Would San Antonio Support A $1 Used Bookstore?

[sapphire]

Nix, I'm sure you'll consult with a CPA regarding the above questions.

Since the question was..."will SA support a $1 bookstore?" I believe by the responses here the answer is a resounding "Yes!".......

[Nix54]

Originally Posted by cr1039

You may have issues advertising your store as "dog friendly" considering the coffee, tamales and hot dogs ideas will conflict.

You may only allow work animals such as a seeing eye dog in an establishment which serves food. A patio however would be acceptable.


Local authors may consider doing a reading or signing, you would though either have to sell their books according to the set cost for that book, if you want to sell the author books for $1 I would assume your store would have to make up the difference. As for national authors, that can become extraordinarily expensive - some of the authors I work with command $10K honorariums, flight and hotel arrangements, ground transportation and meals etc.

How many books would you need to sell, on average, per day to cover rent, salaries, marketing etc?

How much do you expect your average customer receipt to be?

How many people do you expect to come into the store daily - what is you estimated foot traffic?

What are your projected hours of operation?

I am sure "any place" would support a $1 "anything".

We would have sunglasses available for all dogs that enter the store.
Actually leashed dogs would be allowed inside the store.

A separate refreshment area would restrict the doggies. Doggies allowed at outdoor tables.

Authors & artists would be welcomed especially local up & coming. Readings & exhibits will showcase the author's work at the price that they command. This will be advertised prior to the event.

As for some of the authors that command $10,000 honorariums that would definitely be out of our ballpark.

If daily receipts could consistently average $300 plus, we'd be doing ok. I wish I could estimate foot traffic.

After having been open and learning what kinds of books customers like and having them available is the key. There are just so many books that one can buy in San Antonio and many booksellers are already there.

The bulk of our books do not come from San Antonio, but from Interstate 10 West.

In fact next week on my next book run, I am dropping off some books at the Pecos County Sheriffs Office, in Fort Stockton. We are beginning to supply books for the incarcerated from San Antonio to El Paso. This we do at no charge. Many times its the first time a person has ever read a complete book.

Hours of operation would be 9 to 10. See you after Church, Sundays open 12 to 7.

The key is finding an affordable location. There are some places on Austin street just above Broadway by Maverick Park on the other side of the expressway.

Beautiful old carved limestone buildings. The businesses there are mostly industrial & warehouses, some vacant but enticing for a bookstore. Austin street back in 1877 was the busiest street in San Antonio. This is where the first train depot was before it moved to Commerce street.

[Nix54]

Originally Posted by sapphire

Nix, I'm sure you'll consult with a CPA regarding the above questions.

Since the question was..."will SA support a $1 bookstore?" I believe by the responses here the answer is a resounding "Yes!".......

I believe you are so right!

[cr1039]

Originally Posted by Nix54

Authors & artists would be welcomed especially local up & coming. Readings & exhibits will showcase the author's work at the price that they command. This will be advertised prior to the event.

If daily receipts could consistently average $300 plus, we'd be doing ok.

Local professors whom are published are a great resource for readings/signings etc. They have both published books AND public speaking experience which are obviously key to a successful author event.

I have found they appreciate an opportunity to sell books and will often not command an honorarium.


I think the budget estimates are fun. If you are looking a $300 per day for sales and the average receipt is about $5/5 books, you are looking at 60 transactions a day.

How do you plan on tracking inventory/titles? Arranging the shelves/genres?

[Nix54]

Titles would not be inventoried.

Books would be shelved in their proper category.... Fiction, Non Fiction, Self Help, Cookbooks, Childrens .... Kind of like how Half Price does it, but not so elaborate.

The more a customer hunts for a book, the more they may pick up.

Books would be numbered and date coded.

I'd really like to emphasize readings, book signings, exhibits. It's educational, wholesome & entertaining for a literate community. There's camaraderie. San Antonio definitely has that element.