Ideas, feedback, and guidance for bookstore owners
Whether you want someone to review your business plan, help you through the opening process or your first year, or allow you to see how to improve your bookstore’s operations now that you’ve been open a while, we’re here to offer insights and guidance.
If there’s an idea you’re considering, something keeping you up at night, or a question about the bookstore business you have and don’t know where to find the answer, call us!
With broad experience working with stores of all specialties and sizes, we’ll tap our knowledge, network, and resources to support you. Whatever you might have heard in the past about working with high-priced consultants does NOT apply to us! Not only are we affordable (our hourly rate is $95 – less than a plumber!), we’re devoted to the sustainability of independent bookstores and have gathered decades of stories and insights about what’s working and how bookstores are succeeding in today’s world.
Often, we can simply address a question or topic by phone or email, although we’re available to come on-site to your bookstore as well. Many bookstore owners have us on retainer (with a deposit of $285 to open an account) so they can call, email questions, or schedule a phone meeting. Know that we would be delighted to support you in your bookstore venture. Just contact us via the website or give us a call at (904) 277-2664 and let us know what’s on your mind.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SPECIAL EVENTS
We’ll show you how!
DEALING WITH THE UNEXPECTED
We have suggestions for you!
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE
Our design specialists will help you maximize your store’s features.
DON’T FORGET YOUR YOUNG SHOPPERS
We can show you have to create special areas that will make kids beg to visit your store!
"The workshop was an incredible experience and definitely gave me the knowledge and tools to make my store more than just a dream."
- Sandy Loomis
"Many thanks again for conducting such an informative and enjoyable workshop. It was exactly what I was looking for and clearly a lot of thought and care went into it."
- Melissa Crispin
"I know we wouldn't be this far along without the Paz & Associates help, training, and Guide. This and networking with fellow Paz Graduates have been immensely worth the investment."
- Jay Jackson, Absolutely Fiction Books
"I am so very happy I found you ... without you
the store would just be a dream."
- Melissa DeMotte, The Well-Read Moose
"I simply cannot end this day without sending you a brief note of thanks for the fantastic experience that I had this week at our workshop / boot camp.
I learned so much and had a great time in the process. You provide all of us with such a wealth of information and practical tools."
- Margi Watters
"You have been 100% fabulous and are helping me make this exhilarating, exciting, and sometimes terrifying trip very doable. And I can pretend I have complete confidence in all my dealings because I can get all the answers from Paz & Associates when I don't know something :)"
- Laurie Donelson Gillman, East City Bookshop
"[the training] was a life changer ... I would not be doing this if I hadn't gone to the workshop. It really taught me what I needed to know.
It makes you understand and appreciate just how
many moving parts there are in a business like this."
- Erika VanDam, RoscoeBooks
"The Guide exceeded my expectations! The mentor from SCORE was extremely impressed with the information I am able to bring to our meetings. I am incredibly impressed with your training materials. I can only imagine what kind of valuable information I could glean from you in person."
- Lindsay Persohn, Prospective Bookseller
"Your Guide has been an invaluable resource in my planning and decision making process and quite honestly, I couldn't imagine starting down this part without it. The Guide contains a wealth of information."
- Dan Byers, Prospective Bookseller
"I honestly don't know how I would have pulled this off without your help."
- Sally Bradshaw, Midtown Reader
"Wow, the Owning a Bookstore Guide is fabulous! I'm impressed at its weight and thoroughness. My two partners and I thought we'd rotate it, but no way. I need two more!"
- Sandy Koropp, Prairie Path Books
"Once again I want to thank you guys a million times for the best training. I enjoyed myself and learned so much. I am amazed at how much I have used from just that one week from class..."
- VaLinda Miller, The Booksmith
"Whenever anyone asks me for advice about opening a bookstore, I tell them the best thing I ever did was take your class. I knew I loved books, but here the realization that I was taking on a business truly became a reality. Not only did I learn so much from your workshop, I use all of your invaluable resources to this day." - Rita Maggio, BookTowne
"The workshop was an incredible experience and definitely gave me the knowledge and tools to make my store more than just a dream."
- Sandy Loomis
"Many thanks again for conducting such an informative and enjoyable workshop. It was exactly what I was looking for and clearly a lot of thought and care went into it."
- Melissa Crispin
"I know we wouldn't be this far along without the Paz & Associates help, training, and Guide. This and networking with fellow Paz Graduates have been immensely worth the investment."
- Jay Jackson, Absolutely Fiction Books
"I am so very happy I found you ... without you
the store would just be a dream."
- Melissa DeMotte, The Well-Read Moose
"I simply cannot end this day without sending you a brief note of thanks for the fantastic experience that I had this week at our workshop / boot camp.
I learned so much and had a great time in the process. You provide all of us with such a wealth of information and practical tools."
- Margi Watters
"You have been 100% fabulous and are helping me make this exhilarating, exciting, and sometimes terrifying trip very doable. And I can pretend I have complete confidence in all my dealings because I can get all the answers from Paz & Associates when I don't know something :)"
- Laurie Donelson Gillman, East City Bookshop
"[the training] was a life changer ... I would not be doing this if I hadn't gone to the workshop. It really taught me what I needed to know.
It makes you understand and appreciate just how
many moving parts there are in a business like this."
- Erika VanDam, RoscoeBooks
"The Guide exceeded my expectations! The mentor from SCORE was extremely impressed with the information I am able to bring to our meetings. I am incredibly impressed with your training materials. I can only imagine what kind of valuable information I could glean from you in person."
- Lindsay Persohn, Prospective Bookseller
"Your Guide has been an invaluable resource in my planning and decision making process and quite honestly, I couldn't imagine starting down this part without it. The Guide contains a wealth of information."
- Dan Byers, Prospective Bookseller
"I honestly don't know how I would have pulled this off without your help."
- Sally Bradshaw, Midtown Reader
"Wow, the Owning a Bookstore Guide is fabulous! I'm impressed at its weight and thoroughness. My two partners and I thought we'd rotate it, but no way. I need two more!"
- Sandy Koropp, Prairie Path Books
"Once again I want to thank you guys a million times for the best training. I enjoyed myself and learned so much. I am amazed at how much I have used from just that one week from class..."
- VaLinda Miller, The Booksmith
"Whenever anyone asks me for advice about opening a bookstore, I tell them the best thing I ever did was take your class. I knew I loved books, but here the realization that I was taking on a business truly became a reality. Not only did I learn so much from your workshop, I use all of your invaluable resources to this day." - Rita Maggio, BookTowne