many people still think of amazon when they think of buying a book, but for true book lovers, nothing is more exciting than seeing a new bookstore opening around the corner. the smell of new books can be intoxicating, and nothing beats the texture of the paper in your hands as you contemplate a purchase. (Old books can be heady, too, but the scent, like a mix of fall leaves with a dash of cinnamon, is something else entirely.) Of course, a sure way to turn those smiles into frowns of dismay is a bookstore that doesn’t have any books yet!
Before you start shopping for books, it’s important to determine your market. If you sell used books, the process for getting inventory is quite different from a store that sells new books. however, even within these two types of bookstores, there are niches. A general bookstore may sell fiction and nonfiction books in a variety of genres and subjects, but if you want to sell only first edition detective mysteries, the choice is yours. Some common niches include:
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- children’s books
- Christian books
- new age books
- textbooks
- travel books
Another type of niche is discount books, or leftovers. These books are often sold by the pound, with each box containing a variety of different titles that the publisher wants to remove from their inventory. most are usually books that didn’t sell as well as the publisher hoped, or they may be books that are slightly damaged.
Booksellers can often buy remnants directly from publishers if they pay in advance, as well as through a wholesaler. however, when you purchase books at a discount, you will not be able to return any books that you cannot sell.
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One of the first things new bookstore owners do is contact major publishers for information on setting up an account. In most cases, however, new stores can’t buy books directly from publishers, at least not from major publishers. the publisher will refer you to a wholesaler or distributor. publishers require volume, so unless you have a good sales history, publishers will be reluctant to work with you, and if they do, they won’t be able to offer you the discounts they give major resellers.
Wholesalers and distributors, on the other hand, will usually be happy to work with you because that’s their business model. they take books from publishers and distribute them through independent bookstores.
High-volume chains and bookstores typically buy books directly from publishers and get discounts based on their volume. this is usually between 50% and 60% of the list price of the book. wholesalers like ingram get similar discounts from publishers because of their volume, and pass on a portion of this discount to customers.
The typical discount an independent bookstore will get from Ingram for their books is 40% of the list price. In the wholesale book business, this is called a “trade discount.” they usually get the books at 55% off, and after they get 15% off, they pass the remaining discount on to you.
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As long as your application to work with Ingram is approved, you can expect free shipping on orders of 15 books or more. In most cases, books can be returned for a refund to your account if you don’t sell them. however, you will usually have to pay for return shipping.
If you’re planning on selling used books, there are basically two main methods of getting a good supply of used books for your store: auctions and book sales. For both, it’s a good idea to start by looking around. any event within driving distance of your store as soon as possible. colleges and schools are famous for raising money through the annual book sale. alumni and community members donate their books to the school, which sells them at extremely low prices over the course of a day or a few days.
Since you can get hundreds of titles and often for a dollar or two each, driving to another city for a charity book sale with a rented van can be a very good investment. just get there early and be prepared to see other booksellers who are also looking for new inventory. with auctions, you’ll need to make sure there will be enough books there to justify the trip. in any case, do your research beforehand.
Once you have a base inventory, consider purchasing used books from the public. amazon and ebay would be worth checking regularly. Websites like Abebooks and Thriftbooks are good for finding books you can resell, especially if a customer wants a specific title. They can also be good for selling your own stock, as long as you don’t mind packing and shipping them yourself.
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