I scavenged stuff from other parts of the store today, to augment my book displays. Setting up this 3D picture frame, "Welcome to the Cabin", with Thoreau's Walden made me feel like a very clever bear indeed. (In person, the letters do look like cut logs, not pretzels.)
It's gratifying how many customers say they like the changes I've already made. I don't know what it was like before, but I see people are messing up my displays by buying books off them.
The store doesn't track sales of individual items, but books do have their own category at the cash register. At the end of June, they'll tabulate the sales. I'll be very interested to see if book sales have gone up.
Here I am, below, sorting and cleaning books at my desk.
I'm mugging for the coworker taking the photo--I don't feel at all beleaguered. Mostly, I'm exhilarated.
I was especially exhilarated today when I open a grocery bag of donations, and there was a set of the works of Carl Jung, published by Princeton-Bollingen (the black books standing on the desk in front of me).
My mother studied Jungian psychology, and I remember that these books are expensive. Even used, they sell for $25 to $100 each now.
I'm going to put them out for a high price--high for the thrift store, that is--our base price for books is 99¢. I'll price these around $10 each. If they don't sell, I'll put them on ebay.
It's gratifying how many customers say they like the changes I've already made. I don't know what it was like before, but I see people are messing up my displays by buying books off them.
The store doesn't track sales of individual items, but books do have their own category at the cash register. At the end of June, they'll tabulate the sales. I'll be very interested to see if book sales have gone up.
Here I am, below, sorting and cleaning books at my desk.
I'm mugging for the coworker taking the photo--I don't feel at all beleaguered. Mostly, I'm exhilarated.
I was especially exhilarated today when I open a grocery bag of donations, and there was a set of the works of Carl Jung, published by Princeton-Bollingen (the black books standing on the desk in front of me).
My mother studied Jungian psychology, and I remember that these books are expensive. Even used, they sell for $25 to $100 each now.
I'm going to put them out for a high price--high for the thrift store, that is--our base price for books is 99¢. I'll price these around $10 each. If they don't sell, I'll put them on ebay.
Still using the baby buggy I see. đ Looking forward to seeing all your changes. I bet book sales will be way up!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bink. Book sales will go up!!! A consequence of an improved book section may be bringing other buyers into the store. I know sometimes I quit shopping at a place if I do not see the stuff changing.
ReplyDeleteThe bookstore I was at yesterday also had a display of weird books picked out by the staff. One of them was purely on the cover-a 1970's runners book with a male in those sidecut very short shorts and a female stretching. The male had a very bushy mustache.
Cool idea to put a book with the frame. It might be fun to spread books throughout the store with other items. A drink mixing book in the glassware section. Laundry tips in the bedding area.
Kirsten
Hi, bink & Kirsten!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing my enthusiasm for re-doing the Books Dept.!
KIRSTEN: Ha! That 1970s book--I can just picture it! (Like out of Starsky & Hutch.) I remember when "jogging" was this weird new fad.
Good idea about seeing books around the store. In fact, I've started to do that
--I put a big How to Sew-type book in with crafts--it sold right away.
And that brings up a challenge: It's a lot of work to maintain and keep stocking this stuff. They definitely need a regular Book Lady like me!