Saturday, April 20, 2013

A to Z Challenge - Retail

For the A to Z Challenge, I’m posting promo and other tips for writers, along with a daily photo. (All photos taken by me.)


Bookstores aren’t the only businesses that sell books. Some titles will fit well in very untraditional retail locations.

This is where you need to think creatively. You know your target audience—where do they frequent? Make a list of all possibilities and consider these retail outlets:

• Gift shops
• Specialty stores
• Independent coffee shops
• Museums
• State and national parks
• Stores on military bases
• Religious stores and churches
• University bookstores
• Supermarkets and warehouse stores
• Beauty shops

What retail outlets are a good fit for your books?

Visit other participants in the A to Z Challenge HERE

And your daily photo: "Rings"



$14.95 Trade paperback ISBN 978-0-9827139-5-2
$4.99 Ebook ISBN 978-0-9827139-9-0

Purchase at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Amazon Kindle, Amazon Kindle UK, and Powell’s.

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

I put my books in our local one and only book shop which sold quite well.

I love children's slides but the photo of that roller coaster grand as it looks is not for me.

Enjoy your week-end.

Yvonne.

Sheena-kay Graham said...

Sell your books wherever you can. That pic really caught my attention.

Rhonda Albom said...

One of the local authors I know also sold his books the weekly market.

Rhonda @Laugh-Quotes.com

Al Diaz said...

Those are rings I would not like to ride.

Jo said...

No, I don't like roller coasters any more although I did when I was younger. Great pic though.

JO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE

Unknown said...

Beauty Shops sell books? I've always seen racks of books in Drug Stores, and I'd get my books in there if I could.
Great list! :-)

cleemckenzie said...

Great idea about the "alternative" stores. I'm sure there are a lot of small shop owners who are willing to give a book a bit of shelf space.

Rings was beautiful.

David T List said...

I actually copied and pasted this list for consideration when I have my books printed. Good list.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Rhonda, I know a guy that does that exclusively and always sells out.

Lexa, brainstorm every possible angle.

Thanks, David.

And the photo is looking up at the interlocking rings, the only one of its kind, of the Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Maybe gaming stores? Someplace where geeks hang on.
Wild photo!

randi lee said...

I sold books in the lobby of my dr's office for a while! :)

Carol Kilgore said...

There are lots of possibilities for book selling. Great post. Your photo makes me dizzy :)

Anonymous said...

It's great seeing books everywhere. I've bought many books at stores that were not bookstores.

A Daft Scots Lass said...

The higher, the bigger, the faster - just up my alley...

Tyrean Martinson said...

Love that photo!
I have my book at three small independent bookstores now . . .and I'm working on getting the courage up to find a fourth, and then a fifth.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Great suggestions. Some of my books are in a local drugstore.

Mary Montague Sikes

Ella said...

Great list of ideas Diane!
Thank you so much~
I love your rings photo ;D

Mel Chesley said...

Ooh yeah, fantasy and sci fi could totally be sold in gaming stores. And wow...what a pic!

Laura Eno said...

Whoah...I think I'm dizzy now. :)

Thinking outside the box is the best way to reach your target audience. Good suggestions in that list!

Patricia Stoltey said...

This is such a good idea. Maggie Sefton, for instance, has a lot of events and sells her books in yarn and craft shops because she writes the knitting mystery series.

Chancelet said...

Thanks for continually giving us a new way to think of marketing. I've got to stop assuming that those stores only order through a distribution service. Writer’s Mark

Michelle Wallace said...

These are such good little tips. Great list of retail places...

Writer In Transit

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Diane .. creative thinking for promoting your book, novella, etc ..

Definitely there are lots of places .. surgeries, hospices possibly, nursing centres etc ..

Cheers Hilary

Mark Means said...

Coffee shops are a great idea too...a lot of 'library' types seem to frequent there :)

DL Hammons said...

I would think that university book stores could potentially be a hot spot for business. ??

Unknown said...

Great point. I plan on having my book at summer camps; exactly my target audience and not a lot of competition.

Unknown said...

Great idea. I don't live near any of these types of stores but I'm sure it's helpful for many.

Jarm Del Boccio said...

Although I haven't sold a book yet, either a Christian Bookstore or a zoo/museum would consider selling my books. Thanks for all your work on the challenge!


MakingtheWriteConnections

Bish Denham said...

Craft fairs might be a good place to sell books....

Jemi Fraser said...

Good thinking! Finding your audience in non traditional venues is a brilliant idea! :)

Jay Noel said...

Just looking at that roller coaster makes me ill.

Hmmm...maybe my books could also be displayed at a martial arts school??? Maybe?

Jai Joshi said...

Great tips! I hadn't thought of national parks or military bases. But I have done book signings in military towns and always had very successful events so it makes perfect sense.

Jai