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Original poster

What would you want from the IDEAL children's bookshop?

49 replies

Spink · 12/10/2007 19:38

dh and I have been thinking for a while about starting a business together, and have decided we'd like to set up a specialist children's bookshop (having been a little surprised at how pants the children's sections are in the big bookshops, and at how few specialist children's ones there are). It is very exciting but a little daunting too....

The idea is that as well as selling books, we would offer lots of other stuff, like storytelling, having a space for babies to play safely on the floor, staff who really know their stuff about child development & appropriate/good reads, a cafe, etc etc

I'd really appreciate your advice - what would you want from the ideal children's bookshop?

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Original poster
Spink · 12/10/2007 19:39

ooops. Just realised I've posted in COMPLETELY the wrong section
Could be worse, I could've stumbled onto Childbirth...
I'm off to find the right one

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pyjamagirlgotbitbyvampires · 12/10/2007 19:40

ohh it sounds lovely seems as though you have everything covered

good luck

BettyBatShapedSpaghetti · 12/10/2007 19:42

-comfy sofas to sit on with your children -weekly (?) suggestions board with recommendations for different age groups

popsycal · 12/10/2007 19:43

WE have a FAB (fab fab fab) children's bookshop locally. They have a room upstairs for storytelling and hire it out for baby massage and other things.

IMO you need really knowledgeable staff. Staff who know their 'classics' at all ages but also know what to recommend for reluctant readers/boys/girls/ children with specific SEN. Books right up to the teenage years.

Discount on bulk buying.

Special offers on authors which change regularly.

Good links with local schools - competitions, reading rewards

Good space for maneouvering buggies. Nice muffins. Raspberry and white chocolate are nice

EffiePerine · 12/10/2007 19:45

comfy seats

good range of books
wide doors (for buggies)
bf friendly (i.e. some nice secluded comfy chairs for bfing mothers)
baby changing (obv)

MeltingandScreamingIcarus · 12/10/2007 19:46

Ideally books on shelves out of toddlers reach to allow mums to browse without fear .

Staff who actually like children.

Cafe with a play area ideally. Fruit juice/water for kids served in child friendly containers.

Agree with Popsycal on the rest.

BettyBatShapedSpaghetti · 12/10/2007 19:47

a (child friendly) toilet

Original poster
Spink · 12/10/2007 19:50

hello - have posted in the bookey section but so far Travel is coming up trumps!
We could definitely to all those things (she says confidently yet knowing nothing about the actual logistics..)
I really like the idea of it being somewhere that mums (and dads) and babes hang out as well as it being somewhere to buy stuff.
Are any of you teachers/invovled with schools - and know how easy it would be to collaborate with schools? We thought of maybe doing poetry competitions & reading out aloud type events for children and wondered if schools would want to work with us on that kind of thing..

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malfoy · 12/10/2007 19:51

our children's bookshop has a box of battered books for children to play with/ read & a nice play area with toys.

They were also absolutely lovely about cleaning up when my son wet himself once.

Original poster
Spink · 12/10/2007 19:53

BettyBat - how about the books for buying being out of toddler reach, and a selection of books for browsing (and chewing on, and throwing) within reaching distance of small hands. Obviously we couldn't afford many, but would like the children to be able to get excited about grabbing books for themselves..

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Original poster
Spink · 12/10/2007 19:54

cross posted with you malfoy!

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southeastastra · 12/10/2007 19:55

a bit of noise. i'm forever telling my son to be quiet in bookshops

popsycal · 12/10/2007 19:58

I am a teacher......

clandestine · 12/10/2007 19:58

Like you and your DH, I have often thought about how my perfect bookshop would be.

I would have a free (or perhaps honesty) filter coffee machine at the back of the store with some comfy sofas and a pile of toddler books to keep younger children occupied while mum and dad browsed. There would be a few play pens as well so babes could be popped in with a few books to read while Mum and dad lounge on the sofa with a cup of coffee and a few books to read

On Tues afternoons I would do story time after school and perhaps on Sat mornings too. Then a toddler session once a week too.

toomanygraves · 12/10/2007 20:01

Sounds BLARDY marvellous, where are you opening it. All bases covered I think, big loos disabled access reading mat for kids with battered books Proper cappuccino and newspapers for parents, storytelling and booksigning.

Original poster
Spink · 12/10/2007 20:02

popsycal - any advice on how best we could approach schools?
.. and if you could give me the name of your fab fab fab local bookshop I'd appreciate it - we're visiting all the children's bookshops we can at the moment!

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HonoriaGlossop · 12/10/2007 20:02

Maybe you could do competitions to get publicity to the right audience; for the local infant school, do a drawing competition, best picture wins a book, that sort of thing; story writing comp for the junior school perhaps?

Schools are keen to promote interest in books and reading so I'm sure they might stuff bookbags with sheets for you...maybe in return for a donation to the library or something?

Good luck, it sounds a lovely idea.

Also, worth asking the local schools which authors they're focussing on each term so you can have a nice eye-catching display in the window?

popsycal · 12/10/2007 20:05

our fab bookshop is called paper treasures and is in whitley bay, tyne and wear (outing myslef here

As for schools, you need to get the teachers interested in your shop, offer to do readings for classes, etc. Visit the school, competitions

Original poster
Spink · 12/10/2007 20:06

toomanygraves - not sure where we'll be yet, that is part of our dilemma - we live in Brighton now, but it is a bit pricey here and we don't think we could afford to set up locally. There is lots of children's stuff going on here already, too, so we might not be offering what is really needed in the area. I guess we would probably stay in Sussex-ish.. but are pretty flexible really!

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popsycal · 12/10/2007 20:07

paper treasures

Califright · 12/10/2007 20:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Spink · 12/10/2007 20:10

my husband is an actor so his readings are SUPERB (no bias here) - we also have lots of links with other actors and would love to make use of those links, to bring books to life as much as poss. how much would you pay to go to storytelling sessions/readings/short plays?

One of our friends is an actor/signer and I reckon he would love to get involved with signed readings...

OOH I AM GETTING SO EXCITED!!
THANK YOU!!!!

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Original poster
Spink · 12/10/2007 20:12

peeing side by side - yay! what a fantastic idea!

and popsycal - paper treasures looks wonderful. We will be setting out for a day trip soon

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popsycal · 12/10/2007 20:13

In 2000, I paid a 'storyteller' £70 for a 2 hour session in school.

Look up Chris Bostock and see what he charges....he is a well respected story teller in our area.

You might want also to do 'horrible histories' brought to life. We use a lot of roman soliders, tudor wives, etc in school.....

fibernie · 12/10/2007 20:15

Well, we think that seven stories is pretty fab.

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