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Charity Shops and books
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...
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...
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