John Hitchin:
Planning the Opening and Running of a Bookshop
Copyright © John
Hitchin, 1998
Center for Publishing Development,
Budapest, 1999
CONTENTS
Chapter
1:
WHY A BOOKSHOP AND WHERE?
Assessing the Market
Population and demography
SELECTING A SITE
Search Methods
The ideal size and shape
Acting on a site
Negotiations with a
property owner
Rental Agreement
Local authority
Local taxes
Negotiations with agent
for the property
The Lease for the property
Purchase of the property
Chapter
2:
WHAT KIND OF BOOKSHOP?
Design
Merchandizing techniques
Customer aids
FIXTURES AND FITTINGS
Fittings
Cash desks/information
area
Staircases and other
multi-floor questions
Storage, deliveries
and logistics
LIGHT SYSTEMS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
Signage
Chapter
3:
HOW IS THE BOOKSHOP PUT TOGETHER?
BUILDING WORKS
FIXTURES AND FITTINGS
ENERGY EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONICS -THE USE
OF TECHNOLOGY
Computer and Electronic
Point of Sale Equipment
Electronic Data Interchange
Practical computing
matters
Bibliographic Databases
Customer and promotional
databases
Accounting packages
ESTABLISHING THE STOCK
IN TRADE
Identify the sources
of supply
Set up a mailing list
of suppliers to open accounts
Building a core stock
list
Identify local interests,
local publishers and local tendencies
Other merchandize
Preparing the computer
database
Prepare initial orders
Subscribe new titles
Chapter
4:
WHAT IS THE BOOKSHOP GOING TO SELL?
MERCHANDIZE POLICY
General books
School and academic
titles
Professional books
Computer books
Children's Books
Foreign language texts
Foreign language general
reading
Multimedia
Chapter
5:
WHO MATTERS TO BOOKSELLERS?
Staff
The management of the
bookstore
The quality of management
Staff
Recruitment
Terms and Conditions
Training
Health and Safety for
staff
CUSTOMER SERVICE
The role of services
to be offered
Ambience and friendliness
Special offers
Opening hours
Loyalty schemes
RELATIONS WITH SUPPLIERS
Trading terms
Pricing policies
Payment terms
The use of wholesalers
Direct supplies
Supply from local importers
Foreign wholesalers
Chapter
6:
WHAT MARKET IS THE BOOKSHOP TRYING TO REACH AND HOW?
Assessing the market/Market
Research
Defining niches for
marketing purposes
Draft a marketing plan
based on data acquired on acquisition
Decide on approach to
be taken on design/copy
The role of Mail order
PROMOTION
Display
Advertising
Promotional material
The use of Desk Top
Publishing techniques
Publishers promotions
Bookshop Events - the
vital difference
Chapter
7:
HOW IS THE BOOKSHOP TO BE RUN?
SYSTEMS
The operational manual
CASH
Till procedures
Banking
STOCK
The need for stock control
Stocktaking
Routines for handling
goods
STATIONERY
HOUSEKEEPING
Cleanliness and tidiness
Waste Disposal
HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIRMENTS
DEALING WITH EMERGENCIES
INSURANCE COVER
REGULATORY MATTERS
Communications
Verbal Communications
Written Communications
Telephone/Fax/E-Mail/The
World Wide Web
Contact with Organizations
National and local
government organizations
Cultural bodies
Trade Associations
Delivery services
Computer servicing
Local repairs and maintenance
Trade magazines and
other journals
SECURITY
The need for security
systems in bookselling today
Electro magnetic tagging
systems
Violence and threats
Security of premises
Chapter
8:
FINANCE
The financial model
The funding basis for
the enterprise
Investment in the business
SOURCES OF INVESTMENT
CAPITAL COSTS
Fixed costs
Variable costs
APPENDICES
I Accounting for booksellers
II An Operations Manual
Outline
III Opening a bookshop:
A Financial Model
IV An Outline Business
Plan
SOURCES OF FURTHER
INFORMATION
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