libraries as entrepreneurial booksellers: pt 2
DESCRIPTION
William Kane, and Better World BooksTRANSCRIPT
Libraries as Entrepreneurial Booksellers:
Counterintuitive Cha-Ching
Roselle AgnerBetter World Books
Agenda
IntroductionsLet’s get to know each other
Online Book SalesListing & Shipping & Questions, oh my!
OutsourcingMove over IT, here comes Acquisitions
Q & AYou’ve got questions, I’ve got answers
Introductions: Audience
Online Marketplaces
Auction MarketplaceList any item, based on a listing name created by its seller for an open auction.
Ebay.com, Overstock.com, Yahoo!Auctions
Catalog MarketplaceList catalog items for sale (i.e. books, cds, dvds, etc.) based on their unique catalog numbers (i.e. isbn or upc) at a set price.
BetterWorldBooks.com, Alibris.com
Marketplaces Considerations
SizeNumber of CategoriesListing Options
PopularityAre you familiar with this site?
CostsWhat are the costs associated with selling/buying on this site?
CompetitionMultiple SellersMultiple Listings
Marketplaces Considerations
Search FeaturesIt is easy to find items?
ReputationIs this site known for certain types of items?Seller Rating-Buyers feedback from previous transactionsCondition Rating-Overall condition of the item
PaymentCheck, Credit Card, Money Order, etc
ShippingAre there any shipping requirements for the buyer/seller?Standard, Expedited, Consolidated
Online Book Sales
SortingResearchingListingPickingShippingReturningCustomer Service
Outsource!
Let someone do the work for you!
What’s involved?
Your jobSortPackShip
Their job:SortingResearchingListingPickingShippingReturningCustomer Service
Show me the $$$!
A percentage of net proceeds are payable to the library.Net proceeds are defined as the sale price of the book minus any market place commissions and reimbursements.
Sign me up I have tons to send!!
Acceptance GuidelinesSome are more specific than others (type, volume, condition, etc)Basic Guideline: Send what you would buy
Sorting and Prescreening ToolsHelp determine which books to sendContinue to have multiple revenue generating projects
Discarded and Donated Material…
ACCEPTABLE Books that are in saleable condition
• no water damage, mildew/mold, missing pages, spine damage, etc.
hardcover fiction/non-fiction Textbooks (1998 or newer) travel books (2003 or newer) dictionaries trade paperbacks DVDs & Books on CD Mass Market Paperbacks rare/collectible books
ACCEPTABLEEx-Library Books
Markings on the SpineStickersLabelsDue Date CardsStampsPlatesEtc.
Discarded and Donated Material…
NOT ACCEPTABLE Complete or Incomplete Encyclopedia Sets Magazines/Periodicals/Academic Journals Catalogs/Directories/Desk Reference Books Tax Documents/ Government Documents Volume Serials Reader’s Digest Books LP Records, VHS, Cassettes, or CDs The Following Series:
Book Club Editions Harlequin Romance Novels The Modern Library Series Reader’s Digest Condensed Marquis Who’s Who
Discarded and Donated Material…
Additional Services
Online Sidewalk SalesAffiliate ProgramsAntiquarian, Rare & Collectable ProcessingBook Drive FundraisersMarketing and PR Support
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
What’s important to your library?Costs?Flexible Options?Social and Environmental Impact?
Find a service that best meets your needs and those of your library