Would it be ridiculous to open a bookshop?

[GoneAndDoneItAgainAgain]

To be perfectly honest, I don’t need money and I’m lucky enough not to actually need to work. I’m recently divorced and have 2 school age school.

I live in a lovely tourist town with a really eclectic mix of independently owned shops. I’ve always wanted to have a bookshop. Well, I’ve always liked the idea of sitting in a bookshop and it somehow being a career.

I could afford to rent a building and that has become free with rates and based on a very rough idea of quotes I could afford to get fixtures and stock it without needing to get a loan. I wouldn’t expect to actually make a profit from it but would ideally be able to cover the cost of employing someone a few days a week so I wouldn’t be doing it on my own. The building itself is an old sail loft that used to be my dads office so I think a lot of it is an emotional tie to the building. But it would make a fucking awesome bookshop and it’s right on the harbour so in the right place too.

Would this be daft? It’s something I’ve been dreaming of for years but it just seems ridiculous to open a bookshop because I want to sit in a bookshop and sell people books rather than actually make any money.

I wouldn’t be able to do coffee as well - the town is 90% coffee shops already and the building that I want has two of the most successful ones either side. The building is an old sail loft which would be easy to convert, ideal location and there’s a service charge which covers repairs. It’s also my dad’s old workplace and I have a huge crush on it for this reason.

I’d want to do mostly kids books and local authors, local history etc as it’s a real tourist trap. Also have some tasteful souvenirs, cards, wrapping paper etc. There’s no WHSmiths or Waterstones in town. The nearest other bookshop is a drive and a ferry away, the owner is a friend and she turns a good profit in the summer months, even this year. She opens all winter and makes a loss during the winter but each year she still sees a small profit after paying herself a wage. I’m unsure whether I’d open in the winter, possibly only at weekends.

I already run two book clubs in my town, there are lots of retired readers and I’d love to run those from the bookshop, possibly a few other clubs too if there’s interest. As I said I could afford to not pay myself a wage but things could get tight if I was regularly making a loss.

Sounds great but I’m afraid I disagree with pp marketing for kids, if my local bookshop had kids dressing up etc I’d go elsewhere.
Not everything has to be kid centric, a nice coffee shop opened near me with a corner with toy kitchen, blocks etc it’s awful as parents ignore their kids dragging toys everywhere and the incessant screeching is horrible, nice shop ruined.
A book shop with good coffee would be nice.

*crosspost coffee

It sounds beautiful, if you can afford to, do it.

I recently went to the most beautiful bookshop in Bude in Cornwall. It was utterly delightful and also sold things like Jellycat teddies, Melissa and Doug wooden toys, Caroline Gardner Stationery, Sophie Allport Mugs, Estella Bartlett jewellery and the like. It was absolutely divine.

I haven’t run a business myself before but I do have an MBA and in my previous job role was responsible for expanding a business (think along the lines of go karting) of finding new premises and costing everything up. I’m pretty sure my estimates are realistic and not too far fetched.

It’s something I’ve genuinely wanted to do my entire life and never done simply because it won’t make me rich. But I don’t think it would make me poor either and I’ve never, ever just gone and done something solely for the love of it.

Also I want ladders to reach the books. I’ll put all the best books up high so people have to climb ladders to get them and then they’ll have to buy them because they’ve enjoyed the fun of going up a ladder.

Oh, this sounds so lovely.

If you can, please have a rare and out of print books section.

Brilliant, if agreeable, you might have a ready made list of first visitors here...do pm me when dream becomes reality.

One thing I would suggest is to think about what they call a community bookshop or a social enterprise.

I understand there are some up and down the country Portishead is one I believe.

Social Enterprises have associations and help founding them'
I was thinking how wonderful it would be if you love books and not too worried about the money to plough love and inspiration back into the community.

Just think of the lovely story sessions and book evenings you could have with interesting authors, poets and writers...

and helping kids with their futures that would be amazing
pm me When and not IF the dream becomes reality.

Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground...

I think that you would have to work really hard just to stay open. Just being a bookshop wouldn’t be enough, you’d need To be beautifully decorated and need to do other things like book clubs, kids storytimes etc to get people in the door. But it sounds like you are prepared for that. So good luck
To you!

@growinggreyer

Choose your stock wisely for the location. What about a lovely children's section at the entrance to entice customers in? There is a gorgeous one in Whitby with children's books and soft toy characters. I impulse bought a Moomin there.

‘I impulse bought a Moomin’ might be my favourite quote of the week. An absolute dream!

2nd hand books - yes but anything else would be a money pit.

I think , even though there are coffee shops either side, I wouldn’t rule out having a small coffee and tea section. At least you’d be getting something back for footfall in your shop. People would rather look at a book with a coffee, than just go to the shop next door.
Wouldn’t you rather buy a property with a holiday annexe that you could let out and just let your money work for you and you’d not be so tied

You could sit and read a nice book in your garden then. With up to a £1000 or more a week with the right place in the right location, you could just watch the money roll in.

You sound like someone who likes to create.
Look at the fun you could have creating a warm cosy atmosphere in your holiday let, you could leave some choice books and say they are available to buy or do a room in your equally lovely house and if you have the right guest you can suggest they view your library with a view to purchasing whatever takes their fancy.

I’m all for minimising risk.
If you don’t sell a book you could bleed money on rent, business rates, heating, water , insurance, public liability etc
I do wish my late mums house had been on the seafront and not in town . I could’ve made a fortune with it as a holiday let as it had 3 bedrooms with downstairs ensuite with Wheel in shower Making it an ideal property for wheelchair users.

Sadly it wasn’t so I decided to let it go.
( I sill have a hankering to buy another though )

A target market of "retired readers" and dreams of the best books up high so people have to use ladders to get them down?? You might want to factor in hefty public liability insurance for all this broken hips and twisted ankles!

@GoneAndDoneItAgainAgain

Also I want ladders to reach the books. I’ll put all the best books up high so people have to climb ladders to get them and then they’ll have to buy them because they’ve enjoyed the fun of going up a ladder.

Not to burst your bubble on this one but it will be a health and safety nightmare

Sounds wonderful. Do it!!

it just seems ridiculous to open a bookshop because I want to sit in a bookshop and sell people books rather than actually make any money

Frankly, I think it's the most sensible reason to open a bookshop!
It's doing it to make money that's insane!!!

How long would you have to take the lease for?

Can it be repurposed for retail?

dowser I’m lucky enough to already own some holiday lets in the town which I’ve absolutely loved redecorating and they do really well. I grew up very poor and I’m not entirely comfortable earning lots of money by just owning holiday cottages that a lot of other locals hate. I think having a bookshop really gives something to the town. I know I could volunteer or something more worthy but I want to sit in a bookshop.

amelietaylor yes it was run as retail previously l. My dad had it as an office decades ago but it’s a big space and pretty cheap as it’s down a funny little alley. The town has really gone upmarket in the last few years ago and there’s some other really lovely shops in the alley.

If you 100% do not need to earn money from it then please please open a bookshop. Independent bookshops are dying as a breed and they are such wondrous places. A children's corner with bean bags. A few winged chairs to curl up in. Book launches and poetry readings in the evenings. Local author features and signings. If you are in a tourist town you could attract some big names. I used to work PT in a small bookshop and met a lot of very well known authors and journalists, some of whom became friends. On quiet days I'd play music, read poetry and drink coffee. I loved compiling lists of summer reading or travel-related fiction for customers.

@sashh
I will bring some books to the cafe 🤣🤣 .

That's great!

& how long would you have to take the lease for?

Maps would be a good extra line?

If there are walking tours or groups, get your alley to be the start point? Or local history walking tours?
Contact the local U3A and offer them space or a discount?

You may have already seen it but there was recently a piece in the media (probably the Independent) about the re-emergence of independent bookshops and how well they are doing. I think it sounds like a lovely idea, especially as it doesn't sound like you're reliant on it to earn your living.

Re the coffee issue, is there scope for a partnership with the nearest nice cafe(s) where they provide the refreshments (in your premises or theirs) and you provide the books (same) - that way everyone gets something without duplicating, or there could be discounts on a coffee at x with each book bought, or so many coffees bought at y entitles you to 10% off a book in your shop...all sorts of options.

I run a business which is as much about doing good and enjoyable stuff as it is about making money (and I need to earn my living from it) so definitely follow your dream GADIAA!

Sounds wonderful, I make a beeline for any independent book shops I come across. Happy to spend a little more than Amazon