Here is Lila's piece.
Showing posts with label buy local. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buy local. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
A reflection on the Unchained Tour...and some news!
Writer Lila Allen had this to say about getting on board with the Unchained Tour this past October. I echo many of her sentiments. I didn't get to tour with the group, but I was able to play a major role in the planning of the tour (and of course helped coordinate the fabulous events in Athens on October 20th!).
Here is Lila's piece.
And here's a little teaser for you, too: the Unchained Tour might be rollin' back through in a few months. I know all those who attended round one will be back along with the hoards of people who weren't able to make it to the first show. I'm very much looking forward to this!
Here is Lila's piece.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
We Are Athens Discussion Group meets 3/9/11 @ Hendershot's
Next book selection for March 9 We Are Athens discussion group: The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition by Michael H. Shuman"Defenders of globalization, free markets, and free trade insist there's no alternative to mega-stores like Wal-Mart; Michael Shuman begs to differ. In The Small-Mart Revolution, Shuman makes a compelling case for his alternative business model, one in which communities reap the benefits of 'going local' in four key spending categories: goods, services, energy, and finance. He argues that despite the endless media coverage of multinational conglomerates, local businesses give more to charity, adapt more easily to rising labor and environmental standards, and produce more wealth for a community. They also spend more locally, thereby increasing community income and creating wealth and jobs. The Small-Mart Revolution presents a visionary yet practical roadmap for everyone concerned with mitigating the worst of globalization." -Goodreads.com Search for it on our full-service website, where you can find virtually any book in print (as well as DVDs and music!). Discussion Group Meeting Will Be Wed., March 9 @ 7PMAll are welcome to attend the We Are Athens discussion group Wednesday, March 9, 2011 from 7-8:30 PM. We will meet at Hendershot's Coffee & Bar, 1560 Oglethorpe Ave (at the Loop). Reading the book is NOT required!While we encourage you to at least be familiar with the concepts presented in this book, reading the book is not a prerequisite. Come ready to discuss the themes and ideas presented in Small-Mart Revolution (& listen to what others have to say). Our meetings are open to any attendees, a space for free speech and healthy exchange. Discussion is always lively. Please join us! Visit http://www.avidbookshop.com for links to our new & used online stores. We have lots of copies of Small-Mart Revolution at our webstore (http://avidbookshop.theretailerplace.com), and we'd be most appreciative if you bought from us or checked your book out of thelibrary. |
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The question you might have on your mind: why is there no storefront yet?
(File this under FAQs you've yet to utter.)
If you keep your ear to the ground in Athens and/or in the bookselling world, you know that I've been working towards opening Avid Bookshop for years now. Perhaps I'm a touch paranoid, but I think it's not too crazy to assume that some of you are thinking, "WHY IN THE WORLD ISN'T THIS BOOKSTORE OPEN YET?"
Here, in a nutshell, are a few reasons why we have yet to move into a retail space:
1. Adieu, business partner. After working together for months, my business partner (and close friend) reevaluated things and decided that starting the bookstore business was not the best move for her just yet. I spent a couple months figuring out a, if I wanted to open the store on my own, b, if I COULD open it on my own, and c, how her absence would change the bookstore plans (it changed a lot).
2. The economic crisis/slump/catastrophe/nightmare/problem-period. This affected my own income (which I'm using to float myself during the first few years of business), my spending habits, and more. On a less personal level, the crisis caused banks to completely rework their lending requirements, resulting in my being totally prepared for loans that no longer existed. More on that at the end of this post.
3. Personal stuff. I could go into more detail here, but suffice it to say that we were dealing with a lot at home in 2010. Things are going well now and everyone is healthy, but for awhile there I had to totally hold off on finding a storefront because of a need to put my family first.
4. The introduction of new, friendly competition. When a new bookstore moved to Athens in October, I was forced to look at my business plan in a different way, wanting to make sure that my plans & services complemented the city's other bookstores--I want each of our shops to be different enough that you want to spend time in all three indie stores. Non-chain bookstores are as unique as their owners, after all. As someone who rearranges the furniture at least once a month, shifting my plans was a fun experiment, and I think you'll be pleased with the results.
5. The limited suitable retail space in my target neighborhood. After a veritable drought, there may finally be some options along the Prince Avenue corridor, and I'm looking forward to opening up shop in a space that's accessible to all you Avid readers in Boulevard/Normaltown and the surrounding neighborhoods. I don't want to jinx anything by saying much more. As many retail store owners have told me time and time again, location is of the utmost importance, and waiting for the perfect (or near-perfect) spot is far better than opening in a place that won't suit my business.
6. I haven't exactly been twiddling my thumbs. Because I am addicted to biting off more than I can chew, and because I'm a sucker for anything related to Athens, books, community building, neighborhoods, and more, I've been keeping myself very busy with other projects as I wait for the perfect time to open the Avid Bookshop storefront. I've been running a successful bookstore business online (http://www.avidbookshop.com), organizing events (including my favorite one from October 2010!), hosting book clubs, and more. I'm also on the board for We Are Athens (Buy Local), the Athens Regional Library, the Boulevard Neighborhood Association, and my condominium association. I have a few non-bookstore jobs, too: I'm a regular contributor (writing about books and reading) to local publications Beyond the Trestle, the Athens Banner-Herald, and Athens Magazine. I also have two other part-time jobs editing & writing, so those keep me occupied in the hours I'm not working on bookstore duties.
Hope that answers your burning questions!
In the meantime, I'm so grateful to those of you who've been shopping with me online (or at special sales, events, and markets). I'm always here to give you book recommendations (it's my job, after all).
Please know I'm working hard to make sure that I bring to Athens a neighborhood, community-focused bookstore that suits YOUR needs. Your patience and support mean so much to me as I continue on this journey.
-Janet Geddis
1/11/11
****
And, as promised above, here are some boring details about the economics of this, just in case you want to read my ramblings:
Turns out 2008 was one of the worst and best years to decide to launch a brand-new business.
The Good News about these last few years, economically speaking:
For many of us, the economic crisis led us to reevaluate our spending habits, our homes, and our communities. The buy local movement is growing rapidly (locally, the We Are Athens initiative, an organization I am on the founding board of, is ramping up for a big year!), and people are spending their precious disposable income more carefully. As megacorporations and big-box stores continually under-serve shoppers, well-run, independent businesses are taking the reins.
The Bad News about these last few years, economically speaking:
Starting a business from scratch in the best of economic times is hard enough; small business loans are hard to get, but banks have historically been willing to take a chance on young entrepreneurs. This changed over the last couple of years, however. As you're well aware, many banks have failed. Those that remain have more stringent lending policies, especially as many of the loans they've granted are going unpaid by struggling or unprepared business owners or homeowners. As much as they want to help out local entrepreneurs, local banks cannot usually take the risk. Which means those "surefire" loans I'd planned to get a few years ago all but dried up. No need to cry, though--I'm an inventive entrepreneur with a strong support system and a willingness to quickly accommodate to changes in the book industry and our town.
If you keep your ear to the ground in Athens and/or in the bookselling world, you know that I've been working towards opening Avid Bookshop for years now. Perhaps I'm a touch paranoid, but I think it's not too crazy to assume that some of you are thinking, "WHY IN THE WORLD ISN'T THIS BOOKSTORE OPEN YET?"
Here, in a nutshell, are a few reasons why we have yet to move into a retail space:
1. Adieu, business partner. After working together for months, my business partner (and close friend) reevaluated things and decided that starting the bookstore business was not the best move for her just yet. I spent a couple months figuring out a, if I wanted to open the store on my own, b, if I COULD open it on my own, and c, how her absence would change the bookstore plans (it changed a lot).
2. The economic crisis/slump/catastrophe/nightmare/problem-period. This affected my own income (which I'm using to float myself during the first few years of business), my spending habits, and more. On a less personal level, the crisis caused banks to completely rework their lending requirements, resulting in my being totally prepared for loans that no longer existed. More on that at the end of this post.
3. Personal stuff. I could go into more detail here, but suffice it to say that we were dealing with a lot at home in 2010. Things are going well now and everyone is healthy, but for awhile there I had to totally hold off on finding a storefront because of a need to put my family first.
4. The introduction of new, friendly competition. When a new bookstore moved to Athens in October, I was forced to look at my business plan in a different way, wanting to make sure that my plans & services complemented the city's other bookstores--I want each of our shops to be different enough that you want to spend time in all three indie stores. Non-chain bookstores are as unique as their owners, after all. As someone who rearranges the furniture at least once a month, shifting my plans was a fun experiment, and I think you'll be pleased with the results.
5. The limited suitable retail space in my target neighborhood. After a veritable drought, there may finally be some options along the Prince Avenue corridor, and I'm looking forward to opening up shop in a space that's accessible to all you Avid readers in Boulevard/Normaltown and the surrounding neighborhoods. I don't want to jinx anything by saying much more. As many retail store owners have told me time and time again, location is of the utmost importance, and waiting for the perfect (or near-perfect) spot is far better than opening in a place that won't suit my business.
6. I haven't exactly been twiddling my thumbs. Because I am addicted to biting off more than I can chew, and because I'm a sucker for anything related to Athens, books, community building, neighborhoods, and more, I've been keeping myself very busy with other projects as I wait for the perfect time to open the Avid Bookshop storefront. I've been running a successful bookstore business online (http://www.avidbookshop.com), organizing events (including my favorite one from October 2010!), hosting book clubs, and more. I'm also on the board for We Are Athens (Buy Local), the Athens Regional Library, the Boulevard Neighborhood Association, and my condominium association. I have a few non-bookstore jobs, too: I'm a regular contributor (writing about books and reading) to local publications Beyond the Trestle, the Athens Banner-Herald, and Athens Magazine. I also have two other part-time jobs editing & writing, so those keep me occupied in the hours I'm not working on bookstore duties.
Hope that answers your burning questions!
In the meantime, I'm so grateful to those of you who've been shopping with me online (or at special sales, events, and markets). I'm always here to give you book recommendations (it's my job, after all).
Please know I'm working hard to make sure that I bring to Athens a neighborhood, community-focused bookstore that suits YOUR needs. Your patience and support mean so much to me as I continue on this journey.
-Janet Geddis
1/11/11
****
And, as promised above, here are some boring details about the economics of this, just in case you want to read my ramblings:
Turns out 2008 was one of the worst and best years to decide to launch a brand-new business.
The Good News about these last few years, economically speaking:
For many of us, the economic crisis led us to reevaluate our spending habits, our homes, and our communities. The buy local movement is growing rapidly (locally, the We Are Athens initiative, an organization I am on the founding board of, is ramping up for a big year!), and people are spending their precious disposable income more carefully. As megacorporations and big-box stores continually under-serve shoppers, well-run, independent businesses are taking the reins.
The Bad News about these last few years, economically speaking:
Starting a business from scratch in the best of economic times is hard enough; small business loans are hard to get, but banks have historically been willing to take a chance on young entrepreneurs. This changed over the last couple of years, however. As you're well aware, many banks have failed. Those that remain have more stringent lending policies, especially as many of the loans they've granted are going unpaid by struggling or unprepared business owners or homeowners. As much as they want to help out local entrepreneurs, local banks cannot usually take the risk. Which means those "surefire" loans I'd planned to get a few years ago all but dried up. No need to cry, though--I'm an inventive entrepreneur with a strong support system and a willingness to quickly accommodate to changes in the book industry and our town.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
a diverse group at our first book club meeting!
As you may suspect, Avid will eventually play host to a variety of book clubs (and will aim to have a space set aside for any area book clubs to meet, even if an Avid bookseller is not involved in the discussion). For now we're starting modestly, with just one book club I've talked a lot about on this blog.
The inaugural meeting of our Buy Local Book Club/We Are Athens Book Club/Insert-More-Clever-Name-Here-About-Localism-&-Sustainability-&-Community-Book-Club Here went really well. We met at the Globe, a longtime downtown Athens pub and restaurant and had a couple of hours of good discussion, meeting new friends, and even a little bit of networking.
Catrina Cook (J House Media) and I were there to informally and unofficially represent We Are Athens. The rest of the 13-person group was made up of people with a variety of backgrounds. We had a couple of folks who are new to Athens as well as 20+ year veterans; we had one out of towner who wanted to learn about the club and a handful of small business owners who want to see some changes in the Athens community landscape. We had one neighborhood-conscious fellow who's spearheading the new Barber Street Park Project--surely something the Project for Public Spaces would be excited about. The variety of attendees was refreshing and people gave me perspective on things I hadn't thought about before.
In the interest of brevity, I'll mention a few things here that we mentioned LOVING about Athens.
1. music
2. approachability/friendliness of citizens and local government
3. open-mindedness
4. dynamic, ever-changing nature of the city
5. all the green space
6. gardens (personal, community, and even large-scale ones)
7. our thriving downtown
8. the sense of hope & optimism among many citizens
9. people's willingness to change
10. architecture
11. vibrant arts scene
12. creative enclave that is Athens
13. tourism is always improving
And here are a handful of things we'd like to see for Athens. Ones with asterisks (*) are already in the works, as far as I know!
1. edible schoolyards*
2. music programming in schools (Athfest InSchool, for example)*
3. more family-oriented activities*
4. free public transportation
5. more frequent bus service/more extensive transit area
6. pedestrian-only areas of downtown
7. trolley/streetcar on Boulevard
8. require students to live on campus for at least a year
9. a UGA campus that is open to the downtown rather than closed off and separated
10. more bike-friendly routes & amenities*
11. We Are Athens (Buy Local Athens)*
12. a "playborhood"
Your turn: what would YOU add to this list?
We've selected our next book, and I hope to see you at the next meeting (date & time TBA) so we can discuss The Better World Handbook: Small Changes That Make a Big Difference.
The inaugural meeting of our Buy Local Book Club/We Are Athens Book Club/Insert-More-Clever-Name-Here-About-Localism-&-Sustainability-&-Community-Book-Club Here went really well. We met at the Globe, a longtime downtown Athens pub and restaurant and had a couple of hours of good discussion, meeting new friends, and even a little bit of networking.
Catrina Cook (J House Media) and I were there to informally and unofficially represent We Are Athens. The rest of the 13-person group was made up of people with a variety of backgrounds. We had a couple of folks who are new to Athens as well as 20+ year veterans; we had one out of towner who wanted to learn about the club and a handful of small business owners who want to see some changes in the Athens community landscape. We had one neighborhood-conscious fellow who's spearheading the new Barber Street Park Project--surely something the Project for Public Spaces would be excited about. The variety of attendees was refreshing and people gave me perspective on things I hadn't thought about before.
In the interest of brevity, I'll mention a few things here that we mentioned LOVING about Athens.
1. music
2. approachability/friendliness of citizens and local government
3. open-mindedness
4. dynamic, ever-changing nature of the city
5. all the green space
6. gardens (personal, community, and even large-scale ones)
7. our thriving downtown
8. the sense of hope & optimism among many citizens
9. people's willingness to change
10. architecture
11. vibrant arts scene
12. creative enclave that is Athens
13. tourism is always improving
And here are a handful of things we'd like to see for Athens. Ones with asterisks (*) are already in the works, as far as I know!
1. edible schoolyards*
2. music programming in schools (Athfest InSchool, for example)*
3. more family-oriented activities*
4. free public transportation
5. more frequent bus service/more extensive transit area
6. pedestrian-only areas of downtown
7. trolley/streetcar on Boulevard
8. require students to live on campus for at least a year
9. a UGA campus that is open to the downtown rather than closed off and separated
10. more bike-friendly routes & amenities*
11. We Are Athens (Buy Local Athens)*
12. a "playborhood"
Your turn: what would YOU add to this list?
We've selected our next book, and I hope to see you at the next meeting (date & time TBA) so we can discuss The Better World Handbook: Small Changes That Make a Big Difference.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Buy Local Book Club is tomorrow!
(...and we need a more fitting name. We'll discuss this at our meeting tomorrow!)
Where: UPSTAIRS at The Globe(199 N. Lumpkin St., 30601 - downtown Athens, GA)
Why: To discuss Athens and ways to nurture it; to talk about localism, sustainability, "place-making," and community enrichment.
The Book: The Great Neighborhood Book by Jay Walljasper
Walljasper's book focuses heavily on the concept of place-making as envisioned by the Project for Public Spaces. If you haven't acquired a copy of the book, no worries--your comments and insights will still be quite valuable! For a crash course in place-making, check out PPS's website.
At the meeting, we'll select what our next book club choice will be--the next meeting will be in about three months, as the club aims to meet quarterly.
Thanks for your time, and I really hope to see you there tomorrow evening. Email me with any questions, and contact The Globe at (706) 353-4721 if you need specific directions.
BUY LOCAL BOOK CLUB MEETING
When: Thursday, March 18th from 6 PM - 9 PMishWhere: UPSTAIRS at The Globe(199 N. Lumpkin St., 30601 - downtown Athens, GA)
Why: To discuss Athens and ways to nurture it; to talk about localism, sustainability, "place-making," and community enrichment.
The Book: The Great Neighborhood Book by Jay Walljasper
(As of 3/17, our local library branch has one copy in!)
Walljasper's book focuses heavily on the concept of place-making as envisioned by the Project for Public Spaces. If you haven't acquired a copy of the book, no worries--your comments and insights will still be quite valuable! For a crash course in place-making, check out PPS's website.
At the meeting, we'll select what our next book club choice will be--the next meeting will be in about three months, as the club aims to meet quarterly.
Thanks for your time, and I really hope to see you there tomorrow evening. Email me with any questions, and contact The Globe at (706) 353-4721 if you need specific directions.
Friday, March 5, 2010
website update
Remember all that talk about my wanting to start a website months before the store opened? A site where you could buy lots and lots of in-print titles through me and have them shipped to you directly from the wholesaler? Well, I'm having second thoughts about when I'll establish the website.
I'm going to create this type of site no matter what, but now I'm rethinking the timeline--think it'll probably be best to launch the site 1-3 months before opening instead of 6+ months before opening.
I had a phone meeting with ABA IndieCommerce web guru Matt Supko this afternoon, and he gave me a lot of good, 100% solicited advice. I'll still use funds generated from the photo show to go toward the website--I'll just launch the website a little later than planned. (My reasons for this are myriad--if you want to know more details or want to argue with me about it, I welcome your thoughts.)
Will anyone out there raise a fuss or be mad at me for delaying the site launch? Bring it! Please let me know what you're thinking.
One of my alternative plans is to let you contact me with a list of books you want; I'd get them from a publisher or wholesaler & then send them to you--heck, I'll even hand-deliver if you're in Athens. The shipping time would be longer than if you were to buy them through another website (ahhemm...non-sales-tax-paying Amazon), but you'd be buying locally and getting some good books!
I'm going to create this type of site no matter what, but now I'm rethinking the timeline--think it'll probably be best to launch the site 1-3 months before opening instead of 6+ months before opening.
I had a phone meeting with ABA IndieCommerce web guru Matt Supko this afternoon, and he gave me a lot of good, 100% solicited advice. I'll still use funds generated from the photo show to go toward the website--I'll just launch the website a little later than planned. (My reasons for this are myriad--if you want to know more details or want to argue with me about it, I welcome your thoughts.)
Will anyone out there raise a fuss or be mad at me for delaying the site launch? Bring it! Please let me know what you're thinking.
One of my alternative plans is to let you contact me with a list of books you want; I'd get them from a publisher or wholesaler & then send them to you--heck, I'll even hand-deliver if you're in Athens. The shipping time would be longer than if you were to buy them through another website (ahhemm...non-sales-tax-paying Amazon), but you'd be buying locally and getting some good books!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
some ideas for spring - please share your feedback!
I have a few ideas (and some official plans) for spring 2010. Now that it's snowed twice (!) in Athens in 2010, I'm definitely ready for warmer temperatures to hit!
1. Thursday, March 18th at 6PM at The Globe: Buy Local Book Club
I've written extensively about this already, but if you've missed details, check out our Facebook invitation and this blog post on We Are Athens (the Buy Local Athens initiative).
2. Saturday, April 17th all over the US (and in ATHENS, if you join me!): "E-Free Day"
I'll be at a wedding most of the day, so I am unable to organize any in-person, formal event on this day. But we have a Facebook event where you can pledge to be e-free on 4/17, no matter where you live. I hope the weather is beautiful so that it makes it easier for us technology addicts to take a complete break from everything electronic. That's right: no TV, no computer, no cell phones, no e-readers! Read more here.
3. A Saturday or Sunday, sometime in April or early May: SCRABBLE TOURNAMENT!
This event, another in the series of community-focused fundraisers for Avid, will be held at a locally-owned venue large enough to accommodate however many people sign up! To make the tournament more fun, we'll (perhaps) be looking for food and/or drink donations and a place that will host us out of the goodness of their hearts (fingers crossed). We also need folks to lend us their Scrabble game sets (complete with a board and all the tiles!) for the day. As I'm a word nerd, you probably won't be surprised to learn that there are 3 Scrabble sets in my house as we speak. Please contact me if you have venue ideas, a Scrabble game to lend, some swag to throw into the prize packages, or any other thoughts on the matter.
Most likely the tournament sign-up fee would be between $5 & $15. Top 3 or 5 winners would receive some good prizes!
4. Another book sale, date & place TBD. Several of you made it out to our holiday book sale in December 2009. I sold a lot that day, but as more and more folks have dropped off boxes of wonderful books, my shelves are filling up again and I've got to sell these before my house collapses under their weight! :) If you have any ideas regarding a book sale date, venue, etc., please email me.
Thanks, and let me hear from you!
-Janet G.
1. Thursday, March 18th at 6PM at The Globe: Buy Local Book Club
I've written extensively about this already, but if you've missed details, check out our Facebook invitation and this blog post on We Are Athens (the Buy Local Athens initiative).
2. Saturday, April 17th all over the US (and in ATHENS, if you join me!): "E-Free Day"
I'll be at a wedding most of the day, so I am unable to organize any in-person, formal event on this day. But we have a Facebook event where you can pledge to be e-free on 4/17, no matter where you live. I hope the weather is beautiful so that it makes it easier for us technology addicts to take a complete break from everything electronic. That's right: no TV, no computer, no cell phones, no e-readers! Read more here.
3. A Saturday or Sunday, sometime in April or early May: SCRABBLE TOURNAMENT!
This event, another in the series of community-focused fundraisers for Avid, will be held at a locally-owned venue large enough to accommodate however many people sign up! To make the tournament more fun, we'll (perhaps) be looking for food and/or drink donations and a place that will host us out of the goodness of their hearts (fingers crossed). We also need folks to lend us their Scrabble game sets (complete with a board and all the tiles!) for the day. As I'm a word nerd, you probably won't be surprised to learn that there are 3 Scrabble sets in my house as we speak. Please contact me if you have venue ideas, a Scrabble game to lend, some swag to throw into the prize packages, or any other thoughts on the matter.
Most likely the tournament sign-up fee would be between $5 & $15. Top 3 or 5 winners would receive some good prizes!
4. Another book sale, date & place TBD. Several of you made it out to our holiday book sale in December 2009. I sold a lot that day, but as more and more folks have dropped off boxes of wonderful books, my shelves are filling up again and I've got to sell these before my house collapses under their weight! :) If you have any ideas regarding a book sale date, venue, etc., please email me.
Thanks, and let me hear from you!
-Janet G.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
We Are Athens (Buy Local Athens) update (& more links than you'll know what to do with!)
I've mentioned the Buy Local Athens initiative a couple of times on this blog (here and here, for example) but haven't given too much away yet, as we're hoping to stage a fun launch event where we'll spill all the beans. So many people (Athens residents, business owners, and more) are interested in being a part of the movement--it's quite inspiring, and we on the board are happy to be working for such a great cause. For now I'll encourage you to visit our Facebook page and become a fan there. Once our website is ready to launch, believe you me: you'll hear about it on this blog, on Facebook, in the local newspapers, and more!
Let me outline a few details about the project so far, just to let you get your bearings.
1. After toying with several ideas, we the board voted on the name We Are Athens. (Special thanks to Alicia Nickles of Flagpole Magazine, Satisfactory Printing, and others for that idea.)
2. We established a Facebook page not long ago and have already surpassed ONE THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED FANS. As I suggested above, the response has been phenomenal.
3. We're gathering funds so we can formally affiliate with the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) and become an independent business alliance.
4. Once we affiliate with AMIBA, we'll register our organization as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Once we're registered as a nonprofit with the state of Georgia and once we have formally announced the project, businesses, nonprofits, and individuals will be able to become members of We Are Athens.
5. And once we're off the ground, we'll be able to provide lots of services to the community. Later we'll make a formal announcement of the ways in which We Are Athens aims to help Athens, but you can expect to see a directory of locally-owned businesses, resources for buying locally, lists of benefits for buying locally, and some members-only perks (to name just a few things!).
Now let me introduce to you the Buy Local Athens/We Are Athens Board.
Officers:
Catrina Cook (J House Media), Chair
Angi Harben (Classic Center), Co-Chair
Janet Geddis (Avid Bookshop), Secretary
Fausto Sarmiento (Banco de la Oportunidad/First American Bank & Trust), Treasurer
Chris Blackmon (ATLAS Real Estate Advisors) and Sam Drennen (First American Bank & Trust), Planning Committee
Alicia Nickles (Flagpole), Marketing Chair
Candice Courcey (Urban Sanctuary Day Spa), Membership Chair
Whether or not you're in Athens, I encourage you to look around and discover (or rediscover) the true gems of your town: locally-owned, independent businesses that enhance your community.
If you're new to the "buy local" movement, look around at these resources that explain the ways your community can be enhanced through a focus on local businesses:
Good place to start: Why Buy Local?
"New Study Shows Power of "Buy Local" campaigns
IndieBound.org
Chris Wyrick's article in the ABH about why buying local makes sense
Buying Local is a Growing Trend (Bookselling This Week article)
Our Buy Local Book Club is getting some good attention. Please consider stopping by! The book we chose is really great, but if you can't get your hands on a copy before the meeting, that's okay--we'll be able to have a good conversation all the same. I hope you'll join us.
Have a lovely (snowy) day!
Let me outline a few details about the project so far, just to let you get your bearings.
1. After toying with several ideas, we the board voted on the name We Are Athens. (Special thanks to Alicia Nickles of Flagpole Magazine, Satisfactory Printing, and others for that idea.)
2. We established a Facebook page not long ago and have already surpassed ONE THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED FANS. As I suggested above, the response has been phenomenal.
3. We're gathering funds so we can formally affiliate with the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) and become an independent business alliance.
4. Once we affiliate with AMIBA, we'll register our organization as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Once we're registered as a nonprofit with the state of Georgia and once we have formally announced the project, businesses, nonprofits, and individuals will be able to become members of We Are Athens.
5. And once we're off the ground, we'll be able to provide lots of services to the community. Later we'll make a formal announcement of the ways in which We Are Athens aims to help Athens, but you can expect to see a directory of locally-owned businesses, resources for buying locally, lists of benefits for buying locally, and some members-only perks (to name just a few things!).
Now let me introduce to you the Buy Local Athens/We Are Athens Board.
Officers:
Catrina Cook (J House Media), Chair
Angi Harben (Classic Center), Co-Chair
Janet Geddis (Avid Bookshop), Secretary
Fausto Sarmiento (Banco de la Oportunidad/First American Bank & Trust), Treasurer
Chris Blackmon (ATLAS Real Estate Advisors) and Sam Drennen (First American Bank & Trust), Planning Committee
Alicia Nickles (Flagpole), Marketing Chair
Candice Courcey (Urban Sanctuary Day Spa), Membership Chair
Whether or not you're in Athens, I encourage you to look around and discover (or rediscover) the true gems of your town: locally-owned, independent businesses that enhance your community.
If you're new to the "buy local" movement, look around at these resources that explain the ways your community can be enhanced through a focus on local businesses:
Good place to start: Why Buy Local?
"New Study Shows Power of "Buy Local" campaigns
IndieBound.org
Chris Wyrick's article in the ABH about why buying local makes sense
Buying Local is a Growing Trend (Bookselling This Week article)
Our Buy Local Book Club is getting some good attention. Please consider stopping by! The book we chose is really great, but if you can't get your hands on a copy before the meeting, that's okay--we'll be able to have a good conversation all the same. I hope you'll join us.
Have a lovely (snowy) day!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Photo show & informal Avid fundraiser this Monday, Feb. 1st
DONATIONS* will be gratefully accepted whether or not you choose to buy a photograph. I'm currently saving up some money so that I may open an online store that will allow customers worldwide to have access to over 1.1 million titles. It is my hope that money I make from this photo show will allow me to establish the full-service Avid website sooner than later. (We'll keep our already-established book inventory through Biblio.com as well.)
On Facebook? RSVP here!
Thank you, and please spread the word if you feel so inclined!
*Avid Bookshop is not a certified 501(c)3 nonprofit, so donations made to the bookstore cannot be used as tax write-offs. All donations will be given and gratefully accepted in good faith to support this community-focused center.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Inaugural Buy Local Athens book club book chosen!
The results are in! For our first-ever Buy Local Athens book club, we'll be reading The Great Neighborhood Book by Jay Walljasper. Athens-Clarke County Library's website shows 10 copies available in Georgia, none checked out. (You can put any of these ten copies on hold and they'll be sent to our local branch within days!) If you'd like to own a copy of the book, use Indiebound.org to find an independent bookstore to buy it from. We'll meet in mid-March 2010--details on when and where exactly will be forthcoming.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Buy Local Book Club
As some of you already know, some of us Athenians are working together to create an Athens Buy Local initiative. Our Facebook page already has well over one thousand fans, which bodes very well for our city's future. There will be a formal launch of the program this year. As a new small business owner (and child of parents who've had a small business for over 30 years), it's both invigorating and heartwarming to see so much support for our independent-minded, eclectic community.
Recently I posted a link (on Facebook) to the American Booksellers Association's Indie Local First Reading List, a collection of books about "making and keeping local communities vibrant." I asked fans of Avid Bookshop and fans of Buy Local Athens if they'd be interested in participating in a book club focused on buying and sourcing locally. The response was immediate and strong, so here I am to share with you a few books for us to choose from. Vote below in the comments section or via email. (I'm sure there'll be some debate and discussion on the Buy Local Facebook page and the Avid Bookshop Facebook page as well. Worry not--I'll find a way to combine all this feedback in order to pick the book most people wanted to read.)
We'll plan to meet in mid-March to discuss the book together at some locally-owned, independent business (to be chosen later).
Here are three books to choose from. Click on the titles for more information, courtesy of Indiebound.org. Let me know which one you're most interested in! Voting deadline is Friday, January 15th.
1. The Better World Handbook (2007 edition) by Ellis Jones, Ross Haenfler, and Brett Johnson
2. The Great Neighborhood Book by Jay Walljasper and Benjamin Fried
3. Deep Economy: The Wealth of Economies and the Durable Future by Bill McKibben
Recently I posted a link (on Facebook) to the American Booksellers Association's Indie Local First Reading List, a collection of books about "making and keeping local communities vibrant." I asked fans of Avid Bookshop and fans of Buy Local Athens if they'd be interested in participating in a book club focused on buying and sourcing locally. The response was immediate and strong, so here I am to share with you a few books for us to choose from. Vote below in the comments section or via email. (I'm sure there'll be some debate and discussion on the Buy Local Facebook page and the Avid Bookshop Facebook page as well. Worry not--I'll find a way to combine all this feedback in order to pick the book most people wanted to read.)
We'll plan to meet in mid-March to discuss the book together at some locally-owned, independent business (to be chosen later).
1. The Better World Handbook (2007 edition) by Ellis Jones, Ross Haenfler, and Brett Johnson
2. The Great Neighborhood Book by Jay Walljasper and Benjamin Fried
3. Deep Economy: The Wealth of Economies and the Durable Future by Bill McKibben
Monday, December 21, 2009
Our first public book sale!
This past Saturday, Jim helped me pack up much of my Avid inventory. We got to the Flicker Theatre & Bar just in time to grab one of the last available selling spaces--the other merchants had definitely beat us there. Turns out it took longer than I'd expected to stow 200+ books, tables, and a bookshelf in a '96 Maxima. That being said, we got a prime spot alongside that trademark, two-toned wall and got to work.
Throughout the day, we met lots of new folks, encountered some people whose names we knew via the Internet but had never met in person, and of course chatted with many well-known friends and locals. I'm happy to report that the sale was a smashing success: even those who chose not to buy a book were thrilled to learn more about Athens's own community bookstore. We passed out promotional postcards, got people to sign up for our newsletter, and sold a lot of books!
Here are a handful of photographs from the Flicker Holiday Market. As usual, Blogger isn't cooperating with me as I try to add captions to the pictures, so I'll just tell you what's what here. The first couple of shots are of our display. Then you'll find photos of me with Jim (my #1 Avid sidekick/helper/coworker/beau) and one of my talented friend Lauren Gallaspy with her husband Andy. I'll close out the collection with a snapshot of Baby Kringle & Ma and one of a half-hidden Kate Mikulka with Don Chambers in the foreground. We were so busy talking to folks that we didn't get much of a chance to photograph the other vendors! From what I hear, everyone was pleased with his or her sales and we may have another market in the spring. Special thanks to Kate Mikulka (of Mikulka Polish Foods) and the Flicker.
our setup
Friday, December 11, 2009
Books & crafts & food & friends!
On the Saturday before Christmas, don't join the crazy crowds at Walmart or at the mall. Instead, drop by a locally-owned, independent business that is hosting one of Athens's many annual holiday markets. The Flicker Holiday Market will be held December 19, 2009 from 11:00 AM - 5 PM. Never been to the Flicker Theatre & Bar? It's a lovely spot at 263 W. Washington Street in downtown Athens.
The items offered this year are especially varied. Jim Wilson & Don Chambers will have their famous pies for sale. Kate Mikulka will be offering up her well-reviewed Mikulka Polish Foods. There'll be bath and beauty products, Christmas ornaments, and more. For more details, please refer to the official event invitation. We're pretty lucky to live in a town where local folks can share their passions with us--let's take advantage of this opportunity to support the arts (and our tummies).
I'll be at the market selling however many books I can fit into my allotted space. I'll have new and used books and will be able to point you in the right direction if you're looking for gifts for yourself or for friends. For a sneak preview of what I'll be selling (or to order online before someone can buy up your favorite picks!), take a look at the website: http://tinyurl.com/AvidBookshop
Thanks, and happy holidays!
Monday, November 16, 2009
You can start buying books from us NOW!
In an effort to raise some start-up capital and to make sure our future brick & mortar store customers can find some cool holiday gifts for friends and family, I decided to launch a Biblio.com account for Avid Bookshop. Biblio is a company dedicated to helping ONLY independent bookstores, which is a mission I certainly admire.
As more and more people donate books to our project, the collection of for-sale books grows and changes. Please check back weekly to find out what books we've added to our collection.
For a limited time, I am offering FREE SHIPPING TO ANYWHERE IN THE U.S.! This saves you approximately $3.50 if you buy one book. (If you live in Athens, you can also ask me for personal delivery, which some customers have found convenient and faster than USPS delivery.)
So, without further ado, I now reveal to you the way you can buy books and support Athens's independent bookstore, Avid Bookshop!
1. Visit Avid Bookshop HERE. This will allow you to view our current books in stock, as arranged by author last name. You can use the drop-down menu or the menu on the left-hand margin to rearrange or filter the list of books.
2. Shop 'til you drop and then check out! The free shipping is on me.
IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE SOMETIMES-CONFUSING BIBLIO.COM LAYOUT, FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Visit Avid Bookshop's online bookstore here.
2. The homepage will look like this (see below). To see Avid Bookshop's collection (which is ever-changing!), click the "search" button (see red arrow in picture below) without entering any search terms.
3. You can organize the bookstore's selections by author name, date added to the bookstore listings, title, and price by choosing from the drop down menu (see red arrow in screenshot below).
You can also filter the books by using the links on the left-hand side of the page (see blue arrow in screenshot below). This search function allows you to search for only new books, only first editions, books in a certain price range, etc.
After making your selections, check out by paying using Biblio.com's secure online payment system. As soon as your order is processed, Biblio sends me an email and lets me know which books you've requested. I'll pack them up and get them to you quickly, and soon you'll have more great books to read.
Thank you for your time, and I hope to see your name on my Biblio order email soon!
If you're interested in donating books, please contact me via email.
As more and more people donate books to our project, the collection of for-sale books grows and changes. Please check back weekly to find out what books we've added to our collection.
For a limited time, I am offering FREE SHIPPING TO ANYWHERE IN THE U.S.! This saves you approximately $3.50 if you buy one book. (If you live in Athens, you can also ask me for personal delivery, which some customers have found convenient and faster than USPS delivery.)
So, without further ado, I now reveal to you the way you can buy books and support Athens's independent bookstore, Avid Bookshop!
1. Visit Avid Bookshop HERE. This will allow you to view our current books in stock, as arranged by author last name. You can use the drop-down menu or the menu on the left-hand margin to rearrange or filter the list of books.
2. Shop 'til you drop and then check out! The free shipping is on me.
1. Visit Avid Bookshop's online bookstore here.
2. The homepage will look like this (see below). To see Avid Bookshop's collection (which is ever-changing!), click the "search" button (see red arrow in picture below) without entering any search terms.
3. You can organize the bookstore's selections by author name, date added to the bookstore listings, title, and price by choosing from the drop down menu (see red arrow in screenshot below).
You can also filter the books by using the links on the left-hand side of the page (see blue arrow in screenshot below). This search function allows you to search for only new books, only first editions, books in a certain price range, etc.
After making your selections, check out by paying using Biblio.com's secure online payment system. As soon as your order is processed, Biblio sends me an email and lets me know which books you've requested. I'll pack them up and get them to you quickly, and soon you'll have more great books to read.
Thank you for your time, and I hope to see your name on my Biblio order email soon!
If you're interested in donating books, please contact me via email.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Join the IndieBound movement & get a prize!
You've heard me talk about IndieBound before. It's a way for independent businesses (notably bookstores) to network with one another. It's a way for traveling customers to easily search for indie stores wherever they may roam. But did you know it's also a great tool for communicating with other community members? Learn about friends' recommendations, events at your local bookstore(s), what the bestselling titles are at independent bookstores, and more, more, more.
Here's a bonus for those of you reading the blog. Join the IndieBound movement (it's cost- and spam-free!), befriend Avid Bookshop, and get a prize! Three of you will be randomly chosen to receive a free ARC (advanced reading copy) of a book I have in stock, and every person that enters will get a wee treat.
After you befriend Avid Bookshop on IndieBound, leave a quick comment here to let me know you've done so--then you'll be entered in the contest. And if you're on Facebook or Twitter and share this message, you get an extra entry!
So what are you waiting for? Since this blog doesn't have a huge readership (yet!), you have a very good chance of winning a free book--as if the wee treat and an IndieBound profile weren't enough!
Here's just a handful of Athens businesses that are already on IndieBound & need more fans.
1000Faces Coffee
Jackson Street Books
Bizarro-Wuxtry record store
The National restaurant
Athens Cine bar, cafe, & arthouse theatre
Schoolkids Records
Harry's Pig Shop restaurant
Vision Video (Homewood Hills location)
Kingpins Bowl & Brew
Winners will be picked on Sunday, November 8, so please don't hesitate!
The randomly chosen winners are as follows:
Margo (randomwalk), Lindsay (lindzsmile), & Lauren (laurengallaspy). A few of you participated without leaving a formal comment, but don't worry--I made sure to include everyone! Thanks so much.
Here's a bonus for those of you reading the blog. Join the IndieBound movement (it's cost- and spam-free!), befriend Avid Bookshop, and get a prize! Three of you will be randomly chosen to receive a free ARC (advanced reading copy) of a book I have in stock, and every person that enters will get a wee treat.
After you befriend Avid Bookshop on IndieBound, leave a quick comment here to let me know you've done so--then you'll be entered in the contest. And if you're on Facebook or Twitter and share this message, you get an extra entry!
So what are you waiting for? Since this blog doesn't have a huge readership (yet!), you have a very good chance of winning a free book--as if the wee treat and an IndieBound profile weren't enough!
1000Faces Coffee
Jackson Street Books
Bizarro-Wuxtry record store
The National restaurant
Athens Cine bar, cafe, & arthouse theatre
Schoolkids Records
Harry's Pig Shop restaurant
Vision Video (Homewood Hills location)
Kingpins Bowl & Brew
The randomly chosen winners are as follows:
Margo (randomwalk), Lindsay (lindzsmile), & Lauren (laurengallaspy). A few of you participated without leaving a formal comment, but don't worry--I made sure to include everyone! Thanks so much.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
continuing the conversation about how we can make Athens better
Yesterday I learned about Elaine Ely, a woman who recently returned to Athens after living far away for awhile. She and I exchanged a few emails about the downtown Athens scene as well as my take on what Avid Bookshop's role will be in town. Today, her first installment in a series called "Athens Impressions" was in Flagpole magazine.
Perhaps her most salient point, bookstore-wise, is that Athens lacks a cultural center. Sure, we have an arthouse cinema, music venues, a gigantic university, a nationally-recognized literary magazine (Georgia Review), and tons of artists and writers, but where do all these factors combine? And why the heck don't we have a new bookstore to help bring these people and cultural elements together? Ely gives a quick shout-out to Avid Bookshop (for which I'm grateful). Please read the article and let me know what you think. Do you agree with Elaine's view of Athens? What do you think we can do to bring people together in more meaningful ways?
Perhaps her most salient point, bookstore-wise, is that Athens lacks a cultural center. Sure, we have an arthouse cinema, music venues, a gigantic university, a nationally-recognized literary magazine (Georgia Review), and tons of artists and writers, but where do all these factors combine? And why the heck don't we have a new bookstore to help bring these people and cultural elements together? Ely gives a quick shout-out to Avid Bookshop (for which I'm grateful). Please read the article and let me know what you think. Do you agree with Elaine's view of Athens? What do you think we can do to bring people together in more meaningful ways?
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
learning a lot & making connections at booksellers school!
One thing I keep hearing over and over is that it's a good thing that it's taken me a little longer than originally anticipated to open the store. In the last two years, I've accomplished a lot in the name of Avid Bookshop and feel so much less daunted by the idea of opening the store. Now I actually know what I'm getting into (which, in all honesty, I didn't quite get or want to get in the early days of planning when I was more dreamy and less realistic). Much of the advice given revolves around booksellers' need to create and foster real relationships within the community, the need to get feedback from customers and find out how exactly the community will support an independent bookstore. I feel spoiled and glowy when I think about how excited many Athenians are to have Avid coming to town next year. There are many more marketing opportunities and connections to be made, but, all in all, we've got a head start on a lot of things. I'm happy to report that in Athens fits the description as an ideal town to open a new bookstore in (more details on that later).
What do you want to get from Avid's presence in Athens? What sort of environment do you seek, and what sort of books would you like to buy there? A more formal, specific survey will be coming soon, but for now please feel free to toss around some ideas and let me know what you hope to find at Avid Bookshop.
Friday, September 11, 2009
You can buy ebooks from your indie!
Over the past several months, I've had many (many!) talks about the book industry with novices and experts alike. When I tell people I'm opening an independent bookstore, even the most excited approach the topic of ebooks with hesitation. "What about ebooks?" is the vague question I'm often met with, and until recently, I've had to tell people that I'm hoping to sell ebooks but am not quite sure how it'll work.
Now the groundwork for my ebook selling has been laid. According to yesterday's article in the American Booksellers Association (ABA) newsletter, Bookselling This Week, many ABA member stores are already able to sell more than 220,000 ebooks directly from their websites. What thrilling news for independent bookstores and their customers!
By the time Avid opens next year, there will undoubtedly be more changes in the ebook industry, but I suspect that the ABA will keep up with them and ensure that member booksellers (like me) will be able to offer customers the chance to buy ebooks directly from their local bookshop.
(image of Sony eReader from http://theguybrarian.files.wordpress.com)
Now the groundwork for my ebook selling has been laid. According to yesterday's article in the American Booksellers Association (ABA) newsletter, Bookselling This Week, many ABA member stores are already able to sell more than 220,000 ebooks directly from their websites. What thrilling news for independent bookstores and their customers!
(image of Sony eReader from http://theguybrarian.files.wordpress.com)
Monday, August 24, 2009
Declaration of Indiebound
Some of you have heard of IndieBound before, but still more of you have not. IndieBound is a program launched in 2008 to help bring together independent businesses and those who love them: bookstores, readers, independent business alliances, locally-owned shops, etc., etc. It has been met with great success, and Avid Bookshop will be proud to post the Declaration of IndieBound as well as the well-crafted IndieBound signs in the store.
This is of particular interest to me, as I'm the newly-appointed secretary of the yet-to-be-named Buy Local Athens program that is being launched. I'm really interested in sustainability and shopping local first, so IndieBound is right up my alley.
Take a look at the website to see if you can find any favorite IndieBound shops near you! Joining IndieBound as an individual is a fun way to explore independent shops you might never have heard of before.
In the meantime, watch the video below to watch some well-known (at least in our world!) indie booksellers reading the Declaration of IndieBound aloud.
This is of particular interest to me, as I'm the newly-appointed secretary of the yet-to-be-named Buy Local Athens program that is being launched. I'm really interested in sustainability and shopping local first, so IndieBound is right up my alley.
Take a look at the website to see if you can find any favorite IndieBound shops near you! Joining IndieBound as an individual is a fun way to explore independent shops you might never have heard of before.
In the meantime, watch the video below to watch some well-known (at least in our world!) indie booksellers reading the Declaration of IndieBound aloud.
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