Booksy Galore Triples Size, Sales

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Four months after a relocation that tripled its footprint, Booksy Galore in Pound Ridge, New York, has seen many new faces and an incredible growth in sales, said owner Susan Williamson.

“There’s been 110 percent support from the community from the first day that I opened,” said Williamson. “They’re so grateful to have a bookstore in town; whatever someone can figure out to do to support the bookstore, they’ll do.”

When Williamson opened Booksy Galore in August 2013, she loaded the tiny shop’s shelves with used books from her own collection, as well as those donated by friends and family. At first, she simply wanted to get the stacks of books out of her house, where they were stockpiled to sell online, but the little bookstore quickly gained customers from around town.

“I knew when I got into the space that I would eventually want to expand, but that it was best to make any mistakes while still small,” Williamson said. When a consignment shop next door closed, she put in a word with the landlord to see if the bookstore could take its place.

September’s move — which Williamson was able to complete practically without closing the shop — grew the store from 450 square feet to more than 1,200 and made it more visible to passersby. The front room of the store is filled with new books, and a hefty stock of “pre-loved” books is featured in the back room. Booksy Galore also carries a few non-book items, such as stationery, journals, Swarovski crystal bookmarks, mugs, and soy candles from Frostbeard.

Since the move and inventory expansion, sales have tripled, Williamson said.

The new space allows for a variety of community events, such as author signings, lectures, and weekend activities, and can comfortably fit about 30 people. Williamson is planning to host four big author readings this year, plus regular book clubs and a twice-monthly book/art activity that makes use of damaged books to create origami or blackout poetry. This spring, Williamson will open the store’s back garden for events such as poetry readings or tai chi.

“I gauge how the store is going to grow based on what the people in the community tell me,” she said. “I’m tailoring events based on what the community says.”

Events have brought out readers of all ages for coloring nights or family first-aid lectures, but the store’s friendly atmosphere and diverse selection of books keep readers coming back.

“The one thing that you get in here that you’ll never get from a big box store or online is that personal connection. We curate our shelves based on what people are looking for, what they’ve liked, things they haven’t seen before,” said Williamson. “The other thing that happens is the friendships. People come into the bookstore and sense it’s a safe place. We’ll always have that very welcoming feeling.”

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