Creative Marketing Ideas For Bookstores

January 11th, 2012 |

The most-successful bookstores are the ones that encourage customers to spend time in the store. By creating an taste for your customers, you’re becoming more than just a store; you’re part of your customers’ lifestyle. Unique and outside-the-box marketing techniques are the tool for taking your store from just a quick stop to a place to spend the day.

Coffee – Books and coffee go hand-in-hand. The smell of freshly-roasting coffee (and baked goods) creates a warm, entertaining climate that makes customers want to curl up in one of your chairs and read a book. Every good bookstore should offer beverages-make sure you have more than just coffee for those who don’t like it.

Book kick off parties – Host a publish party for highly-anticipated books. Welcome customers and their families, who will be eager to be among the first habitancy in the area to purchase the new book. Plan activities and games that are associated to the branch of the book, and furnish refreshments for your customers while they browse through the aisles. Hang vinyl banners up in your store letting customers know when the book will be released so they can mark their calendars for the kick off event.

College discount programs – College textbooks are a huge market, and a great way to capitalize on them is by offering a discount schedule for college students. Textbooks are incredibly-expensive, so by showing you’re willing to make a miniature less money on each one, you’ll gain a lot of new customers-both students and their parents. Most campuses have their own bookstore, so going through the college probably isn’t the best approach, but taste pupil groups and post vinyl decals in your store that let them know about your program.

Readings/signings – Signings are an always-effective tool for addition traffic in your store. taste lesser-known authors that have a loyal following, and encourage their readers to bring friends to the store to learn about the book and meet the author. Have book readings to bring in children and their parents. This shows that you withhold literacy in the community and the parents have an opportunity to shop your products while their kids are listening to the reading.

Donation programs – an additional one great way to show withhold for the community and boost your Pr is to host book donation drives. Offer customers a ration discount on a new book purchase when they bring you gently-used books, which you can donate to children’s shelters, hospitals, etc. Use a banner covering your store, or even yard signs nearby your book donation parcels to let customers know where and when they can donate.