Inspiration

I get inspired everywhere. It is a curse. So many ideas, so little time. Even lunch through the Arby's drive thru yielded this idea from a cup: "Happiness is just a curly fry away". It is also a heart attack away, but if you simply substitute "good book" you got yourself a display "Happiness is a just a good book away". Add a goofy yellow happy face to your sign and it's perfect.

At a new neighborhood pizza "boutique" they have a roll of butcher paper hung horizontally. They pull down what they need and write their daily specials. How cool would this be at the front of the library?! One could write the new books that came in, daily programs, fun quotes, etc. Someone with whimsical handwritting (Oh Trish!) could really do it justice.

Your gift with purchase

Bookmarks are a great way to feature booklists and bibliographies and can be a promotional give away item, much like a "free gift with purchase." They are something that your customers can use with their purchase and it costs very little to produce. By providing your patrons with suggested reading lists, you are guarenteeing return visits. When using bookmarks, feature them prominently, not laying flat on a table and use them with CPS and your displays.

For CPS, create some read alike lists for popular authors, such as “If you like Stephen King, then try…” Pick a couple of popular authors you want to feature and put the bookmarks in the books on the shelves. This will serve two purposes. First they grab your customer’s attention when they are browsing the fiction, just like the blinking coupon dispensers in the grocery store. Second, they give your customer a reason to come back by providing them with other authors they might like.

With displays, create a bibliography of your themed titles and put them inside the books. Bookmarks can also promote your library services and upcoming community events. Try a bookmark about ADA services in your large print titles or computer classes in your computer manuals. There are many reader's advisory sources that can provide you with suggested reading lists such as NoveList, Fiction and Non-Fiction Connection, and the Genreflecting series.

Introductions

We started this site as a forum for library merchandising. We both believe that merchandising library collections to their full potential will create interest, make for a more enjoyable visit and increase circulation.

Trish brings over 15 years of retail experience with many different companies. Along with customer service, she has merchandised products, designed and executed displays, and set up new store locations. Jenny has been a librarian for over 15 years. Her charge at the Schlessman Family Branch of the Denver Public Library was to try this new thing: “library merchandising”.

When we met, we both recognized the usefulness of merchandising and the success created when these principles are applied to libraries. After giving numerous presentations on library merchandising, we decided to reach out across the web to create a place for an exchange of ideas and resources. We were surprised and pleased to find that library merchandising has appeared in library literature as early as the 1970s. Our goal is to add retail know-how to the mix to create a unique and handy source for you to consult when merchandising your collection. Our intention is to demonstrate these proven retail techniques in order to promote your collections through enticing experiences and help you create an identity for your library. Both, in turn, will build customer and community loyalty.