Opening an Independent Bookstore:
Resources
& Support
This guide is
designed to
assist the burgeoning entrepreneur and those interested in or curious
about the
business of becoming a bookstore owner. There
are numerous other resources available to interested individuals, from
books
and articles to the multitude of bookstore owners willing to share
their
experiences and advice. The purpose of
this selective list is to offer a broad introduction to what is
available on the
web regarding the business of opening an independent bookstore.
Getting Started
The following sites offer
resources and services directly related to opening a bookstore, from
educational materials to start-up plans to financing and marketing
strategies.Provided
by the American Booksellers Association (ABA), this useful guide is
designed to
help those new to the industry, providing links to educational
opportunities,
literature, industry information and professional organizations. “The
Bookstore Training and Consulting Group,” Paz & Associates provides
“training
resources and individual services to help you build retail skills,
learn about
the book industry, and implement new business ideas.” This group is
endorsed by Comprised
of former booksellers, this consulting firm works with independent
booksellers
on a wide range of projects, “from designing new stores and store
expansions to
advising bookstore owners on operational and financial matters.” Their
website
offers a question & answer forum with helpful information and
useful links
to industry resources and associations. Small
Business Resources
The links in this
section provide general
information and a
wealth of resources on launching a small, independent business from the
developmental
stages to day-to-day management. The federal agency devoted to
helping individuals “start, build
and grow businesses,”SBA provides extensive resources for getting your
business
off the ground, including a small business planner to help with, among
many
other things, business plan writing, financing a start-up, and managing
a new
business. From the Wall Street Journal
(WSJ) Centre for Entrepreneurs, this
site offers extensive resources on starting your own business, culled
from the
editorial resources of the WSJ. Highlights
include practical advice and guidance on
planning and
executing a business venture; and an ideas section for researching
other
business models. An educational, non-profit organization that helps independent businesses
start and
sustain Independent Business Alliances (IBAs) in their communities, in
part to
prevent the displacement of locally-owned businesses by big-box chains. This
organization is strongly supported by independent booksellers
nationwide and
endorsed by the American Booksellers Association. Industry
Information
Located here are links to
industry sites that provide research and statistics on the book
business. Made
up of publishers, booksellers, manufacturers, libraries, authors,
printers,
wholesalers, and others engaged in the book business, BISG is the
industry’s leading
trade association for policies, standards and research.
This site links to industry research and
publications, news and events, business tools, and best practices,
among many
other useful industry resources. R.
R. Bowker’s comprehensive book industry web site provides “librarians,
publishers, booksellers, authors, and general book enthusiasts with the
resources
they need.” The site includes the latest
book industry news and statistics, access to the latest releases and
reviews,
and an expansive directory of book sites around the world. The
American Bookseller Association’s guide to research and statistics on
the book
industry includes links to Professional
Associations
This list includes links to
professional associations that offer education and support for the
independent
bookseller. SIBA
is a trade association representing booksellers in the southeast. One
of a
large number of regional trade associations, SIBA’s mission
is to is to give independent
booksellers the tools to be successful in the marketplace. They offer educational programs and
workshops, and their annual
trade
show offers excellent opportunities to network with other professionals. Their site links to booksellers around the
southeast and offers a listserv for members. ABFC
is an example of a specialty bookseller association that offers
workshops,
networking and support for independent children’s booksellers. Another example is the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of
America Trade Events and
Resources
Here are links to the major
trade events, resources and publications indispensable to the
independent bookseller. BEA is the annual book industry
event showcasing the entire scope of book publishing from the Sponsored
by With the tagline “The
International Voice for Book Publishing and
Bookselling,” Publishers Weekly is
the industry’s leading trade news magazine. Their website features a
searchable
database of new and archived book reviews, bestseller information and
regular
columns on the industry. |
