Local Bookstores

[Cindy Jost]

I recently contacted 5 local bookstores and 3 have agreed to sell some of my books. One of them will take the book on consignment. Has anyone had any problems with this type of agreement...is there any other way? The other two stores are owned by friends so there isn't an issue.

www.freewebs.com/cindyjost

[R. D. Peters]

I find bookstores aren't interested in selling volumes of my books. One or two here and there, and they're happy. So, Cindy, I would try a new path. Right now I'm attempting to sell Ebooks since I can directly email them out to anyone in the world and get paid via PayPal.

[Linton Robinson]

Well, I don't like consign, but I do it when I have to. As Feon suggests, part of the problem is getting them to see the book as an investment they need to move out.

If a book is selling well at an outlet I like to move people into a retail position when I can. "Hey, you're selling this thing really well. Instead of us having to keep count of the consignments, why don't you just buy (one, two four, what seems to work) to keep things simple."
I usually, especially with little outfits unsure about the book, will guarantee them. "If you don't sell those four in a month, I'll take 'em back." I've only had to do that once in like 20 years of selling my own books.

Also, I get much better sales in stores other than book stores. Part of that is the kind of book I have, but if you anything that fits into a non-bookstore environment, it's the only book there, usually right on the counter by the register.

[Smitty]

I have found that the smaller local bookstores are easy to deal with. Especially Christian bookstores for the Christian author. Consignments can be good, however you can also end up with a number of books with bent covers and pages from being handled and not purchased. It's wise to ask the store manager to showcase one book and keep the additional books off the shelve. Just a thought.

Some bookstores do not oder directly from the author and will not stock books that can't be returned. Having a return policy for books that do not sell always helps increase the chances of getting your books in bookstores.

[Patricia Wilson]

Hi Cindy,
If you have a really good book that you believe in, you can sell it to independent book stores. They will nearly always mention consignment because it is a better deal for them. They are accustomed to being able to return the book in 30days if it doesn’t sell. You need to be a good salesperson for your book (not pushy), believe in the book and tell them enough about it so that they will believe in it as well. Many independent book/gift stores look for the ‘special’ book that can’t be found in the big box stores. Only once have I consigned my book. Because the book store has no money in it there is no reason to tell people about it. You lose because you end up getting a returned book that is shop worn. If the store owns it, it is a win-win situation when they sell. They get a profit on their investment and they order more from you. If a store owner/manager balks when I say I don’t do consignment, I will suggest that they only purchase 2-3 books . That is not a big outlay for them and I give them a 40% discount so that they make their profit when the books are sold. So much of this book marketing thing is just a matter of not giving up. Don’t stop at 5 book stores.

[Smitty]

Very well said Cindy.

[Emily Bryan]

Indie booksellers are a writer's best friend. I recently contacted THE BOOK OASIS near my home and they agreed not only to stock signed copies of my books, they put me on their website! Check it out!

You never know till you ask.
Good luck!
Emily

[Smitty]

Goes to show what a little marketing will do. (-:
Sometimes one door, can open many doors.

Blessings,

Author Media Blogs & Book Marketing

[Don Harold]

Kudos to you and your book! Another way to promote your book is the idea of having mobile book stalls. It can be done in your own neighborhood. Also, you can donate one or two books for the public library. Maybe you can also make special arrangements.

http://www.articlesbase.com/press-releases-articles/bookwhirlcom-la...

[John Kremer]

If you need a good list of independent bookstores, check out the Top 700 Independent Bookstores list I sell at http://www.bookmarket.com/orderform.htm. It's actually a list of 780+ general independent bookstores - with names, addresses, phone, fax, email, website, Twitter ID, and more. Continually being updated so the names and email addresses are fresh.

[Vangie Williams]

I still have 15 books on consignment and the manager does nothing to promote my book. I have asked can I put up signs but...

I think it gets your book in a store but does it get the books sold?

[Dream Books LLC]

I own a small publishing company that just started out - When we started we focused on Bookstores mainly B&N. I also bought the 700 list and started finding bookstores to fit our books. Independent stores almost never took the books because of shelf space issues. B&N was the only ones willing to take the books and we got them into three resulting in 82 books sold and books are still on the shelves. I got fed up though trying to work with B&N corp. Way to many rules and such so we started focusing on the internet to sell our books. We just really started executing our plan and we are starting to see positive results but I also want to get into bookstores. Then I realized the number one thing you need to get into bookstores. It is not the discount level, or returnable (while all those are a requirement) it is IN STORE MARKETING!

I didn't even realize it when I did it, out of the 82 books sold 51 of them were from one store. For the longest time I didn't even know why then it hit me! I had placed 1,000 bookmarks in that store (overnightprints.com is amazing and 1,000 cost only 60.00 we made 357.00 out of it). The store had so many they were practically giving them away to people. 1,000 people were instantly exposed to the title and went to go check it out. As a result the bookstore placed the book on the top shelf in the front of the mystery section resulting in more sales! The book is going on month three in that store sitting in the same location! So here is what I suggest for bookstores - get in store marketing. The bookmarks I know work from experience and we are going to try a few more tactics coming in Jan which I will keep you posted on if they work.

When calling a bookstore or visiting a bookstore to place your books introduce your book you want placed there, tell them the book is returnable and is available through such and such and if they would like to place two copies of the book in their store. Do not ask for anymore than that (also note B&N does not do consignment as well and consignment should be your last resort get them to make the investment in your book they will then be more willing to work with you). If they want more they will take care of it. If they ask you what you are doing to promote the book tell them everything and then tell them, we will also with your permission send X number of bookmarks to your store for free. That should get the book buyer to say okay. If you have a catalog of books after they say yes to that book ask them if they would like to look at your complete catalog. They may say go ahead and email it to me or no thanks. If they say no thanks don't just give up on it. When you send the bookmarks or books, insert a printed out copy of your catalog. They will file it and if your book sells well they may just pull that out and order more. In your catalog make sure to have a variety of in store displays available. The bookstore is supposed to order those, do not give them the display on consignment.

A company we are going with (found of bookmarket.com) is bookdisplays.com. Now you can go about this two ways. Remember you need to make yourself as cheep as possible for the bookstores. Major publishers charge 250.00 for a floor display. A store in order to just pay back the display will need to sell 62 books. They are never going spend that money on you. However for only 25.00 you can get a floor display made from book displays. The down side to it, they do not have any logos or pictures on it. The other way you can do it, is after they order it have the display mailed to your house. Find a vinyl lettering person in your city (every city has one) and ask them to put your logo or book title on the display. This is about 6.00 per logo. So when the bookstore orders charge them 40 - 50.00 (shipping included they like that) Now instead of having to purchase at least 62 books just to break even they only need to purchase 12 - 25 books to break even. And when one display can hold 18 books they will be more willing to spend the money on it.

Or instead of floor displays, buy counter displays, they are only about 10.00 with no logo printed and if you put on the lettering the price will bump up to what you send to bookstores to about 21.00 - 30.00 with shipping. Now the store has to only sell 15 books and they profit and with the book at the counter with free bookmarks that should be easy.

Also if you are going into the store to sell your books (or calling) also ask about doing a signing there as well. The manager will ask what you are going to do to promote the signing, say what you are planing to do to promote the signing do not lie. Remember this is what you are planning to do. The bookstores know there is no guarantees you will get an article in the paper.

When you do set up a signing do not treat it as a signing. You need to be theatrical! You are not Glenn Beck or Dan Brown who can sit behind a table and have people just come to them. When your signing starts have a stack of books on the table. Make sure you have three books already bought for a giveaway. One idea we are planning on doing at a signing is since the book is a murder mystery to do a mini murder mystery right there in the store. All the while bookmarks and the author are going to be all over the store. The author is even going to "die" The murder mystery is going to be right out of the book. Now you don't have to go to this extreme but do not be static there either. You can fake it too.

We have great success with this idea thrown around the table - The author got a bunch of friends together and sat around a long table with her book all over it. They were talking and laughing and reading parts of the book out loud. People came over to see what was going on. (They weren't a quite bunch) and the friends and the author would involve them in the conversation. She passed out bookmarks with her twitter and facebook page on it and passed out books. People would start to read them and her friends would direct them to good parts of the book. The person would go and buy the book (after she signed it of course) and the best part this was not a booked signing. We did this out of the blue. She brought ten of her own books and they cleared out the shelves of her book.

Be very creative and make sure that you offer the bookstores the lowest price. B&N will not take any book unless it is listed in their system. Period. So if it is not on B&N.com or Ingram so sorry.

Oh and just so you know the book that is doing well is...
Reads Like Murder In Honolulu - Available at any B&N store, B&N.com and Amazon.com
Our newest title - Paradise Flawed (I really like this one) Also available at all these locations ^^^^^^^
And coming Feb 23 is The Dawn Of The Shadow (a great book for kids) going to available at ^^^^^^^

And our website - www.dreambooksllc.com