Canadian Retailer - Store 2013 - 55

A new inventory system

It’s no mystery why Michael Bumsted won
the Chase Paymentech Young Bookseller of
the Year Award. The assistant bookseller created an inventory system for the store’s used
books that’s streamlined operations at Whodunit? Mystery Bookstore in Winnipeg.
Wendy Bumsted, co-owner of the family business, puts on her business hat when she explains her son’s contributions to the store. “The
new inventory system has made it so easy to
track what books we have in stock,” she says.
This change, along with Michael’s merchandising redesign, helped to refresh the business.
“He’s knowledgeable about books. He’s good
at helping customers,” she says, then quickly
speaks as a proud mother. “As a mother, I was
excited, I was amazed. Small independents aren’t
normally recognized for awards.”
Michael is currently completing a doctorate
in archaeology at the University of Aberdeen
The UofT Bookstore in Toronto. in Scotland. Even though he is six time zones
Expanding the business model
away from the family business, he says he is
“Bookselling is customer service, it’s dialogue, “as involved as I can be in what we do.”
it’s face-to-face interaction,” says Eleanor LeFave,
He says that receiving the Chase Paymentech Young Bookowner of Mable’s Fables and winner of the Libris seller of the Year Award shines a light on independents that
award for specialty bookselling. “A retailer who smaller retailers in smaller markets don’t often get.
really knows the product can help the customer
“That the industry supports these kinds of prizes, and gives
make the best purchasing decision. If you’re a opportunities to young retailers, especially young retailers
pro, that’s the goal—customer satisfaction.”
working in small family shops, to be acknowledged is someLeFave says that her children’s bookstore thing that I am exceedingly thankful for. It reminds me that
recently expanded the business to include a our hard work at Whodunit? is not being done in a vacuum
wholesale division to cater to busy school li- and that there is opportunity for excellence everywhere.”
brarians. Librarians ordering through Mable’s
Fables get more than volume discounting— The answer is always Yes
they get recommendations based on reading
Nancy Frater says she can’t stop smiling. After 24 years in
level, budget, content, age appropriateness business, her store BookLore was named Bookseller of the
and more.
Year. She says it’s validation for so many years of contributing
“There are so many books and so much to her community. BookLore is at the centre of cultural life in
front list,” says LeFave. “Librarians don’t have Orangeville, ON. It helped found the Headwaters Arts Festitime to research and see the books. They rely val, staged the One Book, One Community city-wide reading
on our opinion and our context. They have us program, and uses its customer and community connections
as a sounding board.”
to promote local authors and arts.
In the last year, Mable’s Fables has built its
Frater says one of the secrets to business is never saying no.
book fair business—another way to help cus- Four months ago, a coffee shop moved into the space next to
tomers make the right decision. Last year, the hers. The owner of the coffee shop asked Frater if he could put
store hosted fairs at 26 schools.
a door through the wall into her shop.
LeFave says that these new ventures have
“I didn’t even think about it,” says Frater. “I said, Yes.”
taken her store outside the store. And that’s
Independents need to change if they want to thrive, says
helped to grow the business and open up a Frater. A fresh coat of paint, a new door, and willingness to
whole new set of opportunities to leverage experiment with new technologies keep it fun.
and capitalize on.
“If it isn’t fun, we shouldn’t be doing it,” says Frater.
“You can’t wait for the phone to ring. You
can’t open the door and expect them to come. For more information about the Libris Awards, visit
This is retail. You have to keep moving.”
www.retailcouncil.org.

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