Showing posts with label independent bookstores. Show all posts
Showing posts with label independent bookstores. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Great Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Your Customers


The holiday season is almost upon us—a time for family, a time for friends, and a time for giving gifts. Ahh, the gift giving. Have your customers asked for suggestions for that someone who has everything? Looking for something with which to stuff your own Yuletide stockings?


Lo Scarabeo makes a number of pendulums, runes, bags, cloths, and notebooks/journals (in addition to their numerous tarot decks) that not only make great gifts, but great stocking stuffers! Look no further for the perfect, stocking-sized giftables.

Pendulums:
Pendulums are amazing tools for divination, dowsing, and answering questions relating to love, work, health, money, and much more. Not only abundantly useful, Lo Scarabeo pendulums are also eye-catchingly beautiful. Pictured at left is the Amethyst Chakra Pendulum; you can view all available pendulums here (note: you must log in to your account to view page).

















Runes:

Rune sets will bring new energy to divination, magic, and meditation practices. Sacred runic symbols have been carved into varying stones, making these exquisite runes magical as well as beautiful.  At left are the Amethyst Runes; you can view all available runes here (note: you must log in to your account to view page).








Bags:
Attractive and useful, tarot bags are an ideal way to safely store and protect valuable tarot decks. Pictured is the Ceccoli Satin Bag; you can view all available bags here (note: you must log in to your account to view page).









Cloths:

Explore the many uses of these beautiful velvet cloths from Lo Scarabeo! Featuring embroidered symbols from various traditions, these multi-purpose cloths are ideal for altars, divination practice, ritual, meditation, and home decoration. Pictured at left is the Pentacle Velvet Cloth; you can view all available cloths here (note: you must log in to your account to view page).






Note boxes:

These decorative note boxes from Lo Scarabeo bring a touch of elegance to any living space. Perfect for home or the office, it comes with blank paper for jotting down phone messages, reminders, to do lists, and anything else on your mind. Or try using this beautiful box to store a favorite tarot deck, jewelry, photos, souvenirs, runes, or any other mementos that deserve a special place.  Pictured is the Fairy Note Box; also available are the Cat Note Box and the Pagan Note Box.






Journals:

As a dream diary, sketchbook, or Book of Shadows, these gorgeous journals are the perfect place to record ruminations, insights, and experiences. Pictured is the Night Sun Journal; you can view all available journals here (note: you must log in to your account to view page).




Friday, October 18, 2013

Great Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Your Customers


The holiday season is upon us—a time for family, a time for friends, and a time for giving gifts. Ahh, the gift giving. Have your customers asked for suggestions for that someone who has everything? Looking for something with which to stuff your own Yuletide stockings?


Lo Scarabeo makes a number of pendulums, runes, bags, cloths, and notebooks/journals (in addition to their numerous tarot decks) that not only make great gifts, but great stocking stuffers! Look no further for the perfect, stocking-sized giftables.

Pendulums:
Pendulums are amazing tools for divination, dowsing, and answering questions relating to love, work, health, money, and much more. Not only abundantly useful, Lo Scarabeo pendulums are also eye-catchingly beautiful. Pictured at left is the Amethyst Chakra Pendulum; you can view all available pendulums here (note: you must log in to your account to view page).
















Runes:

Rune sets will bring new energy to divination, magic, and meditation practices. Sacred runic symbols have been carved into varying stones, making these exquisite runes magical as well as beautiful.  At left are the Amethyst Runes; you can view all available runes here (note: you must log in to your account to view page).








Bags:
Attractive and useful, tarot bags are an ideal way to safely store and protect valuable tarot decks. Pictured is the Universal Satin Bag; you can view all available bags here (note: you must log in to your account to view page).









Cloths:

Explore the many uses of these beautiful velvet cloths from Lo Scarabeo! Featuring embroidered symbols from various traditions, these multi-purpose cloths are ideal for altars, divination practice, ritual, meditation, and home decoration. Pictured at left is the Pentacle Velvet Cloth; you can view all available cloths here (note: you must log in to your account to view page).






Note boxes:

These decorative note boxes from Lo Scarabeo bring a touch of elegance to any living space. Perfect for home or the office, it comes with blank paper for jotting down phone messages, reminders, to do lists, and anything else on your mind. Or try using this beautiful box to store a favorite tarot deck, jewelry, photos, souvenirs, runes, or any other mementos that deserve a special place.  Pictured is the Fairy Note Box; also available are the Cat Note Box and the Pagan Note Box.






Journals:

As a dream diary, sketchbook, or Book of Shadows, these gorgeous journals are the perfect place to record ruminations, insights, and experiences. Pictured is the Draconis Journal; you can view all available journals here (note: you must log in to your account to view page).




Tuesday, July 30, 2013

How Booksellers Might Be Able To Combat Showrooming

GalleyCat had a great article a few days ago discussing ways that booksellers can potentially combat "showrooming" (the practice by customers of viewing items in a store, then using a mobile device or computer to search for cheaper prices online and elsewhere). The article, titled "How Booksellers Might Be Able to Combat Showrooming," includes a great slideshow of ways that retailers can match online prices and persuade some "showroomers" to make their purchases in the store.

From GalleyCat


You can read the full article and view the slideshow here.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Llewellyn's 2014 Calendars, Almanacs, and Datebooks

It's almost that time again--time for Llewellyn's 2014 calendars and almanacs to appear in our warehouse! Each and every June, it is always so wonderful to see the product that results after another year of hard work on our calendars, datebooks, and almanacs.

A look at Llewellyn's 2014 calendars and almanacs:


Llewellyn's 2014 Astrological Calendar: Llewellyn's Astrological Calendar is the best-known, most trusted astrological calendar sold today. Everyone, even beginners, can use this beautiful and practical calendar to plan the year wisely. There are monthly horoscopes, best days for planting and fishing, rewarding and challenging days, travel forecasts, and an astrology primer. Advanced astrologers will find major daily aspects and a wealth of other essential astrological information. This edition features Julie Dillon's gorgeous and inspiring artwork.

—A guide to the planets, signs, houses, aspects, and transits
—Travel forecasts by Bruce Scofield
—Best days for planting and fishing
—The Moon's sign, phase, and void-of-course dates
—Graphic planetary retrograde table
—Major daily aspects, monthly ephemerides, and 2013 eclipses



Llewellyn's 2014 Astrological Pocket Planner:
Plan your future according to the stars. Essential astrological information is at your fingertips with Llewellyn’s Astrological Pocket Planner. Both beginners and advanced astrologers can use this award-winning datebook—the only one to offer three years of ephemeris and aspectarian data. Set the best dates for job interviews, weddings, business meetings, and other important occasions. Choose the ideal times to plant a garden, begin new projects, conduct self-reflection, go fishing, and more. Avoid planetary pitfalls by following the easy-to-read retrograde and Moon void-of-course tables. Comprehensive and compact, Llewellyn's 2013 Astrological Pocket Planner also contains a world map of time zones, a time zone conversion chart, and space to jot down your daily appointments.

—Daily signs, Moon phases, and aspects
—2014 week-at-a-glance
—Planetary stations chart
—Moon void-of-course table
—Word time-zone map and conversion table
—Best days for planting and fishing



Llewellyn's 2014 Daily Planetary Guide: Empower your life with the most trusted and detailed astrological guide available. Take advantage of cosmic forces on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis with Llewellyn’s Daily Planetary Guide. With exact times down to the minute, this astrological planner lists ideal times to do anything. Before setting up a job interview, signing a contract, or scheduling anything important, consult the weekly forecasts and Opportunity Periods—times when the positive flow of energy is at its peak. Plan your year wisely according to aspects, ephemeris, retrograde planets, eclipses for 2014, and more astrological information. Even beginners can use this powerful planner, which explains the planets, signs, houses, and how to use this guide.

—Planet and Moon aspects and ingress times
—Moon sign, phase, and void-of-course periods
—Planet retrograde and direct station times
—Ephemeris tables that include Chiron and four asteroids
—Sunrise and sunset timetables
—Planetary hours with complete instructions
—A stargazer's guide to planetary sightings and eclipses in 2014
—Weekly forecasts by Pam Ciampi
-Bonus: Find out the best times to undertake any activity with "Opportunity Periods"



Llewellyn's 2014 Herbal Almanac: Treat yourself to a rejuvenating spa night. Throw a nontraditional tea party with zesty flair. Add a spicy twist to your beer, wine, and liquor. There are hundreds of ways to benefit from nature's versatile plants inside Llewellyn’s Herbal Almanac. This treasury of innovative herbal ideas spans gardening, cooking, crafts, health, beauty, and myth/lore. Learn how to improve indoor air quality, create a "golden years" herb garden for seniors, keep invasive herbs in check, and soak up vibrational healing from roses, daisies, and other flowers. Discover how to use herbs as preservatives, and make your own homemade vinaigrettes and low-carb vegetarian dishes. Create herbal dyes and beautiful handcrafted paper speckled with seeds or flowers. From enchanting primroses to the many faces of avocado, this practical almanac is your gateway to the herbal kingdom.




Llewellyn's 2014 Magical Almanac: Llewellyn's Magical Almanac has been inspiring all levels of magical practitioners for over twenty years. Filled with practical spells, rituals, and fresh ideas, you’ll find new ways to deepen your craft and enhance everyday life.

This edition features compelling articles, grouped by element, on solar power and the home, carnival magic, recycling and refurbishing, enlightened eats, emergency healing, faery offerings and shrines, folk clothing, alcohol and the gods, soap magic, animism, transforming negativity, and other magical topics. Also included is a handy calendar section—shaded for easy "flip to" reference—featuring world festivals, holidays, and 2014 Sabbats. You'll also find astrological info, plus incense and color correspondences, to empower your magical work.

Published annually for over twenty years.



Llewellyn's 2014 Moon Sign Book: Since 1905, Llewellyn's Moon Sign Book has helped millions take advantage of the Moon's dynamic energies. This essential planning tool can help you choose the best time to do almost anything: buy stock, get married, buy or sell your home, start a new job, travel, have surgery, and much more. With lunar timing tips on planting and harvesting and a guide to companion plants, this book is a gardener's best friend. In addition to New and Full Moon forecasts for the year, you'll find insightful articles on growing a tea garden, cultivating roses, organic and natural food labeling, the Moon and earthquakes, outer planets in water signs, and Greek lunar folklore.

—A monthly lunar aspectarian with Moon tables
—Detailed weather predictions for each region by renowned astrometeorologist Kris Brandt Riske
—New and Full Moon forecasts for 2014 by Sally Cragin
—A companion planting guide that features over one hundred plants
—Electional rules and dates for ventures in love, relationships, business, finances, and other areas


The number one lunar guide to natural living since 1905.



Llewellyn's 2014 Sun Sign Book: Prepare for what's coming in the near future. Take advantage of huge opportunities and dodge potential pitfalls with Llewellyn's Sun Sign Book.

Filled with practical planetary wisdom, this easy-to-use guide will answer your questions about money, success,career, relationships, and more—for the whole year. In addition to horoscopes for every sign by popular astrologer Kim Rogers-Gallagher, you'll discover which areas in your life have potential for great success, and which require extra attention. Included are rewarding/challenging days for each month and a guide to the best dates to find a job, begin a romance, take a vacation, move, and plan other important endeavors.

Published annually since 1984.




Llewellyn's 2014 Witches' Calendar: Captivating, original artwork and a rich array of content have made Llewellyn's Witches' Calendar the top-selling calendar of its kind. New for this edition are enchanting scratchboard illustrations by award-winning artist Kathleen Edwards. Each month also offers an inspiring article, plus a spell or ritual. Connect with nature in May, work hummingbird magic in August, and treat yourself to healing balms in September. Astrological data and magical correspondences are also included.




Llewellyn's 2014 Witches' Companion: Live your craft every day with Llewellyn's Witches' Companion. This indispensable guide will keep you one step ahead of the latest Witchy trends, Craft practices, Pagan issues, and ideas in green living.

This year's edition is filled with wry and thought provoking essays—the madness of "Witch Wars," Gaia and the permaculture movement, magical de-stressing, finding community, magical vessels, essential stones for Witches, the art of dedication, bringing ancestors into magical practice, working with healing deities, and much more. Also featured is a sixteen-month calendar and lunar information to fuel your spellwork and rituals.



Llewellyn's 2014 Witches' Datebook: Today’s busy Witches can stay on top of it all—the magical and the mundane—with Llewellyn's Witches' Datebook, now featuring enchanting illustrations from award-winning artist Kathleen Edwards. Add a little magic to each day and keep pace with the ever-turning Wheel of the Year with this indispensable, on-the-go tool.

You'll find fun, fresh ways to celebrate the sacred seasons and enhance your practice—inspiring Sabbat musings (Elizabeth Barrette), tasty Sabbat recipes (Magenta Griffith), Moon rituals (James Kambos), and animal magic (Lupa). For spellwork, there's astrological information and daily colors. Also included are in-depth articles on charming jewelry (Ellen Dugan), a Witch's mini herb garden (Deborah Blake), spontaneous divining (Autumn Damiana), spellcraft on the fly (Marion Sipe), and more.




Llewellyn's 2014 Witches' Spell-A-Day Almanac: Make every day magical with a spell from Llewellyn's Witches' Spell-A-Day Almanac. Spellcasters of all levels can enhance their daily life with these easy bewitchments, recipes, rituals, and meditations.

Deborah Lipp, Elizabeth Barrette, Thuri Calafia, and other experienced magic practitioners offer simple spells for every occasion that require minimal supplies. For convenience, the 365 spells are cross-referenced by purpose, including love, health, money, protection, home and garden, travel, and communication. Beginners will find advice on the best time, place, and tools for performing each spell. With space to jot down notes, this unique spellbook can be used as a Book of Shadows. There are also daily color and incense recommendations and astrological data to enhance each day's magic.




Llewellyn's 2014 Woodland Faeries Calendar: A year of faerie magic and beauty awaits you. Vividly illustrated by renowned fantasy artist Linda Ravenscroft, this gorgeous faerie calendar captures the whimsy and grace of achingly beautiful nature spirits. Evocative portraits and scenes—alive in sensuous detail—bring us oh so close to alluring nymphs, charming pixies, rapturous sprites, and other secretive, ethereal beings. Llewellyn's 2014 Woodland Faeries Calendar also includes holidays and moon phase information.







Llewellyn's 2014 Sabbats Almanac: From Samhain 2013 - Mabon 2014: Make the most of each season of the Witches' year with Llewellyn's Sabbats Almanac. Packed with rituals, rites, recipes, and crafts, this essential guide offers fun and fresh ways to celebrate the eight sacred Wiccan holidays—and enrich your spiritual life throughout the year.

Get a unique perspective on honoring the Wheel of the Year from your favorite Wiccan and Pagan authors. Plan spiritually uplifting celebrations and family activities. Perform Sabbat-specific rituals and world folk rites. Whip up tasty treats and crafts as reminders of the season's gifts and lessons. Also featured are astrological influences to help you plan rituals according to cosmic energies.

Monday, April 29, 2013

Peek Inside Our Fall 2013 Catalog!

Llewellyn Fall 2013 Catalog
Click here to access the catalog PDF
Hi Booksellers,

The release of a new catalog is always a supremely satisfying moment for us. So it's with tremendous pleasure and pride that I officially introduce Llewellyn’s Fall 2013 list. Woo-hoo!

As you may recall, the fall catalog is the "big one." It includes our entire backlist—a great resource throughout the entire year.









The Art of Bliss

Kicking off this exciting season is The Tarot of the Hidden Realm, a September release from Julia Jeffrey and Barbara Moore. This deck from two seasoned tarot experts allows you to evoke the powerful wisdom of the fae; instead of relying on esoteric symbols, this powerful deck uses the raw elements—water, air, fire, and earth—to speak directly to your emotions.





Another September release, Living Earth Devotional from Clea Danaan offers 365 earth-friendly activities for deepening your physical and spiritual connection to nature. These practical, soul-centered tasks—meditations, craft projects, gardening and outdoor activities, journal exercises, and more—are organized by the Wheel of the Year. Bridging green spirituality with ecological action, this day-by-day guide will help you tune in to the energies of the changing seasons and build a deep appreciation for the earth's beauty, power, and wisdom. Reduce your carbon footprint, recharge your creativity and intuition, and cultivate a connection with the Earth that inspires spiritual growth and personal transformation.









Coming this November is Mixing Essential Oils for Magic by Sandra Kynes. This straightforward guide helps you understand how to choose the best oils for your own creative and magical mixing. Not only will you find step-by-step instructions on how to measure, mix, and assess blends, but you will also gain a full understanding of essential and carrier oils and how they work together.






This November, learn to live fully as a Pagan every day of the year, not only at full moons and holidays, with To Walk a Pagan Path, by Alaric Albertsson. With practical tips for incorporating Pagan spirituality into every aspect of life, To Walk a Pagan Path teaches readers how to have a meaningful Pagan practice by following seven simple steps; develop a sacred calendar customized for their beliefs, lifestyle, and environment; make daily activities sacred with quick and easy rituals; connect with the earth in a very real way by producing a portion of your own food—even if you live in an apartment; and express Pagan spirituality through a variety of craft projects: candles, scrying mirrors, solar wreaths, recipes, and more.








October brings us Magical Fashionista by Tess Whitehurst, author of Magical Housekeeping, The Good Energy Book, The Art of Bliss, and The Magic of Flowers. Magical Fashionista helps readers discover how to use fashion to become our most gorgeous self, attract good fortune, and attract whatever it is that we desire most.












I've given you merely a taste of what's ahead. There's also the Chinese Healing Exercises by Steven Cardoza, Playing with the Devil by Marcus F. Griffin, Living a Life of Gratitude by Sara Wiseman, A Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru by Patricia M. Lafayllve, and much more.

We can't wait to hear what you think about our new fall list!!









Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The April New Moon Is Out--Check Your Inbox!

For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.

We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our April 2013 issue of the New Moon was mailed this morning. This issue includes:
-Perfect for Spring: Tarot Galore!
-Shelftalkers (The Illuminati Tarot Kit; The 3D Tarot Grand Trumps; Anna.K Tarot; and Celtic Sealing Wax)
-May New Releases
-Llewellyn's Spring/Summer 2013 Catalog
-Indie Stores' Top Five Picks
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, April 2013 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

Thursday, March 14, 2013

It's the Little Extras That Allow Indie Booksellers to Compete with Amazon

I stumbled upon a great article this morning from The Telegraph UK discussing independent bookstores, namely how, in a world of disappearing bookstores and immediate Amazon eBook downloads, independent booksellers can remain competitive and relevant. The article, titled "You Can't Get This Book From Amazon," points out that it is the little extras that booksellers include with their books that really make them stand out from Amazon.

"It would have been understandable had booksellers held up their hands and surrendered. But booksellers are made of sterner stuff...They have the missionary’s zeal to unite people with the books they know they are going to enjoy reading. Such people have a vocation, and people with vocations do not give up easily--they fight back.
One of the ways in which they can fight back is to give the customer something more than just the book itself. My publishers recently asked me to write something extra that booksellers could give away with my new novel, Trains and Lovers.

You can read the full article here.

Looking for some quick ideas for things to include with books? Check out our full page of shelf talkers, stuffers, and other downloads, or sign up for our New Moon Newsletter (shelf talkers and stuffers are included in each issue).

Thursday, December 27, 2012

The January New Moon Is Out--Check Your Inbox



For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.

We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our January issue of the New Moon was mailed yesterday. This issue includes:
-Booksellers as Love Counselors
-Shelftalkers (Witchy Crafts, Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences, Your Psychic Self, and Haunted Route 66)
-February New Releases
-Llewellyn's Spring/Summer 2013 Catalog
-Indie Stores' Top Five Picks
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, January 2013 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

The November New Moon Is Out--Check Your Inbox!

For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.

We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our November issue of the New Moon was mailed this morning. This issue includes:
-Yule Ideas for Everyone
-Shelftalkers (From the Cauldron Born, Great Sex Made Simple, New Paths to Animal Totems, and Our Children Live On)
-December New Releases
-Llewellyn's Winter 2013 Catalog
-Indie Stores' Top Five Picks
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, November 2012 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

The October New Moon Is Out--Check Your Inbox!

For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.

We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our October issue of the New Moon was mailed this morning. This issue includes:
-"Scott Cunningham: The Real Deal," from author Donald Michael Kraig
-Shelftalkers (Cunningham's Magical Sampler, Dragons for Beginners, Initiate, and My Conversations with Angels)
-November New Releases
-Llewellyn's Winter 2013 Catalog
-Indie Stores' Top Five Picks
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, October 2012 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

The September New Moon Is Out--Check Your Inbox!

For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.

We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our September issue of the New Moon was mailed this morning. This issue includes:
-Embracing the "Spirit" of Your Business, from author Deonna Kelli Sayed
-Shelftalkers (Witches Tarot, So You Want to Hunt Ghosts?, America's Haunted Universities, and The Healing Power of Reiki)
-October New Releases
-Llewellyn's Winter 2013 Catalog
-Indie Stores' Top Five Picks
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, September 2012 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The August New Moon Is Out--Check Your Inbox!


For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.

We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our August issue of the New Moon was mailed this morning. This issue includes:
-The Art of Blissful Storekeeping, from author Tess Whitehurst
-Shelftalkers (The Art of Bliss, Witches Tarot, Meditation for Your Life, and Restless in Peace)
-September New Releases
-Llewellyn's 2012 Tarot Catalog
-Indie Stores' Top Five Picks
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, August 2012 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

Friday, July 13, 2012

The 20 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World

Flavorwire has posted a list of the 20 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World--and are they ever spectacular!

While a visit to some of these bookstores requires a trip out of town--or out of the country--the pictures are definitely a sight to see.


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Bookworm Bookstore, Beijing, China. Image from Flavorwire.
Their list of the 20 most beautiful bookstores in the world includes:
  1. Selexyz Bookstore, Maastricht, Holland
  2. The Bookàbar Bookshop, Rome, Italy
  3. Plural Bookshop, Bratislava, Slovakia
  4. Livraria Lello, Porto, Portugal
  5. Cook & Book, Brussels, Belgium
  6. Bookworm, Beijing, China
  7. Librería El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires, Argentina
  8. Poplar Kid’s Republic, Beijing, China
  9. Livraria da Vila, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  10. Cafebreria El Pendulo, Mexico City, Mexico
  11. Shakespeare & Company, Paris, France
  12. The Last Bookstore, Los Angeles, CA
  13. Atlantis Books, Santorini, Greece
  14. Bart’s Books, Ojai, California
  15. Corso Como Bookshop, Milan, Italy
  16. Barter Books, Alnwick, UK
  17. The American Book Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
  18. VVG Something, Taipei, Taiwan
  19. Ler Devagar, Lisbon, Portugal
  20. Daikanyama T-Site, Tokyo, Japan
Head on over to Flavorwire to peruse the fabulous photos and read why each bookstore was chosen.

Have you been to any of these bookstores? What do you think is the most beautiful bookstore in the world?

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

The July Issue of the New Moon Is Out--Check Your Inbox!

For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.

We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our July issue of the New Moon was mailed this morning. This issue includes:
-Stories and Wisdom from Best-Selling Author Patrick Mathews
-Shelftalkers (Forever With You, Don't Give Up Until You Do, Mysterious Minnesota, and Magical States of Consciousness)
-August New Releases
-Fall 2012 Catalog
-Indie Stores' Top Five Picks
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, July 2012 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

Friday, May 18, 2012

A Special Event for Magickal Businesses: The Creative Retreat

Dear Booksellers,

When you dream of ways to improve your business, do you ever focus on yourself and your staff? A metaphysical business is still a business, and like any business, it will benefit from periodic brainstorming, goal-setting, and visionary work. For owners and staff, a "magickal business retreat" will leave you inspired as you rejuvenate your business plan and recharge your creative passions.

Susan Pesznecker, author of The Magickal Retreat, provides ways to have a successful and rejuvenating magickal retreat for your business.



A Special Event for Magickal Businesses: The Creative Retreat
By Susan Pesznecker

Owning a magickal/metaphysical store must be one of the most fun jobs a person can have—but it has its stressful moments as well. Depending on the size of the local community, selecting and moving inventory can be a challenge, especially if shops face resistance from non-Pagan "unfriendlies" in the neighborhood. Getting the word out may be difficult, and even getting people into the store may take some doing, given the predilection of magickal folks to do so much of their shopping online in today's digital world. Yet even with these challenges, the metaphysical business is still a business, and like any business, it will benefit from periodic brainstorming, goal-setting, and visionary work. For owners and staff, a "magickal business retreat" will leave you inspired as you rejuvenate your business plan and recharge your creative passions.

Begin with a meeting in which the staff collectively discusses a "to do" list for the retreat. Find out what everyone thinks is important, and make sure each person is heard, for sometimes the best ideas come from unexpected directions—and not always from the boss. Identify a common goal and vision, and then develop a detailed list of action items for the retreat. Your aims might include an annual review, setting goals for a period to come, operational changes, community outreach, marketing, policy changes, or just about any aspect of running a business effectively. Focus on "blue sky" items, too: What is possible? If there were no rules, what could we do? What could we accomplish? Think big: the sky's the limit!

For best results, aim for at least a day-long retreat. If you want to focus on staff bonding or specific magickal workings, try an overnight, providing work time as well as evening space for socialization and special events, like ritual work.

Once you have a working agenda and a general plan, parcel out the responsibilities, giving each participant a specific responsibility. Giving everyone "ownership" in the retreat insures a rich infusion of energies and ideas. Assign someone to locate a place for the retreat. If possible, choose a novel space, getting everyone out of their comfort zone; this establishes common ground and supports team building. If staying overnight, you'll need sleeping and bathroom spaces, bedding, and towels. Most groups will want to have WiFi, along with an on-site computer and printer if possible.

Having great food boosts morale and keeps everyone energized. For a short event, ask participants to bring their own food. If sharing food, focus on scrumptious fare that can be purchased, prepared ahead, or assembled quickly. A potluck might work perfectly; take-out pizza is another winning idea. Furnish fruits, veggies, and nuts for healthy snacking.

Once you've accomplished these initial steps, assign someone to prepare a written agenda and time schedule for the meeting. Decide who will chair or moderate the meeting, and finalize the pertinent details. And please: resolve to run your retreat on real time—not Pagan Standard Time! There's nothing more frustrating than trying to get serious work done when half the group either hasn't shown up or hasn't gotten out of bed. Respect the clock: when you're trying to accomplish a lot within a short time, it's your friend.

When the retreat date arrives, open and close with a group ceremony or ritual, even if brief; this brings the group together and reinforces the shared magickal purpose. Stay focused on your agenda, adding magickal effects with music, incense, candles, firelight, or other mood-setters. Brewing herbal teal can be a wonderful communal activity. Plan time to socialize, too. You might include a Bardic, divination hour (you can "read" the results of your meeting), drum circle, or ritual, or even a S'mores party around a campfire pit.

Before leaving the event, thank everyone and may sure they know what will happen next. Assign individuals to follow up on questions and implement decisions. Be sure to hold a post-event evaluation; make this anonymous so participants aren't afraid to be honest. Collect and share the evaluation results with your group, using the feedback to plan the next event.

Happy retreating!

***
Susan Pesznecker (Oregon), a writer, teacher, nurse, hearth Pagan, and Druid, is the author of The Magickal Retreat and Crafting Magick with Pen and Ink. Sue teaches green magick at the online Grey School. For more retreat ideas, visit Sue's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SusanMoonwriterPesznecker.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

The May Issue of The New Moon Is Out--Check Your Inbox!



For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.

We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our May issue of the New Moon was mailed this morning. This issue includes:
-A peek inside our Fall 2012 Catalog
-Shelftalkers (Seasons of Witchery, Jesus Through Pagan Eyes, The Magickal Retreat, and The Long-Lost Friend)
-June New Releases
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, May 2012 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

March Issue of the New Moon Is Out--Check Your Mailbox!



For those of you who currently subscribe to our email newsletter for booksellers, The Moon, you may have noticed a few changes.

We've streamlined the look, included new features, and christened it with a new moniker: The New Moon. As with this blog, our goal is to really connect with you, our selling partners, each month and offer support, guidance, and resources with the aim of helping you grow and thrive in this ever-changing market.

Our March issue of the New Moon was mailed this morning. This issue includes:
-Celebrating Earth Day At Your Store -Shelftalkers (The Essential Guide to Natural Skin Care, Navigating the Out-Of-Body Experience, Tarot Spreads, and Table Tipping for Beginners)
-April New Releases
-And Much More!

If you did not receive a copy in your email inbox, you can also view it here: The New Moon, March 2012 Issue.

You can also visit our website to subscribe to The New Moon, ensuring that it reaches you each month (please note that you will need to log in/register to be able to join our mailing list).

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Small Business Strategies in Our Changing Economy

Rhonda Abrams recently wrote a post for USA TODAY 's Money section, detailing the plight of the small business--and how the independent bookstore is the "poster child of the endangered retailer." In her post she highlights Kepler's in Menlo Park, CA, and what the store is doing to adapt to the changing times, in addition to providing some survival tips for small businesses.

Briefly, those tips include:
1. Diversifying the revenue stream.
2. Adding membership programs.
3. Creating new relationships with vendors.

Read the full post here.