All journeys begin with a single step. This is mine. After some dithering and will I won’t I-ing, I decided to open a small online bookshop. This is my blog about the process, my successes, my stumbles and my words of wisdom to anyone thinking of doing the same.
Most of the books I’ll be selling will come from my own personal collection which has gotten way out of hand. It was okay when I was living in a large house but right now my stacks of books seems to be taking over all available living space. Help! The majority of books will be plain good reads, nice comfortable books that you can curl up in your chair and get lost in.
What do I know about bookselling? Well, I know a good book when I see one. I also know a little bit about the selling process. For example, you will find a note in my faq section describing book condition guidelines that I subscribe to. When you walk into your favourite brick and mortar bookstore, you can walk directly to the bookshelf and pick up a book in your hand to examine it. Obviously this is not possible when you visit an online bookstore so something has to be done to help you out. That’s where standardization of descriptons comes in handly.
The IOBA, the Independant Online Bookseller’s Association has created a standard set of guidelines for descriptions. That is what I follow. The link is here: http://mblakeley-bookseller.webs.com/faq.htm .
So far I’ve just started adding content to my website at http://mblakeley-bookseller.webs.com I have to flesh out my privacy policy. I want to add a disclosure policy as well. Then I’ll start adding books. It will be a slow process but I’ll get there. I’ll link this blog into the site as well.
For those dear Readers among you who stay with me, I intend to add book reviews and articles about books and book collecting.
Wish me luck as I step into these unknown waters.
Filed under: About bookselling | Tagged: About bookselling, books
