So, what’s it actually like owning a used bookstore called LiquidBooks?
Well, let me tell you…
It’s a grind and a half.
When people think about owning a used bookstore, they might picture sitting behind the counter, drinking coffee, talking about books, and occasionally ringing up a customer.
That sounds relaxing.
Our reality is a little different.
LiquidBooks has grown into much more than just a used bookstore, which means there really isn’t such a thing as a “normal” day anymore.
The Day Usually Starts With Orders
Most mornings start with pulling orders.
Even though we have a physical retail store, we still sell products across multiple online platforms. That means before we can really get into everything else happening that day, there are orders that need to be located, pulled, packed, and prepared for shipping.
Depending on how many orders came in, this process alone can take two to three hours.
And that’s just the beginning of the day.
Then There Are the Print Jobs
Some days we’re working on books.
Some days we’re working on printing.
Most days, we’re working on both.
This week alone, we’ve worked on menus, business cards, bookmarks, and yard signs. This weekend, we also have artwork prints that need to be completed.
Every print job is a little different.
There might be designing involved. Files need to be checked. Printers need to be set up. Paper needs to be loaded. Items need to be cut, laminated, finished, packaged, or prepared for pickup.
And while all of that is happening, we’re still running a bookstore.
New Inventory Doesn’t Put Itself on the Shelves
Then someone might walk through the door with boxes of books or other merchandise.
We regularly have people bring us items through donations, trade-ins, or purchases.
That’s great because it keeps new inventory flowing into the store.
But somebody has to go through it all.
Everything needs to be sorted. We have to determine what we can use, figure out where it belongs, price it, and eventually get it onto the sales floor.
Sometimes we’re working through a few bags.
Other times we’re staring at boxes and boxes of stuff thinking:
Well, I guess we know what we’re doing today.
And, of course, all of this is happening while customers are shopping and we’re handling everything else.
The Online Business Never Went Away
Opening a physical store didn’t mean abandoning e-commerce.
Some days we’re also photographing products and creating new listings for our Amazon or eBay stores.
That means researching products, checking condition, taking pictures, writing listings, setting prices, organizing inventory, and making sure we’ll actually be able to find the item when it sells.
Because nothing makes your day more interesting than selling something online and then wondering:
“Where did I put that?”
Then There Are the Random Business-Owner Errands
This past week was a perfect example of another part of owning a business that people don’t always see.
I had to run around picking up more shelving for the store.
Then we needed more paper for the large-format printer.
Then we needed more laminate for our new laminator.
There is always something.
Paper.
Ink.
Laminate.
Shelving.
Shipping supplies.
Store supplies.
Equipment.
Something breaks. Something runs out. Something needs upgrading. Something needs to be picked up.
You become very familiar with the phrase:
“We’re almost out of…”
And Tomorrow? Website Day.
Tomorrow, I’ll be updating the LiquidBooks website with new pictures of the store and showcasing some of the print jobs we’ve completed.
That’s another hat you get to wear as a small-business owner.
One minute you’re sorting used books.
The next you’re operating a large-format printer.
Then you’re packing an online order.
Then you’re designing a business card.
Then you’re updating a website.
Then you’re answering a customer’s question.
Then you’re trying to remember what you were doing before the customer walked in.
Oh Yeah, We Make Shirts Too
Because apparently we didn’t already have enough going on, there are also days when I’m working on new shirt designs and getting those released.
That might mean coming up with an idea, designing the artwork, preparing everything, creating the product, and getting it ready to sell.
It’s another creative part of the business that I enjoy, but it’s also another thing being squeezed into an already busy day.
There Really Isn’t a Typical Day
That’s probably the biggest thing I’ve learned.
There is no real “day in the life” of a used bookstore owner because every day can be completely different.
One day might be mostly books.
The next might be dominated by printing.
Another might involve a huge amount of incoming inventory.
Another could be spent listing products online.
Sometimes it’s all of those things in the same day.
And somewhere in between, you still have customers to help, phones to answer, messages to respond to, orders to ship, bills to pay, inventory to organize, and a business to actually run.
It’s Never-Ending And That’s Part of the Adventure
Owning LiquidBooks is a lot of work.
I don’t want to make entrepreneurship sound like every day is some inspirational highlight reel.
Some days are exciting.
Some are exhausting.
Some are productive.
Some days you work all day and somehow feel like your to-do list got longer.
But that’s also what makes running a small business interesting.
LiquidBooks started with books, but it continues to evolve. The bookstore grows. The printing side grows. We add equipment. We experiment with new products. We improve the store. We learn what works, figure out what doesn’t, and then wake up the next morning and do it again.
It’s truly never-ending over here at LiquidBooks.
And apparently, I looked at everything I already had going on and thought:
“You know what else I should do? Start working out again.”
So now, after spending the day pulling orders, printing, sorting inventory, shelving books, designing, running errands, updating websites, and operating the store…
I’m heading to the gym.
Because clearly I had too much free time.