Knit One, Purl One, Sell a Book
I’ve learned the same thing about selling books. No matter how large or small the event, how challenging or simple, it’s varied combinations of the simple fundamentals I’ve already learned that will finish with success. I’ve shared these fundamentals in previous Selling Books blogs.
I’ve built stronger marketing skills with experience, but they are always based on those simple fundamentals. For instance, a basic, I always have an attractive table with interesting exhibits set up and ready before the first person arrives. But what experience has taught me is no matter what arrangement the tables are in, my customers will always, unless physically impeded, line up to my right hand. So I always put my “other” books on a table to my right where they can look at them and pick them up while they wait.
Though I enjoy making table displays I’ve learned to leave an empty space large enough for someone to set her purse while she rifles through it to come up with a card or cash, or spread out to write a check.
People admiring my knitting appreciated the little embellishments I added to the sweater or mitten. I find my book customers also appreciate embellishments and comment on their special beribboned bookmark, my penmanship and the meaningful little phrase I write to go with each book. Like the hand knitted gift, they feel the book is personalized just for them. And it is.
Once I knitted a carriage cover for a friend’s baby. It grew and got heavier and harder to handle than I’d expected. It surprised me, as many projects over the years have surprised me. Book selling has also grown and become more than I expected. But sticking to the basics, knit one, purl one, it’s not overwhelming and the finished product is rewarding.