Ever dreamed of owning a bookstore?

readinginreview4 · Post by **readinginreview4** » 01 Jun 2014, 08:53

I've always wanted to own a bookstore! Hopefully it was sold!

Patricia Konarski UA · Post by **Patricia Konarski UA** » 01 Jun 2014, 10:09

The idea of having a bookstore sounds great, at first. Then, you have to consider the fact that the profitability of a brick-and-mortar bookstore is akin to the fledgling existence of a brick-and-mortar electronics store attempting to compete with online electronic stores. In this light, it's not a viable long-term business.

Just speaking from my experience as a retired librarian, freelance editor and book collector.

anomalocaris · Post by **anomalocaris** » 01 Jun 2014, 11:28

Problem is -- bookstores are on the way out. Pretty much every privately owned book store (at least in the US is struggling on the verge of closing, and being forced to sell other merchandise or include an expresso area and a wifi hotspot (which they have to pay for) just to keep the doors open for a little longer. Very few can afford employees, so the owner has to be working any time the place is open, and that means 7 days a week, including evenings, because it's on weekends and evenings that people have time to browse quaint little book shops. Owning a book store these days would leave little time for reading!

kasi33 · Post by **kasi33** » 01 Jun 2014, 11:30

I would definitely love to work in a book store. Being around books all the time, and having a discount to buy them, would be amazing! I would definitely read in between customers!

Proud_Army_Fiance · Post by **Proud_Army_Fiance** » 02 Jun 2014, 07:47

I always thought it would be awesome to own a book store, I would be surrounded in books

roaminginrome16 · Post by **roaminginrome16** » 02 Jun 2014, 14:32

It would be lovely, a small library but if I was reading and someone disturbed me wanting to buy a book it would be annoying after a while

David Dawson · Post by **David Dawson** » 02 Jun 2014, 15:02

I always wanted to own a licensed bookstore, where people could come browse, drink a bit, buy a book. Then again, that does just seem like an excellent way to combine two failing business models.

SoftCoyote · Post by **SoftCoyote** » 02 Jun 2014, 16:52

All the time, but I think I would be too particular about which books I sold. So it probably wouldn't work out. ^^"

David Dawson · Post by **David Dawson** » 02 Jun 2014, 19:56

As it's been 3 years since it was mentioned on the thread, I feel like it's a public service to direct any/ everyone reading in the direction of Black Books, a brilliant sitcom set in a book shop.

bookworm123321 · Post by **bookworm123321** » 02 Jun 2014, 20:23

Owning a bookstore is definitely a dream of mine. One of those smaller, comfy bookstores, not like Barnes and Nobles. Being surrounded by books as your job......pure bliss

Acwoolet · Post by **Acwoolet** » 02 Jun 2014, 20:53

I have also dreamed of owning a bookstore! Something cozy and quiet where you could get lost in a book all day!

Divephantom19 · Post by **Divephantom19** » 03 Jun 2014, 00:22

I think all readers do at some point, but alas, this is hardly a practical venture these days. You just can't compete with the chains and Amazon.

stoppoppingtheP · Post by **stoppoppingtheP** » 03 Jun 2014, 08:18

when I was a kid I used to wish I could move my bed into the library.
I've kind of grown out of that now.

Ktrenee56 · Post by **Ktrenee56** » 03 Jun 2014, 21:37

I think it would be great to own a bookstore! All the books at your fingertips. Fantastic.

Tiffanye1 · Post by **Tiffanye1** » 04 Jun 2014, 10:26

Owning a book store is definitely something that I would love to do but I do not think that it is the right time in our American history to do so. With libraries in this country sending thousands of books to be recycled or selling them to other countries it does not seem to be a good investment at this time.

Once the entire globe is on the digitization train physical copies are going to dwindle at an exponential rate. I do believe it is important to have multiple physical backups of everything ever published but I am not sure if everyone would agree with me. Unfortunately for those of us who love books in there tangible forms and see the importance of having physical backups we might just be in a quickly dwindling group.