Selling books at the local grocery store

Poster for author appearance
Poster for author appearance, courtesy of the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild.

Selling books — or trying to — can be both fun and frustrating, as recently came home to me (again) when I joined a pilot book table project at a Regina grocery store.

On the positive side, it was mildly entertaining watching the shoppers pass by, and counting the ways they tried to avoid eye contact with this unexpected specimen between the nuts and flowers, a local poet.

(Simple aversion of glance; sudden rapid movement towards sale items; furtive checking of shopping lists; intense conversations with partners, staff or random shoppers…)

On the negative, well, let’s just say it isn’t quite right yet as a venue. From my experience, at least.

Small display by local writer, Shelley Banks
Aisle display by local writer, Shelley Banks

I have ideas, though, on how I might have better promoted my wares to compete with those in stock at the store.

View from the author's small display
View from the author’s small display

Let’s see:

  • A bright SALE sign, with much more use of red and yellow (vibrant AWAKE colours), and less of my cover’s restful blue.
  • A banner re: LIMITED TIME OFFER! TODAY ONLY!
  • Or one highlighting the value: UNIQUE AUTOGRAPHED GIFT!
  • Or perhaps the portable nature of my slim volume of poetry: QUICK, EASY-TO-CARRY READ!
  • How about a new slogan — in all caps, of course, as that seems required: POETRY! IT’S THE REAL THINGS!
  • Or, SOFT WORDS, FOR YOUR HEART AND DIET!
  • Or maybe just more soft drinks or household products on my table, as props?

Ideas, welcome. (You know how to reach me…)

~~~~~

Published by

Shelley Banks

Writer, editor, photographer.