In retail we start ordering stuff right after the last christmas for the next Christmas- but there is always lots of stuff to order now too. And to add to that busyness we are installing a new computer system within 2 weeks. Crazy times.

When sales are slower than hoped for
We must be extra diligent in the basics. Do we have too much stock? Has some of the inventory been in stock for
Over a year? If something has been sitting around too long, remember that its money sitting there that could be used for advertising, new fixtures, a bonus for yourself or staff. It’s easy to get lax about this but we simply must be on top of our inventory. Usually your compter system can give you the reports you need. But sometimes you find more stuff just by
Walking around and looking and asking yourself what is this stuff doing here? Who ordered it? Was the great idea followed through on? I’m going to spend a half an hour tomorrow looking
for stuff. I know we have too much stock in various departments.

Had a blast tonight as Donald Miller and Susan Isaacs spoke at Tenth Avenue Alliance church in Vancouver- I’m very thankful for the opportunity to run the book table there with 2 of my staff, Rick and Becky; and for the wonderful response to his new offering-  This is a significant new book-   What is happening in the story of our lives?  Are we truly living memorable days or are we afraid to get out there and do something that’s beyond ourselves?

” But its like I said before, about writers not really wanting to write.  We have to force ourselves to create these scenes. We have to get  up off the couch and turn the television off, and we have to blow up the inner- tubes and head to the river.  We have to write the poem and deliver it in person, …hike to the top of the hill, dance at weddings, we have to make altars.”  From A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

Read the book, give it as gifts, talk it over with friends, you can promote it with confidence.

Lando, Rick, Donald Miller, and Becky

In speaking with some bookseller friends recently it seems many of us have experienced less customers in our stores. At House of James this is certainly the case.  Over the last year most months have seen less transactions at the till than the year before.  One month we had  1200 less?   What is going on?  Are people buying less books?  Buying them elsewhere?  Have many of our customers forgotten about us?  How do we win them back?

Now thankfully, our new coffeehouse is booming and customer count has increased dramatically there.  How can I get those customers to wander over and buy books?  Other booksellers, how is it going for you?  Others of you who don’t have bookstores, how can we get you to come and visit us more often?

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We have been camping at Hatzic Lake taking part in a family camp with some of our relatives during our heatwave this last week of July .  Every day this week its been at least 35.  Even the lake does not really cool us  down, but we’re surviving.  One of the days our grandaughter Sarah came out to visit and stay overnight-  She was having difficulty getting the tent trailer door open because you have to push the cicle part in and pull the lever part out at the same time.   After a few attempts she gave up.  I said please try again, i think you can do it-  she tried again, still it did not work, I encouraged her some more and she finally got it.  Then she came up with this profound question.  “Grandpa, how did you know i could do it.”  -  What a good question.  You see, i knew she could figure it out because her little cousin who is one and a half years younger had done it earlier in the day- so i knew she could,  i had more information and also a little intuition.

How are we doing with our kids, our employees, or our spouses in the encouragement field-  are we  spurring them on or are we just stepping in and opening the door or doing the work ourselves  and not giving them the chance to learn and be successful in a new area?

Tonite we had our first social justice discussion in our coffeehouse, about 55 folks showed up.  Had a fantastic time hearing about some of the issues in our community, whats being done and what could be done.  Lots of people under 30  and from a wide variety of Christian traditions.   We hope this will be a kickoff to an on going series of events.  Ron Dart, professor at the University of the Fraser Valley gave a short, fascinating  introduction to the topic and then entertained questions- Also a short report on Abbotsford’s City of Refuge initiative by Jim Burkinshaw.  Ward Draper of Street Hope Ministries was the host.  In talking with him a month ago he said, we try lots of things and make lots of mistakes too.  I liked that – maybe I should be trying more things in the bookstore- I think I’m getting too predictable.

I love watching hockey even though I must confess its usually just the playoffs and mostly when the Canucks  are in it which can be rare.  However, I’m watching parts  the current finals. I’m impressed with the endurance needed, the keep digging for the puck  attitude,  the keep shooting emphasis, the never give up attitude, the team work needed and the overall seemingly tireless effort that’s necessary in order to succeed.

And of course I thought of book selling- all that stuff applies-  we must keep digging for new ideas, keep trying new promotions hoping one “will score”, keep on encouraging our team, keep going even when we’re tired, and once in awhile we need to replace players-(oh, that’s hard) -  The competition is fierce, we lose some games to them but we keep going- we regroup and try again- maybe we’ll get that church or school’s big order next year.  Let’s focus on what we’re good at and get even better at it-

Carry on my friends, enjoy hockey and enjoy selling books, you are needed in your community.

Been thinking about our fiction section at House of James.  Like most Christian type stores we carry titles primarily from Nelson, Tyndale, Baker/Bethany, Zondervan and other “Christian”  publishers and some from major general publishers.  For years many of our books had some kind of redeeming element or some kind of Christian theme woven through out- yes sometimes it was forced and sometimes it seemed a bit cheesy I’ll admit.   Now though,  many of our books are better written  but there seems to be virtually no redeeming value in them.  For example, Liparulo’s  Comes a Horseman, Ted Decker’s – Boneman’s Daughter and Steven James , Pawn.  The thrill and chill factor is  there.  I love a fast paced novel.  I learned a lot about a serial killer’s style and  a murderer who broke all the bones of his victims.  Some of these books are incredibly awful, gory and graphic.  In my store I have rarely censored anything in this department ( although once I put up a sign warning folks about the graphic language in Miriam Toews’ novel because it was over the top as compared to anything else we had every carried- but a very good and important book).

However, lately I’ve been thinking we shouldn’t call it Christian fiction-  just fiction, and forget entirely about  who publishes it and its redeeming value – the only guiding principle is that it should be high quality writing and if there is profanity and graphic sex it should be somewhat reasonable. Speaking with one of my staff the other day , she said John Grisham’s latest The Associate- had one of the clearest presentations of the gospel she’d seen.  Nothing like that this in any of the thrillers I’d read from our store in the last 2 years or so.

Booksellers? What do you think, what do you do? Does it really matter?

Shopppers? What do you expect and want to see at the House of James in this area?  Any good suggestions of quality fiction  we should carry that I might not have in now?

Up at 4 am last tuesday to catch a plane to Toronto, Tim Hortons in Oshawa with Mike, Roxanne, Tina, Bruce and Greg( some western Canada booksellers friends)  then over to Mr Greek  at 8pm for a greek feast with many more bookseller friends old and new-

Lots of fascinating shop talk, memories of the former Mitchells, and inquiries into the future- next day over to Foundation Distributing (thanks guys for hosting us)      to wander their warehouse for amazing deals to offer our customers in the next months -  lot of fun , great food and lots of fellowship- met more booksellers, heard more stories and gained some new ideas that we can try in Abbotsford–on the way back to the airport that night we dropped into the new Faith and Family bookstore in Scarborough- wow- a great looking store with much potential- when they get it filled with new stock and finish their coffeehouse it will be one  the places to be in greater Toronto-of course it’ll be hard to beat Speelmans(Rexdale) and Family Christian bookstore(Burlington).

So whoever you are,whatever you do always take some time to hang out with others in the same business, or profession  – you’ll laugh, learn and be inspired-  guaranteed.

For several years now I’ve thought about offering Gelato in our coffeehouse, now we have the room in our new place.  This week the Gelato Adventure has begun.  16 absolutely wonderful flavors.  Our source is Dolce Amore, one of Vancouver’s finest Gelato Shops on Commercial Drive.  Authentic Italian Icecream.   Gelato is high in  flavor and lower in fat than regular icecream.  The initial response from customers has been very positive.  I think it fits well with our family emphasis and gives our customers another reason to come and visit House of James.  So if you’re in the neighborhood please come and try it.     Hopefully you’ll get addicted.   Remember we’re open 9 am till 9pm–monday – Saturday.