Today was it, final straw. There was no way I could keep working at my current job. After working 60-70 hours per week and working 6-7 hours a night in my dreams, it was time. I was ready to be my own boss and live my dream of opening a bookstore.
Start with research!
Before you do anything go to the experts!
Join the American Booksellers Association as a provisional member so you can get vital information about opening a bookstore. This is a mandatory investment for success. Sure, you can google “how to open a bookstore” but I have yet to see all the vital info in one article. The next 4 blog posts will take you through a very concise process that will give you a fighting chance to succeed. You may even find out you aren’t quite ready for this project!
I actually looked for retail spaces and drove around to see what locations were available for my store. Start to envision what your bookstore will be like. Is there a niche you want to represent? Children’s books, science fiction, romance books or just used books are some great ideas to explore.
Buy a notebook and start writing down all the ideas for the bookstore. Pay close attention to local news stories and local events. Go to Pinterest and see what ideas you can get to complete your vision! Look for Indie Bookstore groups on Facebook.
I actually got a little ahead of myself and bought some stuff BEFORE I did all my homework. Don’t do what I did! Follow along as I go through all the steps of preparing to open an Independent Bookstore. Step 2 will get you started.