we talk to them by phone. And in case there's anyone out there who isn't on our list yet who might be interested -- or if you're just curious about how we're doing this financing thing -- I thought we might share the information with you too! Feel free to email us if you want more info.
Investing in the Fort Greene bookstore!
Now that the overwhelming excitement of election season is behind us at last, it's a great time to look toward the future! We'd like to take this moment to check in with you about our Fort Greene bookstore project.
In the past few weeks we have worked out the details on the financial side of things, so now it's time to ask everyone who expressed interest in investing in the bookstore to turn their support into a reality. We now have a working loan agreement and promissory note; you can email us if you'd like to see it. As we outlined in our initial pitch letter, the investment we're asking for is actually a loan, to be paid off in five years. The final payment date is tied to the opening date of the store. We have fixed the interest rate at 5.00%, one percent above the Wall Street Journal prime rate on November 2.
We realize the economic climate has changed quite a bit since our launch party. We're lucky that none of the startup capital we have was tied up in the stock market, so we are still in exactly the same financial position that we were in before the market started to flounder. If someone's financial circumstances have changed since they expressed interest, we completely understand. But we still have every confidence in our business plan and our ability to turn the bookstore into a reality. With the overwhelming support we've already seen from the Fort Greene community, we know that bringing a bookstore to this neighborhood is the right decision, and that we'll find a market here. Feel free to contact us if you have questions.
We feel that loaning your money to the bookstore is one of the wisest financial decisions you can make right now. It's effectively the same as putting your money into a CD – you will get back the principal and interest after a given time period, and there's no danger of fluctuation. Additionally, as a Founding Member of the bookstore, you'll get 20% off on bookstore purchases until your loan is paid off – and that's good for your bottom line!
We'll be in touch by phone with everyone we can during the month of November to check in and confirm. Feel free to contact us first – we can let you know the next step. For those who are able to finalize this loan by the end of the year, interest will begin to accrue January 1. If you can't make a financial commitment until after the new year, we can revisit things later.
Thank you again for your support for the future bookstore of Fort Greene – we look forward to speaking with you!
P.S. One thing you will notice on the loan document: the bookstore now has a name! Soon we won't be referring to it as the eponymous 'Fort Greene Bookstore' any longer. In the next week or two, we'll be sending out an email to our mailing list about the new name and what it means to us. Potential investors will be among the first to know, and you'll hear much more about it soon.
Investing in the Fort Greene bookstore!
Now that the overwhelming excitement of election season is behind us at last, it's a great time to look toward the future! We'd like to take this moment to check in with you about our Fort Greene bookstore project.
In the past few weeks we have worked out the details on the financial side of things, so now it's time to ask everyone who expressed interest in investing in the bookstore to turn their support into a reality. We now have a working loan agreement and promissory note; you can email us if you'd like to see it. As we outlined in our initial pitch letter, the investment we're asking for is actually a loan, to be paid off in five years. The final payment date is tied to the opening date of the store. We have fixed the interest rate at 5.00%, one percent above the Wall Street Journal prime rate on November 2.
We realize the economic climate has changed quite a bit since our launch party. We're lucky that none of the startup capital we have was tied up in the stock market, so we are still in exactly the same financial position that we were in before the market started to flounder. If someone's financial circumstances have changed since they expressed interest, we completely understand. But we still have every confidence in our business plan and our ability to turn the bookstore into a reality. With the overwhelming support we've already seen from the Fort Greene community, we know that bringing a bookstore to this neighborhood is the right decision, and that we'll find a market here. Feel free to contact us if you have questions.
We feel that loaning your money to the bookstore is one of the wisest financial decisions you can make right now. It's effectively the same as putting your money into a CD – you will get back the principal and interest after a given time period, and there's no danger of fluctuation. Additionally, as a Founding Member of the bookstore, you'll get 20% off on bookstore purchases until your loan is paid off – and that's good for your bottom line!
We'll be in touch by phone with everyone we can during the month of November to check in and confirm. Feel free to contact us first – we can let you know the next step. For those who are able to finalize this loan by the end of the year, interest will begin to accrue January 1. If you can't make a financial commitment until after the new year, we can revisit things later.
Thank you again for your support for the future bookstore of Fort Greene – we look forward to speaking with you!
P.S. One thing you will notice on the loan document: the bookstore now has a name! Soon we won't be referring to it as the eponymous 'Fort Greene Bookstore' any longer. In the next week or two, we'll be sending out an email to our mailing list about the new name and what it means to us. Potential investors will be among the first to know, and you'll hear much more about it soon.
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