(It can be cold out there for Independent Booksellers during the Holiday Season.)
I am reprinting a letter I received from Margaret Osondu a while back. Margaret owns and runs Osondu Booksellers (www.osondubooksellers.com) in Waynesville, NC. Although her letter and her website make reference to local places and events, her community could be any community here in our state. When you buy books for yourself and those on your Christmas list, remember these independent bookstores and how much they give back to our communities.
______________________________________
November 12, 2008
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Dear Readers:
The American Booksellers Association has created a program to help independent businesses get the word out about themselves. It is called Indie Bound. The mission is to promote independent shops of all types so that we continue to live in a country that is filled with variety of businesses. We are a great people because of the ingenuity that private enterprise brings. Competition fosters more innovation. Think of the arts and crafts right here at Haywood Community College and in the shops all over town.
It is true that when you purchase a new book at Osondu's you will usually though not always be paying more than if you went to Amazon or other big box stores. We can't compete with international companies who sell on volume. We order ones and two of most things unless we know it is a blockbuster. Every purchase you make online at Amazon is a missed opportunity to support your own local economy. Amazon however cannot compete with us when it comes to our community.
Osondu's pays sales tax, county and city taxes, and various fees that support our community. Each week we post our calendar and we hear positive comments and appreciation for the events we do. We continually work to bring authors, local regional and national, host events that are enriching, parties for children that evolve around books and the imagination. We stock classical literature as well as current and new works of literature. We support local authors and provide a place for writers to gather and discuss their works. We support local musicians and provide an easy space to listen to music on Saturday evenings. We give donations to so many local organizations and schools that I could not name them in one paragraph.
The only way we can continue to be a vital part of the community is with your help. Each book you purchase else where is an opportunity lost. If we have more volume of sales we can get them in more quickly sometimes within 24 hours. It is really up to you. Do you think an independent bookstore adds to the community in a way that is valuable? Do you think kids need a place where they can find booksellers that will help them find the right book they are looking for? We give teachers a generous discount for classroom books; is that something you feel is beneficial? We host and/or support almost a dozen book clubs, story hour, meetings and discussions.
Waynesville's economy has been growing, but in this nation wide recession we all are going to be looking for ways to stabilize economically. Help our local community by making your book purchases with us and also supporting the many other local independent businesses that make up Waynesville. Come in and look or call us or email us with your order. We can mail, deliver, and suggest books. Another way to support us is to email this to all your friends and encourage them to purchase their books with us.
We appreciate you!
Eat
Read
Sleep,
Margaret
Osondu Booksellers | 184 North Main Street | Waynesville | NC | 28786
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