About Used Bookstores
Used books can be found at garage sales, library sales, auctions and even online. When your plan is to open a used bookstore, the first thing to work on is acquiring enough used books. That means you'll need a place to store them while you are searching and purchasing. If you don't have a separate room in your home, make sure the storage location is dry and safe from weather and animals that could ruin the books.
Online or Storefront Bookstore
If you decide on an online used bookstore, you can get started pretty quickly. Either create your own Website or sell through other online businesses (eBay, Amazon, ABE Books, Choose Books and A1Books, to name a few) that charge a commission and/or monthly fee.
Opening a brick-and-mortar bookstore will take a great deal more consideration, time and money than selling books online. However, opening a used bookstore might be more satisfying than selling exclusively online. The best choice may be a mixture of the two forms. Consider selling books online or even on your Website while you are putting together your storefront bookstore. You will certainly learn a great deal from online sources about what kinds of books are popular sellers. You will be bringing in an income through the process of putting together your store. Even after you open your doors, having another selling outlet can be a benefit.
Buying Used Books
There are certain types of books that sell well. Nonfiction, especially "how to" books, are hard to keep on the shelves. Romance and New Age books, on the other hand, do not sell as well. Anything that is dated is not a good choice.
You have to remain a business person first and foremost. When a friend from the neighborhood stops by with a bunch of books ill-suited for resale, you'll have to turn her away. A nicer way of handling this may be to tell her that her titles aren't something you can use, but that you would be happy to donate them to the local thrift shop.
Cataloging Books
Once you have begun collecting used books, you will need to start cataloging them and keep your inventory accurate. If someone comes into your store asking for a particular book, you should be able to check on your computer and go directly to the book's location. The same is true if you are selling books online. If you sell your books at more than one site, you will need to remove it from the inventory of each location when a book is sold.
Shipping Books
Package your books to avoid damage. The purchaser should already be aware of the current book conditions as relayed as part of the book description. If you are sending a single book, bubble wrap it and then package it inside of a padded envelope. They come in varying sizes and you should have them on hand. They can be purchased in bulk for a better price than individually. If more books are being sent to the same location, box them with bubble wrap around each book.
You will be responsible for the handling and shipping of the books. You have several options, U.S. mail, UPS and other shipping companies. Choose the most convenient and cost-effective choice for you. If you have to go clear across town to the post office, while UPS is a block away but slightly higher in cost, perhaps saving your time and gas is worth going to UPS even though it doesn't offer a book rate fee. Also, consider how long it will take for the book to get to the recipient, UPS is generally quicker than the U.S. Postal Service.
Tips and Tricks
When people enter your bookstore wanting to sell you their books, offer them half credit and half payment. Credit would be for purchases of books in your store. In this way you have a new customer as well as a source of new inventory.
It is difficult for bookstores selling only "new" books these days with large box book retailers. Start your storefront with used books and gradually add new books that can be purchased from book wholesalers at bargain prices. Eventually you will have a good mix of new and used books.
Keep your business going by adding something other than books as a side business. This will bring a different group of customers into your store. For instance:
* A hobby you know a lot about. You could sell supplies for that hobby or the finished product.
* Add stationary supplies such as cards, paper and envelopes.
* Handcrafts. You must add only quality items and limit yourself so you don't get to be a craft shop selling a few books.
* Coffee and pastries have shown to be a good mix for other bookstores; why not a used bookstore?
* Gifts and chocolates. Choose high class or distinctive gifts.
Tags: selling books, used bookstore, your store, selling books online, About Used, About Used Bookstores