This was a funny and somewhat insightful read; however, it misses some interesting points. Opening a bookshop (much better name than a bookstore, and if you thi

This was a funny and somewhat insightful read; however, it misses some interesting points. Opening a bookshop (much better name than a bookstore, and if you think "what's the big deal about naming" you probably shouldn't even attempt to open one). Allow me to offer my own list: 1. Opening a bookstore is very much like starting a startup in that a really high percentage of the attempts will fail. The big difference is that if you do succeed, you won't get rich. 2. If you think (1) is a sad consequence of today's soulless dominance of Amazon, people not reading, etc., then read Stuart Trent's The Seven Stairs where he chronicles his adventures in opening a bookshop in Chicago after WWII, where he details pretty much the same difficulties as today's bookshops face. 3. In order to succeed, you have to have a specialty, e.g. maps and map making, the classics, books on New York, etc. Stock a very good collection on the topic (or two) of your choosing and strive to be the best source of information and books in your state, than in the US for that topic. 4. Of course, in addition to (3) you have to have generalities, throw-away popular fiction, cookbooks, travel books, etc. But that it let dilute your niche. 5. Your store should have a unique atmosphere. Additional points if this correlates with your chosen topic niche. 6. Know and love your customers, even when they're weird (you'll encounter these much more frequently than would be expected from a normal distribution) and their flies are open. You have to earn their respect with your knowledge and collection. Again, refer to The Seven Stairs for a wonderful example of how this is done. 7. In case you skipped 1: remember that the wonderful Stuart Brent also failed (I had a chance to see his store on Michigan Ave in 1996, ran by his son, I believe; it was reduced to a standard B&N type of store and was closed in the late 90s). 8. Reread 6! If someone with a classical bent asks for historical fiction and you take them to the romance section they will never come back. If you don't have even a small collection of timeless classics, say Aurelius' Meditations, Khayyam's poetry, Ulysses (and, of course, Odysseus) yours is not a bookshop. 9. Learn how to use the Internet! Understand that probably a good percentage (if not the majority) of your sales will come through the Web, so have Web presence as good as your store. Put useful information on your web page. 10. Lastly, you just have to love books, this is no endeavour that a truly sane or financially dependent person should attempt. If reading Parnassus on Wheels doesn't truly move you (to tears), you are in the wrong business.