Charity Shops and books

[watervole]

 Had a very successful week in the Hospice shop last week.

We didn't so much break the previous books record as smash it.  we took £130 on two bays of books, which I was very pleased with (and compares well to takings in other sales areas)

Which is interesting, because I'd taken the risk of reducing the number of shelves.  What I did was to add a lot of visual interest and contrast.  The top shelves no longer run in a straight line.  One is lower than the other to make it easier for people to see the display books.  Each shelf of paperbacks now has two books with attractive covers face out (rather than with only the spine showing).  The fiction is still sorted alphabetically, but the hardbacks are now mixed in with the paperbacks (I increased the shelf spacing slightly to allow them to fit in).

The non-fiction only has a few categories: military history, crafts, cookery, religion and biography.    When those categories have sold out of good books, they'll be totally removed and be replaced by art, natural history, language/literature and history, which are currently building up priced stock in the backroom.  I've also got piles for new age, travel, transport, men's interest, women's interest and a couple of other subjects that may/may not build up to sellable quantities.

In my book, it's far better to have a few large sections that show clearly to the buyer, then a lot of little sections that get lost in the noise.

Although we sold a £20 book (battle of Britain) and several around £5 (how to make stuff for doll's houses), it's noticeable from the till records that most of the increase was in paperback sales.  (I look at number of books sold as well as total takings)  Same books, same prices, just a far more attractive display.

I often stand at the till, just to watch how people approach the book display and how long they spend there.  A few weeks ago, they'd walk up, glance vaguely over the display, mostly at eye level, then walk on.  Now, they pause, scan the whole display, often bending down to look at shelves nearer the floor, pick up one of the face out books to look at it, then, after that, they often pick up a book close to the face out and look at that as well.

Several times, I've observed a book that has been on the shelves for a couple of weeks, sell within an hour of being placed face outwards.

Also, a pattern that I'd previously noticed of books on the top shelf selling less (I date code, and there were more older books at the top)  has now evened out.  We're still selling less at the end of the alphabet (bottom shelf) but that's not as bad as it was.

I need to come up with an idea to help the WXYZ authors.  Suggestions welcome...

Comments

[oreouk.livejournal.com]

Cool :-)

Have a week of WXYZ authors, where they are at eye level - so long as the rest of the alphabetisation still runs true it shouldn't inconvenience or overly confuse those who actually look for the alphabetisation of your books.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

That might be possible.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

That was my thought too: make it the theme as well. "We save you from bending over! Here are the authors at the end of the alphabet!"

[davidwake.livejournal.com]

You need to do something for those authors... even just one letter in would be great.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

It is not because they are at the end of the alphabet but because they are on a low shelf. As a bifocal user with bad knees I know I can't see titles and authors from a standing position and I am far from being the only one. If you ever reach the point you have more WXYZ than anything else try alphabetising them backwards Z to A. I think you will find your sales will be reversed to. I found that when I edited the shelves in the libraries I've managed and then moved things around the bottom shelf books that have moved up a shelf and hadn't been out for years sudenly whizzed off the shelves.

[sam-t.livejournal.com]

If you have enough shelf space, keep the bottom shelf as unaphabetised face-out books only (changing them ad lib.), and move the wxyz authors to a higher position in the next bookcase/column of shelves along?

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

I agree with Linda - otherwise I like your new approach - it is exactly what the shop needed. I know from the library that the book is often chosen only because of its cover, yes. Excellent books with dull covers remain unnoticed...
Well done!!!

[rockwell-666.livejournal.com]

Excellent!

I so agree that most charity shops' book shelves are badly organised and pooly displayed. Books are just stuck in willy-nilly, it's very difficult to actually spot anything that may be of interest, so unless you're willing to spend the time trawling through them all, it's just a quick glance, then on to something else.

Regarding the non-fiction categories, why not have a sign "This Month: military history, crafts, cookery, religion and biography, Next Month: art, natural history, language/literature and history," to a) create a "call to action" (ie "buy these books because they'll only be here until the end of the month") and b) get people who are interested in the other subjects to come back again for the stuff they want.

For the WXYZ stuff, as you've already noticed and others have commented, making things easier for customers is always a good move (never make it difficult for someone to give you money!)

[watervole.livejournal.com]

It's an interesting thought, but I think most people drop by on a casual basis. Signs by their very nature are either in places no one looks at, or blocking something for sale.

I've got section labels on the shelf edges when I have sections laid out.

I experimented once with a 'two for the price of one' sign on hardbacks, and even though it was in a prominent place, hardly anyone read it. (and in very large print too)

I'm definitely considering moving the end of the alphabet to a different shelf now and then.

[rockwell-666.livejournal.com]

You could put the sign in the space that you'd normally put a "face out" book, so it would only lose you one space and if you put it right in the middle of the shelf, people couldn't help but see it :-)

[watervole.livejournal.com]

That's pretty much what I tried. You'd be amazed what eyes can glaze over.

Pictures catch the eye much better.

Far more people look at my 'please donate military history' sign now it has an enamel spitfire pinned to it!