This list of “25 Things I Learned from Opening a Bookstore” is delightful. Most are self-evident, but only once you read them – these are the kinds of things to which one doesn’t usually give a lot of thought. (Unless one is a bookseller.)
My faves:
1. People are getting rid of bookshelves. Treat the money you budgeted for shelving as found money. Go to garage sales and cruise the curbs.
2. While you’re drafting that business plan, cut your projected profits in half. People are getting rid of bookshelves.
9. No one buys self help books in a store where there’s a high likelihood of personal interaction when paying. Don’t waste the shelf space, put them in the free baskets.
12. People buying books don’t write bad checks. No need for ID’s. They do regularly show up having raided the change jar.
21. A surprising number of people will think you’ve read every book in the store and will keep pulling out volumes and asking you what this one is about. These are the people who leave without buying a book, so it’s time to have some fun. Make up plots.
http://open.salon.com/blog/jlsathre/2012/01/11/25_things_i_learned_from_opening_a_bookstore