I've always wanted to own a book store and I actually put my mind to it this weekend. How does one start a used book store? Where do they get the books to start with...buy another store that's going out of business?

Also, is there a decent market for collectible book stores? I'd like to own a store with first editions, signed copies, and higher end books, but are there enough collectors out there to make such a place fly?

Just some random questions from a man who would like to someday, maybe after retirement in 30 years, open a bookstore.

I don't have any advice, but you should check out a couple of interesting novels about a "bookman" who does just this:

John Dunning is the author and the books are "Booked to Die", and "Bookmans Wake".

FYI.

-doc

First...get a bunch of money...

then....flush it down the toilet?

I have the feeling that bookstores are getting harder and harder to be successfull with each passing day. Overall readership is down and many books are bought online. Now, there are exceptions to the rule, of course.

This seems to be, unfortunately, true.

I remember when I was a kid my mom and I would go to any one of 3 used bookstores in the area. Now, sadly, all but one are closed in that area.

Where I live now, there were 3 in my area as recently as 3 years ago. But now there is only one. And it's very small.

I refuse to pay full price for books and man do I miss Crown Books with a passion.

Fortunately, there is a library within an hours drive that has an amazing selection at unbelievable prices on used books. I take that trip every few months to unload and reload, so to speak.

Good luck with this b2k! There aren't enough used book stores out there and hopefully you can fill a niche in the market.

First question... what area do you live in? Book collectors will buy first editions, autographed, special collections eventually. But it's pretty hard to hold out for that one big sale. The used bookstore that I used to work for went under. Some of the things I thought would have kept it afloat... I thought we needed to create a niche. Instead of just having used books, think about featuring local authors and people who publish their own works. They would kill for a market to sell at and they will probably cut you into the profits. Find a niche like that, and you may have a chance.

Very carefully. I've owned a couple myself and it's not nearly as easy as it looks to make a living at it. Two obvious pieces of advice, don't do it underfunded and be very careful in picking a location. The old adage "location, location, location" very much applies here. As far as start up stock, I got my from a failed store, there's always some around. Keep in mind that you'll need time, probably a couple of years, to build up a clientale and you'll need money to survive on during that time.

This is something I've given thoughts to as well, there was a small chain in the middle New England area, 4 0r so locations called Pyramid books, sold mostly overstock books and bought sold used books as well. They are gone.

There are a number of places called Annies Book Swap that seems to be getting by, I won't shop there as its mostly romance titles and 50% off cover price, still too dang expensive for obviously used books. You may want to check them out to see about franchise as I think thats what you should look for as opposed to being an independent used book dealer.

If you want to specalize there is a service called bookfinder.com that seems to list inventory of smaller indepedent book stores and you can hook up with them and not have a B&M location, I know a number of dealers I've dealt with from there don't have a store per se.

Good luck and keep us posted. I'd love to hear a success story.

I think there is a market for a small store- if the person has a good business sense and works hard to find their own (profitable) business model.

However, it is definitely risky. In Evanston IL (near Northwestern) nearly every privately owned bookstore is now closed- within the last three years. This includes large college-book type bookstores, smaller used shops, marxist/grad student book store with very STRONG links to local authors etc.

If I were you, I would get into the business NOW, even while doing another job. Not owning a store- but just dealing in the collectible merchandise you are interested in (1st eds. autos etc.) online, EBAY etc. My impression of the smaller used bookstores around here (in Chicago) are that they are only successful because they have most of their specialty merchandise available online, and they do a large chunk of their business sitting in front of a web browser. I'm thinking you are really interested in books, so you could probably start making purchases at garage sales, college library sales etc., and then selling online for a profit. It could help you build that initial investment amount up (don't think you'd be getting a loan for a used book store), and you'd be learning the ins and outs of the business while its not life and death for you.

Give plenty of thought to location as well. I think the city stores around here get a lot of walk-in traffic, which helps on both the purchasing and the sales side. Some of the best used bookstores I've seen are also in touristy shopping towns, like Charleston SC.

I'm still many years away from making this dream come to fruition, but I do thank everyone for their comments. I'm basically not going to rush into it. I want to plan. I want to research. I want to make sure it's even what I want to do. But now I have the ideas I need to at least get started asking the right questions.

Check out Half-Price Bookstores. They've been able to make a killing in the used book trade.

www.halfpricebooks.com

They started here in Dallas and worked off a good marketing and business idea.

Funny - I went there today actually and bought half a dozen books. Great store!