Witness my year-end wrap-up!
This year I attended my first rare book fair, and then I exhibited at my first rare book fair. In the fall I went to the Empire Fine Book Fair in New York City, to scope out: How do people set up their booths, where do they write prices, and, most importantly, what does everyone wear? Etc. I learned all this and more, had chats, including a particularly fun and informative one with Francisco of Leaves Brooklyn (leavesbookstore.com), a shop I’m looking forward to visiting next time I’m in my old stomping grounds of Greenpoint BK. He had so much Annie Ernaux! This was all in preparation for exhibiting at the Northampton Book, Ephemera, and Book Arts Fair just a few weeks ago. I signed up for the smallest table available (6 x 3), hand-priced my books using my most fanciest serif-handwriting, practiced using my Square ap (no promo), packed up my best stuff across a range of price points, and drove two hours north through some weather. Since my booth was so small it took no time to set up, then I went to get a coffee. By the time I came back other dealers had already laid claim to some of my books and I ended up being in the black before the fair even opened to the public. I was off to a great start but also wondering if I priced my books too low? The rest of the fair was a success, and I ended up selling more to other booksellers but regular attendees as well. But most important I made a good friend with Leslie of Second Wind Books (secondwindbks.com), hailing from New Haven, CT. If you are looking for Virginia Woolf, or anything Virginia Woolf adjacent, she’s your dealer.
Throughout the year I kept up my booths in the Hudson Valley at the Newburgh Vintage Emporium Warehouse, Hyde Park Antique Center, and Red Owl Collective in Kingston NY. I started a newsletter for my online shop (please sign up!) but had to slow down my listing schedule. There was a period this year when I struggled with sourcing, especially for the web shop. Library sales aren’t as well stocked while also being more competitive. I had some good scores with private collections, which gave me a boost. My goals for next year mostly involve improving that aspect of the business with advertising, cold calling, writing letters to older people, things like that. I also probably have to be willing to travel farther.
Other goals for next year: to not let cardboard/yucky books pile up in the corner of my office before taking it out to the trash, buy less damaged books at library sale frenzies, and maybe some merch? And to find the best books for this very niche aesthetic I’m going for.
As for actual reading, my favorite author discoveries of the year were Kay Cicellis and Olga Tokarcczuk (Nobel winner, but I hadn’t read her before), favorite personal scores were Lucia Berlin’s Angels in the Laundromat (paperback) and Magda Szabo’s Night of the Pig Killing (which will be up for sale next year), favorite new releases were Virginie Despentes’s Dear Dickhead and Lydia Sandgrens’ Collected Work. I didn’t read as many books as I usually do. I blame Bleak House.
Happy New Year
Jane