My day at the Earlsdon Festival

On bank holiday Monday I took part once more in the Earlsdon Festival, Last year it was the best experience I'd had as a bookseller so this year had some way to go to beat it.

That's my wife it is

Did it beat it? Weather wise no. I came home bright red last year yet this year the sun only broke in sporadic outbursts, but it didn't rain! How about bookselling wise though? Well, YES! My stall was a little bit more organised and I could even show off my Big Comfy Bookshop banner. Once more I spent 6 hours the day before working on the set-up and creating bunting, whilst my wife cut out home made bookmarks, and it was all worth it. Even before the gates opened for the public I had sold half a dozen books to other stall holders and it continued none stop til around 1pm, where the lunchtime lull kicked in, for 10 minutes!

The afternoon heaved with people up until around 3.30, then it started to trail off. One mistake I made last year was I didn't bring enough replenishing stock, so this year I bought 4 boxes worth, and by the end of the day all that was gone! My wife Heidi came along for the ride and helped out and I'm so glad as it was ridiculously busy.

The highlight for me though was meeting so many new people who new about the shop. Every 10 minutes someone would say "I recognise that logo!" or "So when are you moving to Fargo then?" or "I saw you on twitter and have come to say hello". The whole experience filled me with even more optimism that the shop will be a success. 

I hope to attend next year too!

Michael

A long overdue update

There has been quite a lot going on in the past 3 weeks since I last blogged. Apart from Easter, my birthday, my wife's birthday and a lot of time spent with my family, I have been trying to cram in as much bookshop work as possible. So first and foremost the shop.

We've been told by the lovely Fargo Village people that we should be able to enter Fargo in July. Just 2 months away! I'll then have X amount of weeks to get the empty shell up to scratch to house thousands of books, delicious home-made cakes (from Clairey's Cakes) and teas and coffees. Since I found this out I've been scouting for bookcases. So far I have around 7 that I've managed to pick up cheap (or even free) from eBay and Gumtree. I've travelled to Coventry, Market Harborough, North Leicester somewhere and Solihull to collect them then store them alongside my mountain of books, my desk and other titbits. I've yet to solidify the design of the interior but have roughly estimated I'll need 24 bookcases. I have my eyes on a few tables and chairs too, as you need to sit down in a comfy shop! The big red sofa will be purchased close to opening as I have nowhere to store it! 

I have a stall again at this years Earsldon Festival. Last year it was THE best experience and also where I met Jo from Fargo Village. The festival is currently ongoing and culminates in a street long celebration of local traders with loads of entertainment on May 5th, Bank Holiday Monday. Come along and say hello (and buy a book).

Last year at Earlsdon Festival

Back to the shop, I will be looking for local people to chip in to help with several things. First off the basics like painting the shop, but also people to make signs (and fit them), help organize events (anything be it music, comedy, clubs ets), artists to design posters and other things, plus volunteers! Just 2 days ago I had a brainwave to have local artists create a bookmark for the shop so I'll have around 6-10 special ltd edition bookmarks that both showcase their work and promote the shop. I've had a great response too!

I'll shortly be launching a crowd funding scheme to help give the shop a massive boost when it opens. I've come up with some great rewards for those that donate. That'll be active in a few days.

The bookshop music sessions have already started. The Big Comfy Sessions was hosted at The Tree House Bookshop in Kenilworth with Wes Finch playing the first one, filmed by Rob at Redwood Photography along with Richard at TheSpoonPlayer blog. These will be regular sessions filmed exclusively in the shop and we'll be getting local and touring bands and solo artists in to film one song. A larger blog is coming very soon about this but in the meantime check out Wes doing his thing on the website www.BigComfySessions.com.

There will be several book reviews coming soon including two of my favourite books I've read this year. 

Finally this site will soon be transformed. The online shop (www.thebigcomfybookshop.co.uk) and this blog will be amalgamated into one brand new website. All this while the shop is creeping ever closer!

Please like the Facebook and follow me on Twitter too.

A final thank you to my beautiful wife for getting me the BEST birthday presents!

Michael

Fargo Village - The new home of The Big Comfy Bookshop

After over 12 months I am excited to say I have signed a lease for a property!

My shop will be where the rolling shutter is

I will be moving into a purpose built creative village in Coventry called Fargo Village, on Far Gosford Street.
Fargo is an exciting new cultural hub that will open next year. It is being built on a disused industrial site, using the old buildings themselves rather than knocking down and making a building-by-numbers, and will incorporate dozens of independent businesses, including me! As well as books you'll find artists, music, dance, food and more.

I was approached by Jo from Fargo whilst I was in Earlsdon for the Earlsdon festival. I tucked the leaflet into my bag and subsequently forgot all about it. Only a month later whilst reorganising things did I come across the leaflet and investigate further. I was struck immediately by how similar both Fargo's and my ideas were.

I've visited the site twice already, once whilst it was being featured on Midlands Today (my foot was clearly visible in the background whilst a councillor was being interviewed!).

I am extremely excited by this new venture and hope to get an open date soon. As well as books I'll be selling cakes made by Clairey's Cakes (simply divine!) and Ali Smart, and selling locally made crafts, such as the talented Emily's at Cotton Cat UK. The place is currently being built though so all I know at the moment is it's open next year. I'll still be attending craft fairs and other places in the meantime (I have a 'residency' at POD in Coventry thanks to Adam at the wonderful Here Comes Everyone magazine)

As well as the main buildings, there will also be shipping containers to work and sell from! These can be leased for a short period too so if you fancy having a go at a business but think it's too risky, it really is a grand opportunity.

Please go and visit the Fargo website and follow and like on their social media sites too.

Michael
Follow me on Twitter - @BigComfyBooks
Like me on Facebook - Facebook

How about browsing the shop too? - www.TheBigComfyBookshop.co.uk

The Earsldon Festival Experience

On Bank Holiday Monday I held a stall at the Earlsdon Festival. Last year saw downpours but the weather this time was simply glorious, in fact it was the hottest day of the year! Win!

It was my first time at the festival and I didn't have time to even have a slight browse after setting up my stall as the punters came thick and fast. But lets rewind slightly.

Side view - Note the book bunting!

I was slightly nervous for a few reasons. Reason 1. The last stall I had I sold next to nothing. 2. We were warned that parking was to be a problem with roads closed and to make sure we had a trolley of sorts to transport our goods (books are heavy!). 3. I have been to Earlsdon once and have no idea of the roads anyway! But...

I was let through the road closure (due to being a stall holder), I managed to park 30 seconds from Earlsdon Street, where the festival was happening and right behind the toilets (yes!). We were given stall numbers a few weeks ago and so I was about to go hunting for it when there right in front of me, by my car and toilets, was the shiny number 50, my stall! No problems whatsoever!

Busy!

My previous 2 stall displays were more or less knocked together on the day but for this I spent 3-4 hours in the week getting the books I wanted out, and coming up with a better system. It definitely paid off. I had taken a photo of my 'run-through' and so knew exactly where each book would go. Within 40 minutes I had set it all up.

My stall

Within 3 people visiting the stall I had my first sale, and I continued to sell all day long. Between 1.20 and 1.45 there were not many people at the stall, probably due to folks eating lunch, but apart from that, it was none stop! Loads of friends, family and even people from twitter and facebook turned up and chatted to me and wished me well. At one point as soon as my good friend Jonathan turned up I gave him my awesome bumbag money pouch and ran for the toilet as I simply didn't have time to stop working during the day.

Me!

When we were due to start packing up at 4, even then loads of books were sold, with people looking through the boxes I'd just packed!

A green bagpipe playing man

It was simply none stop!

It was simply an astounding day. So much fun. Now with a little experience I'm getting to grips with how to approach a stall.
The next stall will be at Nuneaton URC (church by the Ropewalk) on May 18th.
I am also in the process of setting up my own book and craft fair and yesterday I received some dates so will be looking in the diary to see when would be best.

If you fancy a stall at that then just let me know via Twitter, Facebook or Email contact@thebigcomfybookshop.co.uk

Hope to see you on the 18th

Michael

Coventry Cathedral second hand book sale and Earlsdon Festival

Reading in the Ruins

This weekend Coventry Cathedral is holding a huge second hand book sale. The ruins will host thousands of books so go and grab a bargain. All money made will go towards the upkeep and maintenance of the beautiful ruins.

And to continue the wonderful bookishness that Coventry hosts, our beautiful selves will have a stall at the Earsldon festival on Bank Holiday Monday! It's held on Earlsdon Street (the road closes for the day) and has been very popular since it started. Go to the website for more info.

I'm now making bunting and some mystery things ready for it.

Michael