The Book Bandit

I used to have the best little used bookshop in town. I knew it, my customers knew it. It was great. Then the competition arrived. It's not that they are better than I am at bookselling. In fact, they are worse. I know it, my customers know it. So why is my business suffering?

It's true that in the past year I have doubled the size of my shop, which also greatly increased my overhead. Many would say that the better route would be to get smaller on the Brick-n-Mortar side and grow the Internet side of the business. But when I opened my shop almost 6 years ago one of my goals was to provide my city with a real used bookstore, like the shops I used to frequent in New Orleans. I did and initially business was good. So what happened?

I think the answer is simple. I have become lazy and sloppy with my shop. After moving from my old cramped space to my new larger space, I was worn out. I didn't have any energy left over to take the next step. So I just sat back and took what business came, while my shop became less organized, less unique.

So it is time to put up or shut up, to get off my ass and make this shop the best shop in Winston-Salem once again. By the time my 6 year anniversary roles around I want to be able to say that I am back on top of my game. The alternative is unacceptable.