Today I'm talking to bookshop manager Andrew Lacey about how Bookshops and Authors can work together to ensure that books get into the hands of the right readers. This is a fascinating insight into how bookshops are run and how this understanding can deepen the relationship with bookshops.
Today I'm talking to bookshop manager Andrew Lacey about how Bookshops and Authors can work together to ensure that books get into the hands of the right readers. This is a fascinating insight into how bookshops are run and how this understanding can deepen the relationship with bookshops.
Hi, and welcome to the writing and Marketing Show brought to you by author Wendy H. Jones. This show does exactly what it says on the tin. It's jam packed with interviews, advice, hints, tips and news to help you with the business of writing. It's all wrapped up in one lively podcast, so it's time to get on with the show. And welcome to Episode 65 of the writing and Marketing Show with author entrepreneur Wendy H. Jones. Well, it's been an exciting week this week, because we're actually getting out of lockdown or we're getting to go a bit further than we have been able to go in Scotland this Friday. That will be Friday, the 16th of April 2021. We're getting to go across boundaries for the first time in about a year, which means that you know, we can travel a bit further not that there's many places to go because nothing else opens up to the 26 but it gives you a feeling of hope. And it gives you a feeling of hope that you'll be able to get to book shops, which is a good thing because we're going to be talking about book shops with a bookshop manager Andrew Lacey today, and but before we get on to talking to Andrew and telling you more about him, I would like to say it's an absolute pleasure to bring you the show every week and I do so because I enjoy it. But it does take time out of my writing and if you would like to support that time, you can do so but for just $3 a month which is the price of a tear profit per month. And you will get you will get information that will help you on your writing journey and I will be eternally grateful. Thank you to all those who are supporting me your support means a lot. So what have Andrew Andrew Lacey has been manager of the global shop in Motherwell for 16 years. He has spent his working life in retail with his last job as a manager for supermarkets. Andrew is currently vice chair of the Christian booksellers group of the booksellers Association. He is married to Barbara and they have three children and two grandchildren. On a wet lockdown day. He loves nothing more than cuddling up with a good book and a cup of coffee. Otherwise, he's out in the garden or out on his bike. And as I say he does manage the globe book shop in Motherwell. he's a jolly nice chap, he's taking time out of his day to join us today. And I'm very excited about hearing from him as we talked to him about book shops and authors working together. So without further ado, let's get on with the show and hear from Andrew. And I've got Andy with me. Hi, Andy. Are Andrew I should be saying I should begin your Sunday name, shouldn't I?
Andrew Lacey:Yeah. Thank you. Hello, Wendy. How are you?
Wendy Jones:I'm very well I'm very well and I'm so excited to be talking to you. Because I have to say I love your bookshop, which is all the way down in Motherwell which I say all the way down and we're in Scotland, it's about an hour away from me. Yeah. And have what's it like in Motherwell today's weather nice.
Andrew Lacey:It Well, to be honest with you, it's been a bit surprising. It's actually been quite wet. So those weather forecasters indication drier looking at the side, and there's definitely got you thinking of coming from Motherwell for for a nice, bright, sunny day to date. And I think I think it would be better to be honest with you. Well, Dundee
Wendy Jones:is very sunny today. So don't be might be the spot. But at the moment, you're only allowed to go to Dundee. If you're from Dundee. So wait until Friday? No, no laws were broken bringing you this podcast.
Andrew Lacey:Yeah, to know, obviously, looking forward to these restrictions released very, very soon. So that'd be great. That'd be great.
Wendy Jones:Another three days, and we'll get out slightly. We can see family further afield in our local area.
Andrew Lacey:Yes.
Wendy Jones:So that moves me really nicely into my first question, because I want to start by talking about the elephant in the room. There's no getting around it. This past year has had a major effect on all shops and bookshops in particular. Can you tell us a bit about this?
Andrew Lacey:So thank you for asking, when do I you know, and the reality is that has been better to be frank with you. It's been a, it's been one of those periods where, although we have been working very, very hard to do what we can to try and maintain the services that we can do our business, we're very much a local independent bookshop, sending a lot of cards selling a lot as well. And many of these things people come in and they have to be able to see they're quite difficult to be able to see online We're even talking about over the phone. Although the reality is that we have been, we have been quite busy with that. It doesn't anywhere make up for the amount of business we would have had if we were open. I but it is what it is, we'll be really grateful for the support our customers. And we've also been really grateful as well for government support. I don't know whether I like to say that, but it's been really appreciated the support we've had from the government to the furlough scheme. And also parents grants have been made available. And one of the one of the big things that we've had, because we're members of the book sellers Association, they're brilliant, but let's keep in touch with all the different changes in legislation. Grants are available, furloughed scheme, how to apply for that. And that's been a huge help. So if it wasn't for that, we would have finished 2020 probably making a pretty significant loss on the year. But once you take into account the various grants and the furlough scheme, et cetera, then we pretty well broken even. And I think that's actually really quite a remarkable achievement. So that's kind of where we are. As we approach reopening. On Monday, the 26th of April, we're looking forward to that.
Wendy Jones:I can't wait for bookshops to reopen, I have to tell you, of all the things I've missed. I've missed bookshops the most. Funnily enough, you know, as as an author and a reader. I mean, we very often feel that we know everything about bookshops, but I'm sure nothing could be further than the truth. I was wondering if you could give us some insight into your world?
Andrew Lacey:Why? Yes. Well, let me let me let you in through a secret First off, and I'll probably referenced it several times as a recap Wednesday, but I don't know whether having said to you but my previous life before working on the bookshop, I was a supermarket manager. I've done a number of different things have been involved in retail since I was 15 years older, they sat detailed in a closed shop and Dunfermline. But the bulk of my working life expenses monitor and book job monitor in the supermarket, rather than when the job in the job came up. Then I saw this was going to be semi retirement, you'd be sitting, drinking a cup of coffee, eating a digestive biscuit, or even better a chocolate digestive biscuit, and every now and then you might go out and talk to a customer, or every now and then you might go in tidy a book. And what you know what when doing? Like your
Wendy Jones:secret? Yeah, please.
Andrew Lacey:There's nothing like that at all.
Wendy Jones:That's a shame.
Andrew Lacey:That's one of the things to find it was is actually from the word go. It was flat out and to be really honest I've been a wee bit naive, and probably had that kind of toese tinted spectacles. What was the what's the, what's the film with Julia Roberts, and Hugh, what's his name and where whether it's all fine, and whether it meets in the book job. That's kind of the vision that you have in your mind. And the reality is, it's actually very, very busy. between one thing and another. And of course, you've got all the usual things you've got to do. You've obviously got to serve the customers answer the phone, you've got to switch all the computers on at the beginning of the day, turn them off at the end of the day. You always have some kind of software or hardware problem until you never have those kinds of things, Wendy but with admin jobs as well. We then got the tidy up. We do the stock baking, we do the ordering. We hit stock in whenever it comes in, we send the stock back. We've got all the things you have to do in a small business. You've got staffing to work out qualities to work his way his tax returns, you've got to order bags. You've got to do the hoovering or anything else.
Wendy Jones:My, that's exhausting. Oh,
Andrew Lacey:well, to be honest with you, it's actually really good fun. But on the other hand, it can also be exhausting. And one of the other things, which I'm sure you know about is each day social media is actually such an important part of any small business or big bits that drove up perfectly for a small business. And as I'm sure you know, as well, I mean, how much time in the day do you spend on social media when that
Wendy Jones:A lot, shall I say?
Andrew Lacey:Yes, that's right
Wendy Jones:More thanI should do.
Andrew Lacey:That's it. And part of the problem, of course, is it sucks you in, doesn't it?
Wendy Jones:Yeah, you know, so
Andrew Lacey:you put one up on social media, and then somebody replies and you reply to them. And obviously, it's great, you're interacting with a customer, and you're, you know, you're telling them something about the job, or you're telling them something about the stock. But before you know where you are, that completely runs away with you. And probably one of the other key things for us as being a specialist, independent bookshop, is that people tend to come dropped when they don't know what the answer is. And I'll say this stuff, I'll say to them, pity even though I don't know whether I'm allowed to mention this on your podcast, when am I allowed to mention the big internet retailer that begins with a an N with n?
Wendy Jones:Well, you can but as it's one about book shops, book shops, listen
Andrew Lacey:Yes, tread very carefully. So I think I tend to say to the staff, somebody nodes that are looking for, for instance, Richard ultimate new book, is Thursday night murder club, isn't it? One of the best sellers from last year, if that's what they're looking for, then essentially, all they do is they just go straight online, and they go for hours, and, and they buy it from Amazon, you know, let's not kid ourselves that it's a reality. And what we tend to get is, we tend to get the customer who's heard that the guy on pointless has written a book, but they can't remember the iron furnaces name, they've got no idea what the point is called. So we do an awful lot of investigation for people. You know that they've heard about this? Or do we have a book about that? the kind of things that it's not particularly easy to even for Google, you don't get the right answer. And that's the point where they're at photographs, and they're looking for something which would be a specialist. And that's where when we come in, through and to be honest with you, and that's what we would do an awful lot of it's just answering people's questions, tracking, tracking things down for people working out what distraction looking for, they're looking for a book for their child. But their child isn't a particularly good reader. What kinds of things can you recommend? So these are all the things which be honest, these are all the kinds of things we're so mindful, you know, these are the kinds of things with time lock during his during this kind of detective work and tracking things down with people, or suggesting something to them or looking for a gift and finding something which hopefully is going to suit person. So I could do a weed snapshot of what we do in a day. And we do actually drink tea. We drink coffee, and we eat lots of chocolate biscuits. That's guaranteed. All right, the
Wendy Jones:next time I come I'll have to bring you a packet of chocolate digestives, it's obviously thing you run on. Oh, how did you get that? But the other the other thing as well with independent bookshops just to add, they get to know the customer as well. And I've gone into independent book shops where I know that the staff quite well. And I'll go to buy a book and they'll say "Oh, you've already bought that. Wendy, did you mean to buy again? Is it for you? Yeah, you've already got it. Just look at your bookshelf at home you'll find it." Because they get to know their customers
Andrew Lacey:Yes, that's right? And, and that that's one of the key things , we're in the business of doing a lot need small business Wendy. Because we're in the business of building relationships with people. And sometimes that means that we will tell people, no, we don't have anything for today that's actually going to why don't you think about such and such? You know, I'd far rather be honest with somebody and say to them, Well, look, I really think we've got anything for snow, you know, but we can have a chat and did something else we can do a weave will quite happily point the customer to another retailer, if we feel that that is actually going to be better for what they need. Because what we do then, is we generate a repeat customer plan. I and it's the old story of my manager when I was 15 years old and in Dunfermiline that in the clothes shop told me that if you sell something to somebody that they don't really want, not only will you know, not only will you lose a customer, but you'll never see them or their family again, they'll help somebody out. So building customer relationships is actually absolutely crucial throughout.
Wendy Jones:Yeah. And we're obviously the title of the talk today is bookshops in office together. So, I mean, authors are obviously keen to get the books into independent book shops like yours. And I mean, I know they are. So can you give authors some thoughts on how to approach book shops and also some insight into the kinds of things you would think about before taking the books into stock.
Andrew Lacey:So I think that's a very helpful question when it comes to you know, When it comes to the nub of what, what that relationship is between the author and the job, and I think probably one of the things to say at the top here is that, you know, some book jobs, we're kind of talking particularly independent bookshops. And for an independent author, sometimes it's actually very difficult to get your books into the larger plane simply because the staff, the managers in the bookshop aren't allowed to bring them in. Okay? Sometimes the largest the large claim that very, very tightly controlled about what they can and can't do, it's all Central, but obviously, looking more at smaller independent bookshops. Again, we would tend to be quite careful about what we bring in. But one of the things which certainly I recognise gives us a wee bit of an edge over the likes of Waterstones to read and write to Amazon, in the fact that we do support local, you know, not only are we supporting the local community, by providing the service to them, but we're also supporting local authors and the work that they do. So I'll quite happily clap somebody who is in the process of writing a book. And let's give him a bit of, you know, I don't have a great deal of knowledge, the whole publishing thing, but we've certainly helped a number of authors work through but assuming you've got to the point where you've got your book published, and you've got a hidden characters full of boxes of book to report, and you're looking at and thinking, how am I going to get these on the move, then absolutely, you approach your local independent bookshop. But a couple of things first, I mean, the first thing is please, just drop in, okay to try and make an appointment. Okay. Reality is that Murphy's law states that, if you drop into a bookshop with a whole pile of books, and expect them to take care of either a, the manager or the person who's got the authority to do that would be on the day off. Or if they're not on the day off, they'll be on their lunch break, or they'll be involved in the conversation with somebody else about some other aspects. So it doesn't matter when you think it's gonna be convenient, it is always never going to be convenient. So the thing to do is always phone or email and make an appointment first. I know it sounds obvious, but it's counting the number of times it doesn't happen. Now. I know, I know, you would never do that when. But it certainly has happened to me on quite a number of occasions. I have always felt, you know, I've always felt really bad about having to say to people, Look, I'm sorry, I can't see you today. The second thing to do is just have a very brief summary organised about the book, you know, know about the book, sometimes, again, in necessity exception to the rule. But sometimes I've spoken to, for those who are wanting to sell sell a book, and they don't actually know how much they want sell the book for how much it's going to be. And like, Well, you know, certain markets in our market, Motherwell, anything that deals with 10 pound, tend not to sell particularly well. As soon as you start going 599 15 pound, I can guarantee you that it's probably not going to sell particularly well. So these are some of the things which you need to have in mind that brief summary about why customers should want to buy your book. You know, obviously,
Wendy Jones:are you there,
Andrew Lacey:obviously some time that obviously, you know why you wrote the book. But that's kind of different, why a customer would want to read a book or why did one pop money with the book. So often that's got to do with you know, the fact that this represents planning for money for customers paying 10 pounds in their own head 50 papers in the book and that's not very good fighting for money. Whereas if they're paying 10 pounds and carrying 240 280 papers, and it's a book about philosophy, I mean when the your your your classic that this you know if you if some of one of you one of your final sentence parents to do that. Why would somebody want to buy that
Wendy Jones:put me on the spot now. You are putting me on the spot? Well, I'll use my Cass Claymore one. Cass Claymore is a redheaded motorbike riding ex ballerina Who, inherits a private detective agency and accidentally hires an-ex con dwarf and an octogenarian? It's a laugh out loud, caper around Scotland.
Andrew Lacey:Yeah, yeah. So you've hidden quite a number of, you know, you've got a number of different tours, if you've got a number of different target markets, you've obviously bring in the Scottish aspect of that. And that's actually something for us, which is very important. So you kind of got a summary, you know, when you're emailing when you want to include a, an image of the cover, I know, people say you shouldn't judge a book by a cover. But that's what customers buy a book by the covers and bookshop managers, they order a book based on what we've covered tonight. So again, if you're at that stage and start thinking about covers for your book, and I've seen you doing it, when the where you're putting various ideas, and get some feedback on what the covers are like what people like, what attracts their attention, because it's your story, that what appeals to me may not appeal to the people who are in the target market. So think about these aspects, understand the understand the situation of the people in the book jobs, they may not be in a position, if it's Christmas, if it's coming up to Christmas, they're shocked to probably groaning with Christmas cards, they may not be in a position where they want to bring something else in. Whereas during a quiet period of the year, when they're looking, you know, for instances, so January, February, March, there may be something friends, the top of that status is going to be a wee bit different. Having spoken and obviously we're kind of speaking them ourselves. But one of the one of the things you shouldn't do when you're just going in and not first, do the job is Satan. Right? The unhappily, first off in my book on Amazon, I hit because the reality is that Tim Cook's manager, job independent bookshop staff, it doesn't prepare, backed up, whatever we think about Amazon as an organisation, and I have a huge admiration for the way that they have worked with reality as they have done a huge amount of damage, do small craters, and particularly the independent shops. So it's just one of those words that you don't really want to be mentioned in your opening gambit. You know, by all means, find some other way of bringing that in later on. If you're asked, Well, you know, we're about to be the marketing the book. But it's just something to bear in mind in the background. Wendy, are you ready for a few figures?
Wendy Jones:Oh, yes.
Andrew Lacey:By economic. So if you're an author, and you're going into a bookshop, you need a week about economics. So you opt for this,
Wendy Jones:I'm up for a few economics.
Andrew Lacey:And if you're actually listening to this, it might actually help us to scribble this downbecause it's the old story. Me that's talking to you about it doesn't doesn't really stack up. So we're gonna make each packet stack up, then what I need to say is it in broad terms, if you're going through a book job, and you pick off the shelf, and it's trying to say 10 pounds for 10? Yeah, you have to buy that in from a publisher, you know that when they don't get your book published by various different public players. And your publisher takes a risk of publishing the book, and they decide how much they're going to sell it to the bookshop for typically, if the book sells at 10 pounds, then we buy from the publisher, six pound 50, something like that. And that's what we call our trade margin. So in that case, we're making 35% on the book, so that varies a wee bit, okay, sometimes it might be 40%. In other words, we'll buy the book at six pound and sometimes it might be as low as 25%. We might be buying it might be buying it at seven pounds. 50. Wow. So that's the kind of work so if we sell that book at a tenner, bear in mind that we've already paid six pound 50 to that, the publisher for the book, The where pocket six pound 50 already. Then we out of the remaining three pounds 50 we're gonna pay approximately one pound 50 and weightless. And the remaining two pounds that we've got left we're going to play around about another one pound 30 to one pound, 50 feet light services to provide CPE insurance personal protective of equipment, that's something else we've been having to buy, and everything else. So in a good year in our bookshop, and we're quite a large independent bookshop, between umiya indicated books with turnover about 350,000 pounds a year, we make roughly 70 pounds profit every 10 pounds that we spend that. So that's the kind of economics going on in the bathroom, there seven pence isn't a large amount of money plain, from every 10 pounds, and obviously, if you've ever been involved in any kind of business will recognise that that kind of figure, know where the bottom line comes from this is particularly for people who are self publishing their books, and either the focus tend to pop up on the bookshop, then he or what he had to pay money to get that book published. And they also want to give themselves some income. So that book is priced on the back of 10 pound. And it's actually going to cost more than six pound 50 for them to get the book published and bring in, bring it in for us that actually the numbers aren't gonna stack up, we're not going to be within the margin for that work. And sometimes we've had to say to authors, when we say to them, okay, you know, like, the book you recommend will sell for, it will sell for 10 pounds they have and how much can you sell that for, and they say, Well, I can sell it in few current payments, then that's not gonna work. Because we need to pay to pay and at the, you know, just keep that going. So think about the economics before your appropriate bookshop. It's just about the economics and see how that's gonna work. And in fairness to some authors, we always find it really good work with authors and some dumb authors. And although it may be LSP, that is going to cost me a pound. You know, but what I can do is I can cut my margin on this to sell it in theory, same sex parents, you know, so I'm cutting the margin a bit, at least, I think it's worth getting into the book job. So there is a process of negotiation that will go on there. But you do need to just think about that basic economic reality is that criminal shops sell a book, they also need to be able to make something from it as well. And as well, you also need to be able to make something. Yeah. So that's, that's kind of a very long answer to your question. But hopefully, that's, that's helpful when they don't have the background for when you go and tap on a job board. Going through an appointment at some of the things that have in the back of your mind.
Wendy Jones:Yeah, no, that's really helpful. Because it, we do need to hear the reality. And we do need to hear how it is for you, because we only see it from our own point of view. So it's really useful to get the other side. And one of the things I wanted to ask you as well, and you may have covered some of this already in what you've already spoken about. But we also I mean, as authors, we'd suck you dry, have you, you know, let us when I was wanting some what a needy lot. And we're also keen to get as many events in bookshops as we can. But again, I'm sure there's lots to think about behind the scene. What should we do if we want to do an event?
Andrew Lacey:Well, I think the basics, they're probably probably very much covered. And you know, a much briefer reply, therefore, you know, I can make an appointment, I have an idea in your head about what you want the event to do, like in mind, the reality is that, you know, punters to come out to sign and the reality is that, don't do it. Unless your name is Richard Osman, or unless your name is VP ruling. You know, you need to come up with some reason for people to actually come out to that event. Yeah, so what we will tend to do in our bookshop, you know, when we're talking about having an event, it'll look something hung up round. So, so be talking about an evening weather. So part of that would be the conversation with the author, you know, accepting that people will want an opportunity to hear the author chat, Manson question to interact with the author. They don't want it to turn up or in my experience anyway, they want to turn up by a book and have it signed, it just doesn't happen for us. So to will have a number of different things in conversation with, we've had meals with customers we've had height who had deals with customers and authors together. We've had high teas, we'll put together special prices. We'll put together three bags. We'll put together a, you know, corporate presentation when you had Sally Magnusson, and then we did a presentation and she brought some really fantastic, you know, to store stories. So there's a lot of content. And again, the author can help by having an idea of what they can do, which would mean the customers would actually come out for this. So, you know, think about that. And obviously, one of the things with the pandemic is on Wednesday, has provided options, and you were on the pick. When we did a Bertie, the buffalo event for an online event, we've never done one before. So you're willing to work with us? And we did. We did bedtime with Bertie. And that that had a really good response from our customers. And we're going to be doing another event dates a few weeks time. So these are events which, which online gets an opportunity to do things. So yes, that's right, absolutely. But there is quite a bit going on in the background. But most of that, again, in sort of social media, working on social media, you know, we have a paid budget for event. So we'll we'll be working on that for your event in a few few weeks time with this. So building that up. And then, moving on from that one of the things, of course, that the author can do, is they can help by flagging that on their social media channels as well, by contacting their friends and their family, their next door neighbours, and sort of trying to get in touch with a local event. Or as I think we'll probably be doing a lot more, even if we do in person. Even if we do in person events, then what we'll do is we'll hope to have those available online as well.
Wendy Jones:Yeah, that's a really good idea, actually. And I like the way you said that the the author also has to play the part to get the word out about it. And I think that's key as well, because very often will think, well, that's up to the bookshop, it's not it's a partnership, you know, we need to work together. And that is, you know, such a good thing. And it leads me on to my next question, really, because the shops and authors together, and it's in what ways can use a bookshop manager and hire as an author work together to support each other?
Andrew Lacey:Yes, that's right. And I think one of the one of the aspects of the trade in general, speaking very generally for a moment when they, you know, and obviously, I came in for my own site, book trade. So one of the things that struck me quite strongly is that the book is quite segmented. And what I mean by that is, you've got publishers working in an office in London, or working in the back bedroom of publishers working in one corner. And you've got jobs kind of working in another corner, and you've got author to work in another corner. And even you've got distribution for the larger product publishers, they've got distribution, who were who were working in another corner, and say, there's not a huge amount of understanding and teamwork between those different aspects of the book, the publishing industry. And that's not a criticism. It's just an observation. And I, one of the one of the things, which I'm then privileged to be involved with that I am involved with the booksellers association with one of their specialist groups. And that's, again, one of the things with as part of the booksellers Association, we've been trying to build networks, with publishers with distributors to try and improve that communication and understanding. Coming back around to your question, again, in terms of authors, what we're doing today, I think, is really valuable lessons have actually understood understanding the circumstances. So specifically, you know, again, I'm talking a lot about social media, but that that's given an opportunity to understand the kinds of matters. So for instance, I'm involved on the Facebook page for several different writing groups. I'm not a writer. But on the other hand, the fact that I'm involved, that means that you're watching what's going on. This means that I've got an idea of what's going through writers and what's going on through author's heads and our booksellers, Facebook groups, and other groups out there as well where you can first kind of get a picture of what's going on. I mean, I'll be perfectly frank with you. until you see the product sellers are actually very, very nervous about the real, then probably less so this time than they were back from summer of 2020. When did but there are some very bright and nervous booksellers out there about what was going to happen. Whoops, the going back into work with inhealth COVID. So expressions of support that he got from authors finding the look, and book job and you know, that Facebook page standard that we looked at, that says very looking forward to reopening, looking forward to be in a boat and you know, encouraging the friends, the family, again, all that kind of thing is so helpful and is so appreciated.
Wendy Jones:Now, that's, that's a good thing to say. And it is it's telling people that you do appreciate them as well, letting them know you appreciate them and supporting them. In the midst of all this COVID I mean, we're all rattled, you know, the whole world's rattled and you phone people, when you've been on the phone for, you know how and hanging on forever, and you start biting at the person at the end of the phone. It's not their fault, you know, and it's the same if you're going to a store and you've been in a queue waiting to get in, it's not the person and say the store's fault, you know, so be patient with them. And being nice to them goes a long way as well. And trying to understand how, how it's affecting them. So yeah, no, that's no, I'm in our bookstores you go in and there's books everywhere. And I'm absolutely curious as to how you go about choosing what books to stock in your store?
Andrew Lacey:Yes, that's that's a good question. Sometimes I'm really not quite sure the answer, because I'm walking like yourself. And going back to my days in the supermarket, you're my area manager at one time always encouraged me to go door, and then come back in with fresh parabens. shot like a customer. And sometimes I look at it and go while did I buy all this stuff? And the answer is actually, Yes, I did. So just to give you a weak snapshot of the way that works. And I just had a quick Google before we came on air. And the 2018 in the UK, in terms of books that were registered in the UK, a book went for the first time there is 180,000 book tour college for the first time in 2018. And that is just in one year. And you know that this kind of gives you an indication because obviously you've got all of the publishers who backless there as well. So in some way you've got to make up for it. So, it is kind of the way it works is that pawnshops generally have got a kind of particular market that hated to know we I work in in specialists Christian bookshopyou know our Bible book shop it would have been known as but we have a specialist Christian market amongst bookshops as well they know their market they might be in particular tourist area to their market and particularly about Tayside or you know one of the book shops which absolutely love the watermill book job in its habit failed, is it or don't count. Well, that's a wonderful Facebook, they will know that market and the people will tend to come in and what they will tend to do is it can enter the market and the way that publishers were they tend to work in particular segments to the books and market as well. So particular publishers Canongate I counting paid publishers mean Scottish and trust books. Right. So I would guarantee if I went into Waterville, bookshop and other felted that a lot of their stuff will be brought will be drawing from coming fit publisher because that's what they do. So they will they will get a list from Canongate publishing and the old theatre rep used to come around. And they would often have a sample book these days that tend to be an email and PDFs that you get. You tend to choose from there so so you tend to look if you're in Dubkeld you will have a lot of books about Dunkeld.We are in Motherwell, so if anything ever comes up, as recently a book Motherwell, , I'm going to forget In fact, I think the author's name was Wendy Grey. I might be wrong about that. But you know, whenever that popped up, and somebody saw that and immediately said, I'll have them in the shop. Thank you very much. Yeah. So you pick from the Let's look to some of the publishers that you work with a lot of you, you know, top packages of books as well, too, they want to get booked out. So one of our publishers, for instance, they offer a package of books coming up Christmas, which are mainly cut. So what we'll do is we'll open that package of books. And obviously, we'll tell what we can and then January, what we do is we can send back the ones which you haven't sold, which are obviously very, very helpful. And one of the other things alluded to before, is we do see our role pretty much as an independent local bookshop supporting independent local authors that were always interested in hearing, and stopping books from independent local authors. And we would also stop as well music from independent local bands as well. It's one of the things to create from there. But that's a very quick snapshot of how we trim down from the 188,000 books
Wendy Jones:Yeah. And I think you're right, it's knowing your market and knowing what you want to buy. Because if you stock a lot of books that they won't like, and they'll come in, and that's all they see that you're going to lose your market. Correct? Yeah, no, that's,
Andrew Lacey:that's absolutely right. You know, as it over a period of time looks difficult thing. And so discerning your market when you first open up, I mean, you can take an educated cat. But for instance, one of the things we have done in our office, we identified the children's market, although, as you'll be aware, Wendy the general book market, is very Slack, or even define in recent years, but the children's book market, the gift book market has been increasing. Over the years, we've been steadily increasing theamount of space we offer to children's books. So it's about knowing your market. Absolutely. Yeah.
Wendy Jones:And you've alluded to this, because you said that, you know, you run a Christian bookshop. So your Christian faith plays a large part in what you do. So how does this help shape the day to day running of the store?
Andrew Lacey:Ah, that's a good question. And I hope it's taken the wrong way. With it, sometimes if you have got no idea, temptation, temptation to say to a customer, you know, if you've forgotten to place the order, and you know, in the best rug, run bookshop, these kinds of things do happen, the customer phoned up and said, Where's my book, and you realise I have forgotten to place the order, is you would just love to tell them the porcupine and say, Oh, the deliveries been delayed, or the distributor hasn't sent it, or it's gone to the wrong person, you actually have to turn around and say, Well, actually, I forgot to fix that audit. And you've got to, you've got to do the Christian thing if you'd like and confess. So anyway, that's just between you and me when
Wendy Jones:nobody else is listening, you know, right.
Andrew Lacey:Nobody else is listening. I sincerely hope
Wendy Jones:Yeah, I know what that means, working in a that's not the case. But Wendy, I mean, to be perfectly frank with you. On a personal level, let me approach that two ways. The first thing is obviously, we sell into a Christian market. So one of the key things that we sell in return is Bible to retell a lot Bibles in various different formats. And therefore, as you would expect real to tell a lot of friends, we ought to sell a lot of hymn books, because that's specifically in our market, but as a person to be frank, it made very little difference. I sometimes like to say that I'm a disciple of Jesus. And rather than trying to put a bandaid on a Christian on itself, I'm trying to follow the teachings of Jesus. And that is a whole life plan. So that that effect, or it should affect every part of my life, so simply means that when I was in the supermarket, I tried to freak the staff failing. When I was dealing with customers, I tried to deal with the customers with honesty and integrity. I tried to accept that not only was there a business aspect to the job that I did, but there's also spiritual aspects of the job that I did. There's a personal aspect. There's a character aspect that I did, that there is such a thing called the Sermon on the Mount about the way the people they're supposed to things is the 10 commandments to govern the way that you should, you should carry on your day to day business. So I would like to think that that hasn't varied from the time I was working in the supermarket. and the times of working in the Christian bookshop, you know, but I think the other thing I'd say when it is that in this job, it helps who I am as a person as a Christian lever with my work life. And that's actually a really precious thing, because I'm sure, you know, you know, that if you're able to work at something that is also you, with bookshop and work in a Christian bookshop is a privilege, it the doctor, you're impressed with a doctor what foot to boat with the doctor, what made you get out of bed in the morning, then that's actually a really precious thing. And it's the fact with the camera itself is really privileged to be able to do the talk that I do, and have the role that half within hooked up. Because I've always loved books, and particularly within a Christian bookshop. sounds like a really good way to carry out your working life. And I want to move on again, because we start by saying that book shops have been shot forever, really, they've been more shot than they've been open, I think, this year, in the last year. But they've reopened in England, and they're preparing for reopening in Scotland, but how has it shaped the way you will run things in the future?
Andrew Lacey:So that's a very good question. And obviously, part of your job as a manager of a small business. And one of the things which I would emphasise to you when you're new, you know, that is I work very much as part of a team. So Fair enough, I I carry the responsibility, but we work together as a team. And one of the things which we have done is we've sat down, we've talked together about well, what do we think is going to happen? So I really bad with the unapproved team, we've got top team with four members of staff all part time. And the number of volunteers and you know, I'm always interested in their input, and what they think and what you don't do, you know, you don't rush out chop talent. up what you're going to be rushing away on holiday, Merry them what you know, you know, because we're all normal people. So what we're going to do will actually affect how people are going to come back to the job. So, again, a long way of answering say, I think the crack shops are going to be pretty flat for the time being. And certainly, we will maintain having people on furlough for a period of time climb upon Rome. I hope they're rushing people, and I have to pull in people and tell them to come into work. Yeah. But my estimation will be that one will be fairly quiet, too, we've got a lot, we need a way to make up. So we put the opening with a kind of mega sale to try and tempt people back in. But also as well, from a Business Centre, when you we do have a lot of stock that the reality is a sound shelf for a year and not done very much done and need to get on the move, so that we can turn the thing over because one of the reasons why you love going into book shops, and I love going into book shops is because you see something new, don't you?
Wendy Jones:Yes, absolutely.
Andrew Lacey:We got to do something, turn the stock over. So we can bring in something new to attract that interst so that customers can say i was in the GLO bookshop And they had a great sale on. And they had a they had a great reduction. They had a great sale on it. But they also had loads of new books that we hadn't seen before. So those are candidates some of the kinds of things, we'll be looking forward. One of the specific things that we do in our market is weird. We would have run a lot but then three would have gone out to for instance church conferences. We were taken to church conference or to a church and you got a special weekend on that's not going to be there for the time being but we're going to capitalise on that soon as we're able to do that. And it's safe do that for both staff and people at the event that will be wanting to do that as well. So yes, there's a number of kind of business things that work in the background.
Wendy Jones:Yeah. Excellent. And I know you do have some events planned for the store. And what do you have planned?
Andrew Lacey:So toward the end of this month, we've got the end of may need to we put these up on our Facebook page, local shop, and Facebook and you can find them there. So we've got an event with a couple of authors at the end of I think it's Friday the 23rd of April with a couple of local authors that are the science they're both both guys are actually scientists one One surgeon and one, one science teacher. So I have to be honest with you, Wendy. I'm kind of dreading that because I got a C in my biology A level so i don;t know how I'm going to talk to these guys. It will be really interesting to hear what they've got to say and I've got to be in the background of that. Yeah. And then coming up, hopefully to be confirmed. But I mentioned earlier that one of our specialisms is Bbles. We have a an online event. With Cambridge Bible, it's a Cambridge Bible is a one of the official, the official publishers by warrant of the Queen in the UK, King James Bible been publishing quality Bibles 1560 or something like that. So we're hoping to have an online event with that. And then, and then just to show the kind of range of things that we do, then we've also got an event with your good self, and Bertie with your new book, Bertie, at the Worldwide Games? Yeah, that's coming up. Facebook Live on 7th of June. And we're probably going to do a couple of slots, watch out for further details, but we'll probably to both online and in person, at the GLO bookshop. So what type of further details and when we really looking forward to seeing you for that event?
Wendy Jones:I can't wait, because it seems about 300 years ago, since the last time I did an event there. So much has happened. Heavens. But I mean, I'm very much looking forward to the bookstores opening up on the 26th. And me, I'll be in a bookstore, the minute I can go in one, you know, but there will be some people who feel they're not in a position to come into the store quite yet, as you say things might be a bit quiet. So my last question if someone wants something from the store, but they don't feel quite able to come in yet. Are they able to buy from you anyway? And if so how?
Andrew Lacey:Yes, absolutely. So we're we've obviously been operating, to be frank with you quite a bit. So we're obviously on web, w w. w. Hello. book.com. Is our online is their online shop route on social media, you can send a message curious by Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. And we're also available, obviously, our website, it's got contact page. And lastly, we can be contacted on 01698 375343. And that's a Motherwell number. And obviously, at the moment, we're in reduced hours in the bookshop. And the final thing I'd say is that although we are specialists, Christian bookshop, one of the services that we provide to the local community and the wider wider community is, as well as we do. We are very, very good at buying getting close to people. And we do have a page on bookshop.o g I don't know whether th t's something you've come ac oss Wendy, wha
Wendy Jones:that? Sorry, it's.
Andrew Lacey:So this is a this is what the Americans that started in America, but it's what they would call a not for profit in America, or charity. So it's simply google bookshop org. Yeah, yeah. So what this pr vides is it provides an op ortunity for people to buy bo ks, and I think I booked to th t bookshop. Firstly, what you ca do is you can specify any lo al bookshop as your nominated bo kshop if they're registered on there. But what happens is th t the profits, bookshop, po tal parades, that actually go s back into local local jobs, lo al independent bookshops, th t sort of shared out as a ki d of crops adventure. So what th t does is simply feature your pu chases and simply keep ta king about local independent bo k shops all over the UK, they ge a contribution back from yo r purchases. And just to give yo a weird frustration for the la t month, we received a we re eived a payment of 176 pounds fr m bookshop.org. And that's th t's a cooperative thing which is going on so it set themselves up with three other as an al ernative to Amazon buying bo ks, you can buy through bo kshops. Also, you'll find th t there's excellent prices th t delivered directly to your do r and you look for local book sh ps as you do that as well. So ething to bear in mind.
Wendy Jones:Excellent. Well, that's absolutely fantastic. And I think I need to point out we've been saying Glo Bookshop all the way through not once have I explained that it's GLO We need to let people know th t because but I'll put it in Th show notes as well. Well, th nk you very much, Andrew, for jo ning me today. You have been am zing what a wealth of kn wledge. Well, thank you.
Andrew Lacey:Thanks very much, Wendy. It's a privilege just to sit down and chat because it's a that's part of what I feel that we see here. And it's that interaction between the different parts of the publishing publishing industry that we all love that we all love so much.
Wendy Jones:Yeah. And I want to finish by saying that, you know, GLO bookshop will be open on t e 26th of April. So please do s pport them. And the staff are a azing. Andrew is amazing. And I love the shop. And if you're l cky, and you do go there, I t ink the cafe might be open as w ll, or is that not reopening o the 26th
Andrew Lacey:It will be openi g again about the same time so yes, that's, that's a very, v ry goo
Wendy Jones:I will recommend that coffee as well.
Andrew Lacey:Yeah, no, that's wonderful.
Wendy Jones:So you can have a day out. So thank you very much, and it and enjoy the rest of your day.
Andrew Lacey:Thanks so much. were privileged to speak.
Wendy Jones:That brings us to the end of another show. It was really good to have you on the show with me today. I'm Wendy H. Jones. And you can find me at Wendy H jones.com. You can also find me on Patreon where you can support me for as little as $3 a month which is less than the price of a tea or coffee. You go to patreon.com forward slash when the H Jones. I'm also went to h Jones on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Thank you for joining me today and I hope you found it both useful and interesting. Join me next week when I will have another cracking guest for you. Until then, have a good week and keep writing. Keep reading and keep learning