Thinking of opening a bookshop

I know I'm probably a bit mad, but I've always wanted to open and run my own bookshop - I used to part-own a specialist new and second hand bookselling business (which is still running but without me!), but I've never had a shop.

Has anyone done this? I'd really appreciate any ideas, comments and encouragement!

I'm in the UK, and would only sell new - but more quirky books than the normal supermarket and big bookshop titles.

I still buy in 'real' bookstores as well as on the web - so other people must do too. Can I really make a business at this or am I completely deluded?!

"Can I really make a business at this "

Of course you can ... but it might be a lot harder work for a lot less profit than you hoped.

My first thought would be - do some research. Lots of research. Specifically what books you want to stock, who wants to buy them, for how much, how often, what costs you'll be facing - rent overhead, wages etc, and then see how well the two sides balance.

I certainly prefer to buy books in a bookshop - but I won't order them in, they have to be in stock there and then, and comparably priced to online. I will pay a bit more, for the pleasure of taking the book I want away with me there and then, but not much.

I think rent / location is going ot be a huge problem. Without reputation you'll need passing traffic - and that tends to be expensive in terms of rent.

It's fun, it can be done inexpensively, and you can make money (just not a lot). My wife and I opened our bookstore in October of 2009. We spent $10K to get it open, broke even on the expenses in November, made about $400 in December and have paid the bills in January so far. We work hard and long hours and averaged about $3-$4 per hour so far, but it is our passion and we are having a blast. Don't give up the dream!

Your original post is a few years old. Did you take the plunge? Before the ebook boom a bookstore with a 5% profit margin was considered a success in the states. Hopefully the book business climate in the UK is a bit better.