A few weeks ago, I wrote about my first experience selling books at a book fair. I was lucky enough to be able to hand-sell several items to one customer in particular. Just this week, I received an order in the mail from the same customer for two more books. I would not have had this customer at all if I limited my selling only to the internet. Now, in less than a month, I have sold him four books, each priced between $50 and $100. His purchases alone just about covered the cost of my half-booth at the fair. Exhibiting at a book fair allowed the customer to see the quality of my stock, something that is difficult to do when shopping on internet venues like ABE. It also allowed him to get to know me a little bit. Something about that in-person fair experience enticed him to return and shop my website (where I do have images of some of my books — and I plan to have images of all of them soon).
I want to encourage those of you booksellers who haven’t done a book fair to try to exhibit at one as soon as possible. I realize you may not live anywhere near a book fair, but if you live within a four hour drive of a book fair, I think it worth the trip to pack up your car and go. It will increase your contacts with other booksellers, it will give you a chance to shop for stock from many sellers at one time, and, most importantly, it will give you a chance to hand-sell books and to secure some repeat customers — all for setting up shop for one or two days. If, like me, your finances are limited, start small. Get a half-booth or share booth space with another bookseller.
I’ve been saddened to hear from older booksellers that book fairs in general are in decline. When I think back to the time when I was just beginning to collect books, I remember learning a lot just by attending a book fair and looking at the books offered. Book fairs are great places to introduce book collecting to newcomers. It gives rookies a chance to look at the range of dealers and books without the intimidation factor of walking into a silent antiquarian book shop where no one but the owner is present. Something about that quiet shop environment suggests that only connoisseurs are welcome. It is not conducive to newbie questions like, “So, how do you know these are first editions?” and “Could you explain the range of condition grades to me?” and “How do I start a real collection of books?” Some book fairs even offer informational lectures for new collectors. Book fairs are relaxed, filled with every level of collector, and offer newcomers the chance to ask silly questions without the fear of embarassment, something they need to do in order to learn.
The internet is a great place for those in the know to find their books, but it is not yet a good tool for introducing book collecting to someone who may not have known about it before. I say this because, despite a college degree in English, working for a book publisher, working as an English teacher, and living a bookish life, I was oblivious to the world of antiquarian books until I was 32 years old. Once I read about and learned about book collecting, I went to book fairs. I got a chance to see great books and to ask questions in a welcoming environment. Then I was hooked, and then I began to spend all my money on books, often from booksellers I had seen at book fairs. Wouldn’t you love the chance to gain a customer like that? I would.
Help revive book fairs! Sign up for the one nearest you now! You won’t regret it. You’ll develop new contacts, purchase new stock, and gain new customers. And goodness knows, the antiquarian book business needs new customers. Go! Now.
P.S. I know I owe you a post about finding stock and scouting for books, but I just couldn’t get to it today. I am in the midst of some long-delayed spring cleaning, and it has eaten up my non-book and even some of my book work time. As a famous character from a certain well-known book liked to say, “Tomorrow is another day!” Indeed it is, and I hope to get that post written tomorrow.
