Not quite sure how to post my thoughts but I’m going to try. Sorry in advance. So this guy comes in the store and says to me that I have a lot of ‘dead’ books. My thoughts immediately were “Great! A book snob. Just what I need right now!” We had a short conversation with me mainly listening very politely. Well, he might feel sorry for me and either offer to buy the store or at the least, buy a book. No, he want to sell me his collection. Oh! I get it. No, I said. I don’t have any money right now to buy books. I left my full-time job, blah-blah-blah, winter coming, blah-blah-blah. He wasn’t listening to me so I stopped in mid-sentence and he didn’t even notice. Some people. You know what I mean? Anyways….so that has left me thinking about really defining this used book store. The store was named Otter Creek Used & Rare Books but I knew that I needed to drop the Rare because, frankly, I didn’t notice any rare books in the collection. Better safe than sorry and I’m a stickler for truth in advertising. Be who you are!
So we have ‘dead’ books. Well, ‘dead’ books still sell and since I’ve been here full-time now I see that most people want to read the book not so much collect the book. One thing that always bugged me when we go shopping at used book stores is finding prices sky-high. Why? Because they are a collectors item. So are we in the business to sell or collect? Sell brings in money. Collect collects dust. Maybe we don’t have the reputation for collections. Maybe that isn’t my concern. Maybe my concern is to sell - pay the rent, electricity, insurance, etc. Certainly I don’t have a wage so can’t factor that in. And to have people find the books they want OR the book finds the person who needs it.
I price our books to sell but I’m also not stupid. I have a first edition Ernest Hemingway sitting on my shelf behind me. I’m not going to let that go under what I priced it. And I priced it conservatively than what I noticed other book stores around the country have it offered for. Including those in state. We offer paperbacks and hardcovers to offer books to all types of wants, desires and pocketbooks.
When I bought the store I knew I could only bring the quality of the books up and the standards of the store with it. Clean it, paint, rearrange and make it reflect my personality. That was the easy stuff. The other stuff is revolving and it’s turning into a community book store. It’s about the experience of coming in and looking to see what is on the shelves. We have a lot of books and they are readable. Oh, they may be ‘dead’ but they still make a good read. It also takes time. And in this business I have all the time in the world. No deadlines. Flatly refuse to work within a deadline. That was my old job. So here it is happiness, no deadlines, politeness, encouragement and more! Where friends come in and we give hugs. Where new friends are being made. You know that old fashion concept - Customer Service. When customers offer me suggestions, advice, or just talk books I definitely listen to what they have to say. It’s wonderful that they share their thoughts with me. I feel honored. Yeah, I really do. And some suggestions are spot on that I can use.
So here’s to used books - dead or alive! 
