Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Terrace life
It's meant to be one of the attractions of living and working in a sunny country. Eating and drinking out on a terrace (terraza). I'm one of those who doesn't find it such a draw. You're charged more (mainly because the council taxes bars and restaurants) and you're less likely to get a free snack with your drink. But there's no doubt it appeals to many - on a sunny afternoon you can see packed terrazas all over Madrid.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Impressed by the competition
I mentioned in my last post that a book chain Tikbooks, were opening a new store close to mine, just off plaza Santo Domingo
I've already stated that they shouldn't have much of an effect on my business. I do things, like new books and book presentations, that they don't. However we do overlap as regards budget books and sales of books via the web.
Since finding out about their new store I've done a little research and dug out this article (in Spanish).
Apparently the business, was started by an Argentinian, Fabio Snaider, here in Spain, and he launched the business with just 500 books (at that time he just sold books via the internet). He now boasts of 6 stores in Madrid (the new one will make 7) and has over 70,000 books available online, so it's getting to be quite a large operation. The most impressive part is that all the books in-store cost a maximum of 2 euros 90 (and 5 books sell for 10 euros), which is very cheap even for second hand books in Madrid.
I can only say I'm impressed with how his business has expanded, and expect to see more Tikbooks outlets open up in Madrid (and perhaps in other parts of Spain).
I've already stated that they shouldn't have much of an effect on my business. I do things, like new books and book presentations, that they don't. However we do overlap as regards budget books and sales of books via the web.
Since finding out about their new store I've done a little research and dug out this article (in Spanish).
Apparently the business, was started by an Argentinian, Fabio Snaider, here in Spain, and he launched the business with just 500 books (at that time he just sold books via the internet). He now boasts of 6 stores in Madrid (the new one will make 7) and has over 70,000 books available online, so it's getting to be quite a large operation. The most impressive part is that all the books in-store cost a maximum of 2 euros 90 (and 5 books sell for 10 euros), which is very cheap even for second hand books in Madrid.
I can only say I'm impressed with how his business has expanded, and expect to see more Tikbooks outlets open up in Madrid (and perhaps in other parts of Spain).
Monday, April 14, 2014
Gripes and grumbles
Even when the sun shines, things happen that can darken one's mood. As vaguely mentioned in a previous post, one of the more difficult tasks can be to get publishers to sell their books to smaller concerns such as mine, even though I pay up front on a proforma basis.
It becomes more difficult when the person you're dealing with, suddenly goes off on holiday, and the first thing you hear about it is an "out of office" warning via email. This has now happened to me twice over the last weekend, once from a UK based publisher, and once from one based in Catalonia. In neither case did they give me warning this was about to happen, so I could shift the negotiation to someone else. Luckily, in one case, the books required were for a book presentation that has been delayed, but it could have proven very damaging to my business.
Another thing happened this weekend that at first glance was bad news for my bookshop. The discount chain TikBooks has taken over premises on the top of San Bernando street close to Plaza Santo Domingo ie close to my bookshop. These are discount book retailers and sometimes have a stock of books in other languages - all their books retail at 2,90 euros, and can often produce some gems.
But to be quite honest, I don't see them as a threat, more of an opportunity. They will bring more book browsers to the area, and hopefully I can encourage some of them to also pop in my store. Where incidentally I have a lot of books retailing at 1 or 2 euros, even though many others are of high quality and obviously command higher prices.
Additionally, we have big names in the pipeline to bring to Madrid for book presentations - please watch this space. So long as we can get the publishers to sell us their books, of course!
It becomes more difficult when the person you're dealing with, suddenly goes off on holiday, and the first thing you hear about it is an "out of office" warning via email. This has now happened to me twice over the last weekend, once from a UK based publisher, and once from one based in Catalonia. In neither case did they give me warning this was about to happen, so I could shift the negotiation to someone else. Luckily, in one case, the books required were for a book presentation that has been delayed, but it could have proven very damaging to my business.
Another thing happened this weekend that at first glance was bad news for my bookshop. The discount chain TikBooks has taken over premises on the top of San Bernando street close to Plaza Santo Domingo ie close to my bookshop. These are discount book retailers and sometimes have a stock of books in other languages - all their books retail at 2,90 euros, and can often produce some gems.
But to be quite honest, I don't see them as a threat, more of an opportunity. They will bring more book browsers to the area, and hopefully I can encourage some of them to also pop in my store. Where incidentally I have a lot of books retailing at 1 or 2 euros, even though many others are of high quality and obviously command higher prices.
Additionally, we have big names in the pipeline to bring to Madrid for book presentations - please watch this space. So long as we can get the publishers to sell us their books, of course!
Monday, April 7, 2014
5 reasons to give Amazon a miss.
For various reasons, Amazon does not get a lot of praise from independent booksellers. It's not just they can offer books at big discounts (by pressurising publishers into giving bigger discounts), it's the fact they seemingly get away without paying an equal rate of tax to the rest of us.
Yet to be quite frank, I don't have too many problems with Amazon. They are an established fact, and if they didn't exist another online operator would no doubt take their place. Besides which I do use Amazon myself on occasion, both to sell and source books. I can't go into detail, but I find one or two larger publishers a bigger pain, and I suspect other booksellers would (privately) agree with me. Luckily there are publishers who are efficient and amenable to selling their books at a decent discount, even if some make it as difficult as they can..
Even so, and for obvious reasons, I do try and encourage book buyers to use independent bookshops, and for the following reasons:
1. Independent bookshops are often more flexible than you realise. If you see a second hand book in my store, and you see the same book of a similar condition cheaper on Amazon (taking into account the postage fee) then make me an offer. I'll probably accept it. So the argument that Amazon is cheaper is wrong, in that case!
2. We often have gift deals in the local vicinity you don't get from Amazon. For instance currently we are running a free pint deal for every book purchased in the store. In short: we give you free beer - Amazon doesn't! A no-brainer, surely!
3. You can examine physically books in-store, but have to accept the descriptions given on Amazon. What is "Acceptable" to some may not be to other people. And there are recorded cases of books being ordered online that never reach their destination. Do you trust the postage service 100% for that essential book?
4. It's easier to come across unrelated gems in a bookstore. This is despite the "recommended for you" algorithm that online sellers use - well perhaps I should say "because of" that algorithm.
5. We can organise book presentations and book-signing events in-store, or even in bigger venues locally. If you want to meet writers, pressure your local bookstore to get them along. Amazon won't do this for you either. And talking of book-signings, we hope to announce soon some big names coming to Madrid, courtesey of OffSide Books. Keep an eye on our website and/or Twitter feed.
Of course, I'm sure other people can give more reasons why you shouldn't use Amazon, and still others can tell us why you should. Just please remember we as independent booksellers are here to give you more. Try us once to see how we do just that!
Yet to be quite frank, I don't have too many problems with Amazon. They are an established fact, and if they didn't exist another online operator would no doubt take their place. Besides which I do use Amazon myself on occasion, both to sell and source books. I can't go into detail, but I find one or two larger publishers a bigger pain, and I suspect other booksellers would (privately) agree with me. Luckily there are publishers who are efficient and amenable to selling their books at a decent discount, even if some make it as difficult as they can..
Even so, and for obvious reasons, I do try and encourage book buyers to use independent bookshops, and for the following reasons:
1. Independent bookshops are often more flexible than you realise. If you see a second hand book in my store, and you see the same book of a similar condition cheaper on Amazon (taking into account the postage fee) then make me an offer. I'll probably accept it. So the argument that Amazon is cheaper is wrong, in that case!
2. We often have gift deals in the local vicinity you don't get from Amazon. For instance currently we are running a free pint deal for every book purchased in the store. In short: we give you free beer - Amazon doesn't! A no-brainer, surely!
3. You can examine physically books in-store, but have to accept the descriptions given on Amazon. What is "Acceptable" to some may not be to other people. And there are recorded cases of books being ordered online that never reach their destination. Do you trust the postage service 100% for that essential book?
4. It's easier to come across unrelated gems in a bookstore. This is despite the "recommended for you" algorithm that online sellers use - well perhaps I should say "because of" that algorithm.
5. We can organise book presentations and book-signing events in-store, or even in bigger venues locally. If you want to meet writers, pressure your local bookstore to get them along. Amazon won't do this for you either. And talking of book-signings, we hope to announce soon some big names coming to Madrid, courtesey of OffSide Books. Keep an eye on our website and/or Twitter feed.
Of course, I'm sure other people can give more reasons why you shouldn't use Amazon, and still others can tell us why you should. Just please remember we as independent booksellers are here to give you more. Try us once to see how we do just that!
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