AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life Living in Belize Bookstore

I'm on a roll this morning...it's POURING rain here in the northwest and I'm craving SUNSHINE!

On to the subject...

I sell books online and I'm planning (hoping? wishing?) to open a bookstore when we get to AC. I'm in process of weeding out inventory that I think would be of no interest to locals or tourists.

If anyone would care to respond, I'd really appreciate hearing what you'd look for in a bookstore on the island.

I have lots of kids books and bringing all of those (some of which will be donated). Textbooks of all kinds as well as just about every subject imaginable, but fiction and non-fiction.

As always, I appreciate any feedback anyone cares to share.

That should be BOTH (not but!) fiction and non-fiction.

Lookinging for an employee? I'm looking to move down there real soon...

cindyb, good luck on your venture. Do you have any sugestions as to what I should do with my daughters law books from Tulane from ten yrs. ago that live in boxes in my garage that no has or will look at ever. Happy Easter.

A great web site for rare and technical tomes is
http://www.abebooks.com/
I list my rare and otherwise specialized books there.

I cannot say enough about ebay either. You can often find buyers there that you can't elsewhere.

In either case, list those goodies about 6 weeks before the semester starts. You never know who may be collecting, or a prof is going back to a favored text.

Good luck and Happy Easter!

Hey hilaryd!
Yep, I'll be looking for an employee or two. By law I have to offer employment to Belizeans first though.

cindyb, thanks for that info and the encouragement that I didn't keep them just for a back ache. Now I going to have to go thru them and make a list. Not till after our stay at the Banana Beach next month. Thank you again and Happy Easter. :rolleyes:

There is a real need for a "proper" bookstore in Belize. You could probably do well with an Internet site catering to Belizeans as well (buy online and ship in Belize). Decent books are very hard to find in Belize from my experience.

A nice idea would be to set up a plan with the library to have books bought from your shop and donated to the library after use be provided with a discount coupon for your shop (talk about a run on sentence). This will give you some repeat business and allow those without the means to experience a wider variety of reading materials.

SimonB...
thanks much for the suggestions. I was thinking about keeping the internet business going for "in country" as well as perhaps folks in Costa Rica and Mexico. I'll have to research the shipping aspect. I also intend to put togther a web site where folks from the US can access (buy)books on Belize.

The idea about the library and credits is great! I'm sure the library ladies will love it. I had the opportunity to visit with them on our last trip and they were very supportive of the idea of opening the book store.

Thanks so much!

so glad to hear about your up and coming book shop on ambergris...i would have spent some time (and dollars) there when we visited... went through all of my reading material and had to bum a book from another guest for the trip home. sell coffee in the morning and tropical drinks in the afternoon, and i bet your place will be a winner!!

Thanks Heather! Hopefully, I'll have the doors open when you return!
cindyb

Hi Cindyb

Wow, a real bookstore would be fantastic. When we go to the US or UK, my daughters and I spend half a day in a book store. We pick up a couple hundred dollars worth of books and then break our backs trying to carry them down here!

We have taken to buying from Amazon which works out really well, but it's not the same as browsing through physical books with other people that have similar interest.

I shall look forward to the new store.

BTW, there is a great need for greeting cards too - I realize that cards may not hold the same appeal and thrill as books - but I am sure you would like your business to offer your clients what they are craving!!

Good luck.

Oh Amanda, are you timely!

I'm taking a break from packing up over a thousand greeting cards and gift bags. I wasn't sure if there was any interest, but these items take up little room to ship, (in the grand scheme of things!)so I thought I'd bring them too.

I sell on Amazon and ebay and you are right, it is just not the same as browsing a bookstore. I have so many beautiful, interesting books that just don't sell online.

Thanks, I'm getting so psyched about this venture!

Now if anyone knows of retail space coming available, say around June, July...

cindyb, I highly recommend contacting Chris at Pelican Realty and letting him know that you are interested in some retail space. He is great at finding available options!

Thanks govites. We purchased our lot from Chris and I did let him know I was looking for space.

There was a great space across from Aqua Marina Suites that was vacant last month. Rumor had it that Brown Sugar was going to move there. Anyone know if it is still available?

I think the space you're referring to is gone and is now occupied by Tech Transilvania, a video rental shop (Brown Sugar is still in it's place.)

Thanks for the update Simon (Darn!)

Okay, boxes of books are beginning to fill the virtual container. I have been "rejecting" some genres and boxing them to wholesale out before I leave the states. If you are reading this thread, chances are good you have at least a passing interest in books. I've listed some of the subjects that I'm not sure will be met with much interest in AC (or any of Belize). If you think they would, please comment!

You guys have been great. As always thanks for your time and trouble!

Cookbooks
Computer/software
Business
Biography
Crafts
Decorating
Remodeling
Books focused specifically on the US: government, geography, etc.

I'm sure there will be more as I move through the inventory.

HI AMANDA........it's Joy Phage, was just going to email you, but decided to check the chat group first. Wanted to let you know that Robert and I wil be there by June. House is up for sale now. Now if we only had electric to our cabana!!!!!!!
Know anyone who would like to rent our little piece of Sunshine withour electric....it is a 2 unit, we would live in the other.
See you soon, Joy

There is shop for rent right across from Fido's (on the street not in the plaza) at the moment which would be perfect for you. Contact me directly if you would like me to look into it for you.

S...

There is also a nice space directly across the street from the Tropic Air terminal downtown.

You guys are so great!

We're moving to the best place in the world!

I've sent private messages.

Our kids need to study for the SAT's if they want to get into a US college.

Spanish to English cook books would probably be helpful.

Amanda,

Thank you for the note on the SATs. I have a good stack that was not in the "to-bring" pile. Some may be a bit dated, but I suspect would still provide useful information. I will be able to order needed books as well.

I've gotten other comments about cookbooks so they are now "in" too.

Thanks for taking the time to respond!

Hi Cindi,
Last year we donated school books to the Library.
The library is right across from the school. The librarian said they need school books and history books because the children come over there to study and they do not have enough to go around. MAYBE you could sell what they need in your store( that supply and demand thing) or donate any of thoes type of books.
I do have the email address of the head librarian, if you want it. Let me know. ~~~Joi~~~

Joi,

Yes, please send me the email address of the head librarian. I visited with her back in February, but I need to touch base with her again as I pack up.

Also, if anyone could help with emails (or phone nos) for the schools, I'd sure appreciate it.

I've got a number of textbooks at all levels, but need to know interest and needs.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Cindi, hi its me, Joi, I just remembered I am bringing alot of books (mystery,,,,Higgins-Clark,Stuart Woods, Robert Ludlum,Sue Grafton, etc. I plan on doing a lot of reading at first until we can get the business up. Would you be intersted in them when I am finished? email and we can talk
[email protected]

You bet, girl! Bring 'em on!

This seems to be a mystery-loving group. Am I gonna have some goodies for you guys!!

cindy, trade you 1 of mine for 1 of yours???????
By the way, tell Greg that lot #1 in seaside, great fishin, lot#2 is riverside, good fishin. C U in SP!!!!! Joi

My book this week is " A Salty Piece of Land"
good read in my present state of mind.

Buffett is ALWAYS a good read...but especially if the weather is cold and yucky.

I got to know a couple of great authors when I opened the store in south Florida and hope to have the chance to introduce their works if not already known.

This is already so much fun, I can hardly stand it and I'm not even THERE yet!

Paperback novels are hot on the island. Recommend you consider a used book section where people can buy and sell. There is a lot of informal swapping and bargaining amongst locals and expats of paperbacks.

Sandy C
Thanks for the observation on the paperbacks. I'm bringing a TON (I mean that lierally too!)with me.

We have a web site!
www.barefootbooks-belize.com

It should be up and running in a day or so. I'll be posting info there on our location (as soon as we have one...), our projected opening date, etc.

Thanks for for the suggestions and encouraging comments. It really means a lot!

BTW...anybody interested in computer books? I hadn't planned on bringing that portion of inventory, but let me know if there is a need/market. And any other requests!

Joi: This is greg, please tell me exactly, if you can, where is #1 in seaside, and lot #2 riverside is for that great fishing???

when are you moving down? How about books on tape. i will be there this summer and i can so a book drive before i come down. you can e-mail me directly and let me know what type of books you are short of........ i can also do a kids books drive at my kid's school...... i am a Homeopath and hope to have a clinic in Belize one day..........but for now i can help with books.

I might be too late, but I would love to have some Christian books available on the island. Non-Denominational things on healing, Holy Spirit, etc. Some of my favorite authors, Joyce Meyer, Kathryn Kuhlman, John G. Lake, Smith Wigglesworth. And as always, childrens books for the little ones. Can't wait to check it out, let us know where the shop will be.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions!

Our container loads on June 15th!

I got requests for magazines this last trip. Anybody have any comments, requests?

The bookstore will be located across the courtyard from Mickey's. We are in process of doing paperwork and permits now, hope we can open late July/August!

SimonB...I owe you a Belikin!

...wrestling magazines!!!

Congrats on the space, timing is everything! I'm out today, off to our new location. Beto's cleared out all the space next door.

Magazines:

Guitar mags
American bike mags (Easyriders and such)
Fishing mags
Culinary mags

Music magazines like Rolling Stone and Spin would be nice. Not quite sure where Mickey's is. Can you be more specific?

Mickies is on Middle Street, about 150' from the south end, west side.

Glad to hear all is going well with the bookstore, moving down in June and now won't have to take a ton of books with us. See you there.

What are you expecting to pay in taxes to import the books etc.

Monica...come see us!

Pedro1...I am told (and have read) there is no duty on books. I still do not have an "official" determination though. Magazines are a different story and I'm still researching that. I'll also offer bookmarks, greeting cards and such, but those items are smaller dollar amounts and I'm not anticipating duty to be much.

I'm striving to keep the prices as close to US retail as I can.

There is no import duty on books.
There IS sales tax on them.

Since the U.S. postal service discontinued its international book rate a few years ago, the cost of shipping books to Belize is now a major component of the total retail cost. Books weigh a lot, and even surface mail (which takes many weeks or months) isn't cheap. For example, 20 pounds of books (a typical hardback book weighs a couple of pounds, and big ones weigh 4 or 5 pounds) from the U.S. to Belize costs US$45.40 to ship via surface mail and $71.25 via air parcel post. Book publishers and distributors often mark up the shipping costs, so it becomes even more onerous. Also, for individual books, the cost -- US$14 for a one-pound air parcel post -- is even worse.

But Cindy has experience as a bookseller, so she knows what she is getting into and probably can ship in quantity to get the best deals.

--Lan Sluder

Sales tax is normally assessed at 9% of the value.

There is another tax called Revenue Replacement Duty which, in the case of salable inventory, might apply. Just a heads up in case it does.

Thanks ckocian.
That one I hadn't heard of before.

Lan is correct, shipping costs could be more than I pay for a book! The only way to economically do this is ship by container...and that's a LOT of books!

I wish for a newspaper. Maybe Time or US News and World report would do instead. I'll even read old ones.

...don't forget the Wrestling Magazines!!!...or I'll apply my Figure Four Grapevine!!!

Oh, Bill everyone knows that is a dance. I did not know you danced and fancy too. Where are you now days?