*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Q: Hi Vic! Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions about the bookselling trade after your major year! How are you holding up after such a major shift?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a major change Ms P, one 6 months in the undertaking. \u00a0I started prepping the Alameda store for the move in mid-November 2022, and the last load of books wasn\u2019t delivered to 220 S. Rock Blvd until this past 6 May. \u00a0For most of that 6 months, I worked 7 days a week. \u00a0At the end of the move, I was one tired puppy, and I\u2019ll be honest, it took me a couple weeks to regain my energy! \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n *<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q: How are you enjoying living in Reno, after a few months there?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ll really like Reno. \u00a0Its nickname is the Biggest Little City in the World, which seems quite fitting actually. \u00a0Its population is just under 300,000 so not so many folks that you feel the press, but enough to give it some gravitas, e.g., entertainers who perform at the casinos, some really great restaurants, a bit of social & cultural life, and not to mention, its world famous event – \u00a0HOT AUGUST NIGHTS!<\/a> \u00a0 Speaking of which, yours truly is taking his classic sports car [see below] out on Thursday night. <\/em>\u00a0\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n *<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q: How goes the unpacking of Tavistock Books?! Last we checked in with a couple pictures in our FS Lists, the bookcases were up and you were slowly but surely getting box by box settled. How is the new store\/office looking?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, frankly, it\u2019s going rather slowly\u2026 \u00a0I know you & I previously had discussed a \u2018grand opening\u2019 on\/about 1 July; obviously that date has come & gone, so perhaps 1 July 2024 is more realistic. \u00a0I attribute this slow progress to two factors: \u00a0one, I\u2019ve gone into semi-retired mode, and am only working 3-4 hours a day. \u00a0Second, as I unpack a book, I take the time to review its original record for accuracy, verify its listed condition, check pricing with respect to current market conditions & update\/take images [as required]. \u00a0The benefit to this approach is that, after 26 years, I\u2019m actually performing a book-by-book inventory on my listed stock. \u00a0Curiously enough, I\u2019ve come across around a dozen or so items that had been marked in my database as \u201cmissing\u201d. \u00a0Now I\u2019m recording a location for every book I unpack, so the \u201clost\u201d or \u201cmissing\u201d phenomena should no longer happen<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n *<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q: What have you noticed is the biggest difference in bookselling when in Alameda vs. Reno? Do you miss anything about the open storefront?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve not really noticed any difference. \u00a0I say this, for my last number of years in Alameda, even though I had a storefront on a major Alameda mercantile street, I had gone to a business model that emphasized on-line sales vs courting public walk-in traffic. \u00a0In fact, when COVID hit, I completely closed the Alameda store to the public, only seeing folks on a \u2018by appointment\u2019 basis. \u00a0Since my Reno location is in a soft-industrial park, I\u2019ve continued the \u2018By Appointment\u2019 approach here in Reno. \u00a0The only \u2018downside\u2019 to this is the opportunity to \u2018buy\u2019 books\u2026 people walking by my Webster storefront, seeing my \u201cWe Buy Books\u201d sign would bring things to me, that won\u2019t happen here in Reno, at least by that mechanism. \u00a0I\u2019ll have to explore other opportunities to get my name out there in the Reno community for folks who wish to sell their collection, etc.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n *<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q: How do you view Tavistock Books operating from here on out?! Hopefully you have lots of time to devote to your family!<\/p>\n\n\n\n As do I! \u00a0So far, this relaxed approach is suiting me well, and even with my reduced hours, I\u2019m still paying the bills. \u00a0As I look toward the future, my Reno lease is only 3 years, so come 2025 I\u2019ll need to decide what path to take\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n But as Scarlett said, \u201cI\u2019ll think about it tomorrow.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.tavbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/The_P_Car-2.jpeg\")
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