There will be no smoking. I’m fairly sure it’s against Fort Worth city regulations, and fire regulations. Besides which, I’m VERY sensitive to smoke, and would not be able to stay in a place that allows it. I don’t like VERY dusty places, either, and I aim to be clean enough to be comfortable, but not so clean that it’s sterile.
Again, we won’t be serving coffee or tea or anything, because of the cats.
Most of the cons around here seem to be comic book cons, and located in Dallas. I’d really have to stay in a hotel in Dallas if I wanted to be a huckster…though I might do it if it’s a SF con, especially if the GOH is an author I particularly admire. Offering flyers and coupons for the freebie bags is a good idea, I think. The shop carries some old comics, both comic books and comic collections. I don’t know much of ANYTHING about comics, except that I love Gaiman’s Sandman stories. There’s a couple of comic shops on the same street, and I’m not sure if they carry used comics or not. I’ll have to check them out, see where I’ll compete with them, and where we can cooperate.
The staff, or at least the manager and assistant manager, know the regulars, and know the stock. I plan on spending about half a day at the shop, a couple of days a week, as my health permits, getting to know the store routine and how to buy books and such. I won’t be able to take a regular shift, unfortunately, but I’ll be able to fill in if an emergency occurs. I’ve already started doing this. The manager has pointed out the mentally challenged guy that comes in every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, insists on shaking her hand and chatting to her and petting the cats. He’s a bit annoying, but harmless, and it’s just a part of the routine. But it’s stuff like this that I have to know. The manager and assistant manager are also very good at recommending books and authors.
All the staff are part-timers, even the manager. She says that she doesn’t want to work any more hours than she already does. Nobody gets paid vacations. About the only benefit is being able to take books home to read and return for free. However, to a reader, this can add up to about $75 a week in free reading material, tax-free. And many readers consider reading material to be an essential, not a luxury.
I’ll probably have a price CHART posted around various locations, which will have a cover price listed, and then our price for the book. So, fear not, customers will not have to try to figure out 55% of the cover price.
I’ve already discussed a Staff Recommendation area with the manager, who loves the idea. Having an Award Winners area would be great, too. I can see having that as a permanent display, something that regulars and new customers alike would enjoy. I know the feeling of “I’m gonna go eat lunch but I HAVE to have a new book to read!” only too well.
Berry Street is a “historic” area, and has some rather strange and strict rules about signs. I will see what I can do. I know that I can put one of those trailer signs in the parking lot…but the City of Fort Worth has regulations that a shop can only have such a sign on display for 2 months, then it must not have it out for a month, then it can have the sign out again for another two months…so I can have a sign like that out for 8 months out of the year, but staggered times.
The shop already has a website, and is affiliated with ABE, Alibris, Amazon (as a Z shop), and I think a couple of others. Internet sales now make up the majority of the income. I’ll have to change the website name, of course, and leave up a pointer to the new name.
Lots of good ideas, I thank you all. I’m copying stuff down.
