Tips from the Other Side of the Counter

I love Wayne Batson's idea of going this May or June into Christian Bookstores and encouraging the stores to continue or expand their Fantasy area by buying one of our favorite fantasy books! Working in a Christian Bookstore, I can tell you that sales really are looked at, and what moves gets brought in again and what doesn't move doesn't get brought in again.

I thought I might put some short tips here for those of you gearing up for the besiegement of the stores, you know it's always easier get inside a citadel if you have a person on the inside. So gallants, I offer my service as that person!

Hundreds of small crises happen each day in Christian bookstores, the incorrect stock comes in, someone doesn't show up for work, the computers refuses to do what they are suppose to, a customer is unhappy with something they bought, sales fliers have expired coupons, and the public bathroom runs out of toilet paper or paper towels. All of these woes and a thousand and one other combinations, happen every day. And, 99% of them are shouldered by the Manager of the bookstore.

Which is why I am happy not to be one, being one of the senior staff is hard enough! Why am I sharing this? Well because most likely when you go to talk with your local store manager, there will have been two or three problems that have occurred and when you ask to speak with the manager, the natural assumption will be that you are bringing another one along.

To stop this ''problem solving'' mindset, there are a couple of things that you can do.

1) Let them know that you don't have a problem (kinda simple but it works), but rather a request to make. We like requests. We get requests all the time for things, and if there's a way to get the item or book that was requested in, we do so.

2) Point out something positive about the store before broaching the subject of what it is lacking (those lovely, can't-live-without-them titles of the fantasy genre)

3) Be well informed and site places where they can go and do research themselves when you mention how well the books are doing and how fantastic the authors are.

4) Understand that getting the books into the store once the decision has been made might take a while. If they go directly to the publisher (and they already have an account) it will take between 3 weeks and 4 weeks once an order has been placed. If they go through a distributor the wait will be between 2 and 3 weeks at the most. So, check back, but be patient!

5) Don't give up if you get a no the first time!