Sustainable bookselling

Another busy week, and a manic weekend. A decision made on the stock sourcing, company formed, first stock purchased (thanks Lou!), two Andy Laties-inspired intelligence-gathering forays by Nic deep into enemy territory (two unnamed Oxford chain bookstores) and an almost overwhelming amount of goodwill and practical advice received which we can (to quote Dale Carnegie) "set our teeth in".

It’s two months since we started this blog – and I think it’s appropriate at this juncture to thank everyone for the advice that has been received. Really – at times we’ve been overwhelmed. Aside from the comments posted directly to this blog, a few people have taken the considerable trouble and effort to contact us directly and share tips, strategies, experiences and industry contacts.

I don’t think I’m overstating the case by saying that the information received is probably going to make the difference between success and failure. Saying thank you doesn’t really cover it – but the best way we can say thanks is to channel our energies up to and beyond July 1st (our opening date) and make the shop a great success. Whatever happens – you’ll read about it here first (let’s hope it doesn’t make too agonising reading).

As you can imagine with a heavily pregnant bookshop-to-be (to continue dovegreyreader’s slightly disconcerting analogy) the atmosphere in the Nicki and Mark household is fairly intense- defcon 3 I would say. Even our two year-old uses words like ‘blog’ and ‘bookshop’ in casual conversation (at least that’s what I think he’s saying – he may just be asking for more chocolate) and we are having to introduce time-out periods and ‘no-bookshop’ zones into our daily lives (“first rule of bookshop – don’t talk about bookshop”).

One of the things that we have discussed a great deal about is how to make the bookshop as green as possible – and we’re not just talking about our lack of experience here. My background is in sustainable technology – first in renewable energy, and for the last few years, in sustainable forestry. I don’t leave my job for a few more weeks – you can get a flavour of what I currently do for a living here. I’ve seen something of what havoc consumer behaviour can wreak on remote communities at the wrong end of the supply chain. Cheap hardwood patio furniture can often translate to stolen timber, degraded forests, corruption and oppression of very poor communities. OK, that’s a simplification of a complex situation, but all I would say is if you are planning on buying some patio furniture this Summer, check this out first (OK, there’s my plug for certified timber done – I’ll put my soapbox away).

There are a number of campaigns going on to make books themselves greener – but there’s precious little an independent bookshop can do to influence them (I know – I spoke to Greenpeace about it and they said as much). I can really see publishers quaking in their boots when I threaten to boycott their books unless they start sourcing FSC-certified paper…

However, if you look at sustainability in its broadest sense, leave out the blatant eco-friendly stuff, and consider it from a business point of view, isn’t it just doing things in a way that ensures you’ll be around in the future? Looking at the carnage of bookshop closures recently, I’d suggest sustainability is something that everyone should get more interested in. 

Along those lines then – what’s our big plan to be sustainable? Firstly, get the basics right, and ensure that the business is viable. Costs down, income up, don’t drop the ball on the three biggies: happy customers, happy employees, healthy cashflow. (The “happy employees” are Nic and I by the way).

Secondly – realise that long term sustainability is only possible if you are growing. Sustainable forests are partially harvested – some trees are left to grow and seed the next generation. We’ve got to try to grow everything – sales, profits, our expertise in finding great books, our understanding of what customers want from “their bookshop”.

Finally – everything is interconnected, and (without disappearing up my own backside here) you need to respect and contribute to your ‘ecosystem’. Simply put, you set out to make a positive impact on your local community, something I think the best bookshops do par excellance. And I think we’ve proven (to ourselves at least) there is just as valid a community of people online that is essential to bookselling success as there are traipsing off the street gagging for decent reading material.

So – there you go – sustainable bookselling. And on that note… There was a grass-roots independent bookshop campaign launched on April 6th by Books@Hoddesdon called “Love your Local Bookshop” which we are keen to get involved in. But people shouldn’t commit to patronise local bookshops just out of some sense of duty – that’s just not sustainable. They should commit because in loving their local bookshop, their local bookshop will love them back, delivering a fantastic retail experience that enriches their life and that of their community. And without sounding too much like an old hippy, that’s a great basis for a beautiful (and sustainable) relationship.