Help me build a bookshop...

Take a look at House of Book and Friends in Manchester. They have an excellent model.

I buy a lot of books and would love to support local book shops, but the books unfortunately are always more expensive than what I can get online so I don’t. I wonder how much your books would cost.

Wow - I'm pleased and surprised to hear this concept actually exists and runs!

Oh that sounds really nice!

if you have a 'community space' that you rent out to DnD groups etc at the weekend, you could also rent desks to people who wfh during the week. Renting out desks with decent wifi and coffee can be a source of income in many towns.

Look at the competition in your area - are you aiming to sell to tourists or locals? to parents of kids or older people or what?

if parents of kids, then sell a few kids toys / stationary / jigsaws as well as the books. and gift-wrap bags and cards. purchases along the lines of 'i need a present quickly to take to Lucy's 8th birthday party' were a big part of my spending in bookshops for years.

Yeah, I think we know where the OP is coming from here, and it is not running a business 😆

What would you like to see? What would make it stand apart? Other than bookshop obvious things... like the sales of books!

How much start up capital do you have? Are you renting your premises or do you own a shop already? Which supplier are you going to use?
I would suggest getting to know your community, get the basics in but also stuff that serves pockets of local interest and offer promotional events around that. I would forget encouraging people to doss about on sofas spilling coffee. A good speedy ordering service, loyalty cards for kids and grown ups with holder events should help draw people away from Amazon.

I generally only buy second hand books, so I'd be looking for the majority of the books in the shop to be pre-loved. I also like a big local history section - these are always popular.

I’d like a self mental health book group. Others could be history. Local history. List is limitless.

We also have a subscription library in Ipswich. Ancient (knackered) leather topped tables, vaulted ceiling, loads of books and every magazine I have any desire to read, and all the papers. And a cafe. It's heaven.

Honestly, it has all been done. So many people have a dream of running a book shop/cafe/community space but the ship sailed about 15 years ago. In fiction it works, in reality most are just hobby/vanity projects.

Look at The Book Brewery in Ambleside. It is a slice of heaven on earth and incorporates many things mentioned here.

Notabookshop

None of which sells books.

Friday/Saturday later opening with a 'quiet wine' space (for those who don't want to read books in pubs) - or can be beer, just doesn't rhyme...

Are you selling the wine and beer? In which case, your premises needs a licence. As do you.

And, selling wine and beer means - you have to stock a range of them. And you need glasses. And you need somewhere to wash the glasses. And store the glasses. And store the wine and beer. And keep them chilled. And deal with drunk people.

Even aside from the other mad ideas ( collab with local city farm?!) I don't think you've thought this through.

Oh! And toy library and tool library a men’s shed where they can fix stuff

Games! A place for young adults to play games whether that be D&D or monopoly a this sort of shop has recently opened near us a great idea and I love the idea of renting out to those teaching hobbies

Ooh amazing!

This may sound daft but lots and lots of books. We had a bookshop that failed near us as that seemed to want to be more of a community space/arts events but you couldn’t buy the basics of children’s literature like Peepo/Peter Rabbit/Roald Dahl/Julia Donaldson. I did actually discover some wonderful other books through them but definitely would have spent more actual money on things like christening or baby presents if they’d have had the basics.

I would also see if you can do some kind of service to provide book clubs with multiple copies of things for some kind of discount or link up/benefit.

"I would want a source of coffee and water, and this would be an income stream - not necessarily even a cafe, a good high quality vending machine would be fine (they do exist - not the kind you get in unattended locations but the kind with china mugs...).
Although I dislike the subscription idea, I might not be wholly opposed to a small membership fee to access extended hours for sitting and reading and unlimited coffee/ water (hot and soft drinks) - a bit like a gym membership... There'd need to be toilet facilities if people are staying a while (could be accessed with membership card and other customers ask staff for the code...)."

Come to Leeds - there is a private subscription library which has all of the above!

Because there arent any spaces in cities to read quietly any more. Libraries are full of toddler groups and knit and natters.
I would happily pay a fair bit to rent a comfy chair in a quiet space for an hour or two on a regular basis

I know lots of people who would pay a (reasonable) fee for somewhere quiet to work/study which co-working spaces don't fill. Depends on the space and whether you've got a room you could designate for silent browsing with a table.

I also love the gently used book club, and think anyway you can help people make choices on books is great. E.g. Wrapped books with brief descriptions but that are award nominees/ 3 of the latest best sellers chosen for you

@cakebreak why would you be quietly reading in a bookshop...the owner needs people to buy and go. Not take up shelfspace and potential sales.

One like Black Books

Or an indulgent spouse with a permanent high paid job is useful.
Especially if you have health issues that mean even a few days off...because paying someone like me eats into the profits.