An Exciting Addition To The Store!

Sam has been bouncing off the walls with glee for the past 6 weeks knowing this addition was coming but had to keep quite... well she doesn't have to stay quiet any longer!

Aaron's Books was selected by Chelsea Green Publishing to test out their new indie bookstore consignment program.  Right now the program is in just a handful of stores (like 5!), with Aaron's Books being the smallest and newest by far.  We are so thrilled to be a part of this, and it's really an honor that a publisher would think of us as a good fit to test out a program for the rest of the country.  Below is the official press release and some pictures of our new Chelsea Green display (still a work in progress).

Happy GREEN Reading!





Local Bookstore Among First in Nation to Join New Partnership With Famed Publisher Chelsea Green
NEWS RELEASE September 14, 2010


Aaron’s Books (Lititz PA) announces today it is beginning a unique new partnership with prominent independent publisher Chelsea Green to bring more titles about local foods, sustainable living, and earth consciousness to Lancaster County. Chelsea Green is developing a new business model for its relationship with independently-owned bookstores, and it selected Aaron’s Books to be one of the first in the nation to join this program.


Chelsea Green Publisher Margo Baldwin observed: “This branded area partnership is the only model that works to preserve and enhance the vitality of both indie publishers and indie bookstores. They need to move into alliances that support one another and build on local economies and shared communities and mission. We look forward to showing the rest of the industry that all is not doom and gloom if you can carve out authentic human relationship and build on it.”


This new consignment approach to bookselling is being tested in several of the largest and most well established independent bookstores in the nation to include Boulder Book Store (CO) and Northshire Bookstore (VT). Aaron’s Books, far smaller than the others has been selling books since 2005.


For 26 years, Chelsea Green has been the publishing leader for books on the politics and practice of sustainable living and is a founding member of the Green Press Initiative. It leads the industry in terms of content—foundational books on renewable energy, green building, organic agriculture, eco-cuisine, and ethical business—and in terms of environmental practice, printing 95 percent of books on recycled paper with a minimum 30 percent post-consumer waste and aiming for 100 percent whenever possible. This approach is a perfect example of what is called a “triple bottom line” practice, one that benefits people, planet, and profit, and the emerging new model for sustainable business in the 21st century.


The same triple bottom line practice has been core to the mission of Aaron’s Books since its inception, with sustainable living titles and information an important part of their store selection.


“By entering into this special consignment contract with such a great publisher as Chelsea Green, we are able to double our inventory in this area and make a far stronger commitment to offer works on sustainable living to the Lancaster community,” says Sam Droke-Dickinson, co-owner of Aaron’s Books. “We love that Chelsea Green understands how our small independent bookstore benefit from this new model for providing inventory and is willing to offer this opportunity for us. This selection is an honor for the store and the community it serves.”


For its part, Aaron’s Books will feature a special display of Chelsea Green titles selected by the store as the best match to the needs of community. The stock will be rotated periodically to reflect demand and new Chelsea Green offerings. This initiative builds on Aaron’s Books already active participation in local sustainability efforts, including the Susquehanna Sustainable Business Network, the Lititz Farmer’s Market, the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, and the Mother Earth Harvest Festival at Spoutwood Farm.


“We are most excited that out of the hundreds of smaller market independent bookstores, Chelsea Green selected Aaron’s Books to be a test store,” states Ms. Droke-Dickinson “They were encouraged to try a smaller market when they understood our dedication to sustainable living books.”


Regarding the recent experiments in consignment, American Booksellers Association (of which Aaron’s Books is a member) CEO Oren Teicher said, “We think it’s extremely encouraging that publishers are taking a fresh look at trade practices and asking themselves whether there are potentially profitable new ideas to be explored. In our discussions with publishers, ABA has encouraged them to examine such new avenues as consignment, which we believe have the strong potential of selling more books, a definite win-win for publishers and booksellers.”


Aaron’s Books opened in 2005 as a used book store and began featuring many more new books over the past few years. Founded on the principle of being a family and community center for Lititz and all of Lancaster County, Aaron’s Books hosts a variety of events including author appearances, book groups, lectures and discussions on a variety of subjects, story time, and an annual children’s literature festival.

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Where will your holiday shopping dollars go?

Will they go to pay for a CEO's jet 3,000 miles away, or will they go to pay for the park in your town?  You can decide that when you choose where you will be shopping!

 

As the holidays approach and we hear news stories about a price war on books between the mega-marts, we’d like to take a moment and remind folks about the value of shopping locally.

 

And special emphasis on the word “value.”

 

We wonder if  shoppers too often get so caught up in “bargains,” especially when they shop at large big box retailers that  forget about the value of supporting our local downtown retailers.

 

For the most part American's seem to have made the transition in thinking when we talk about buying food locally.  The farmer’s market in downtown Lititz has proven to be a huge success, and folks often go out of their way (and even pay more) to get quality food that has been produced on local farms. But when it comes to shopping at other local retailers, price suddenly becomes king.

 

So what is the “value” in shopping locally?

 

I’ll argue any day, that like our new farmer’s market, there is “nutritional value” in shopping local, and that spending a bit more in your local shops contributes much more to the health of our community than sending your dollars to huge corporate retailers. Dollars spent in a locally owned store stay in the community; by shopping here, you are investing in a thriving diverse region. Conversely, dollars spent at chain stores contribute to the erosion of our region. It’s a pretty simple principle, but easy, we think to forget, when times are tough.

 

So, how exactly do dollars spent downtown stay in Lancasater County? Well, it means that our business spends money regularly with 2 local printers, local paer supplier, local caterers, and a local hardware store. We give a percentage of sales to local non-profit organizations and schools when we host book fairs and offsite events. It means we frequently donate books to local fundraisers. Our employees frequent local restaurants. And our tax dollars go to improving Lancaster County.

 

In a nutshell, when you shop at an independently owned business, your entire community benefits:

• Spend $100 at a local and $68 of that stays in your community. Spend the same $100 at a national chain, and your community only sees $43.

 

• Local businesses create higher-paying jobs for our neighbors.

 

• More of your taxes are reinvested in your community–where they belong.

• Buying local means less packaging, less transportation, and a smaller carbon footprint.

 

• Shopping in a local business district means less infrastructure, less maintenance, and more money to beautify your community.

 

• Local retailers are your friends and neighbors—support them and they’ll support you.

 

• Local businesses donate to charities at more than twice the rate of national chains.

 

• More independents means more choice, more diversity, and a truly unique community.

 

We believe there is immense value in providing great customer service, folks who know what kinds of books you like, and who simply know you. We work hard to provide a venue for local book clubs and community meetings. We sponsor many free events, including local authors, childrens events, music, and lectures. We are a primary sponsor of the Lancasater Literary Guild. We host book fairs with local schools. For you, our customers, we believe there is great value in not having to drive to the mall, being able to order any book not in our physical store, including used and out-of-print titles.

 

Times are tough, make no mistake. We completely understand people’s concern about overspending, and I can even identify with those who say that Wal-Mart can be a lifeline when money is tight. So let us take a minute to remind folks that we have lots of ways to save at Aaron's Books:

 

• ALL teachers and college students get an automatic 10% off their purchase 
• For Black Friday  (Nov. 27) we are opening extra early with extra discounts (25% off new books from 6am-8am, 15% off new books 8am-10am, 10% off new books 10am-11am). 
• We include coupons in our email newsletter, and honor as best we can valid Borders and Barnes & Noble Coupons as well
• Many of our hardcover new books are already discounted 10-20% off (some as much as 40% off!!)
• Join our Book-aholics program; when you spent $150 total, you get $15 worth of books FREE (and it's free to join!)
• Special order a new book we don't have in stock and save 10-20% off, and it ships to us FREE

 So as the holiday shopping heats up, and the urge to go on a bargain-hunting spree, please remember those local stores who are contributing to Lancaster County. We ask that you choose to shop with us and avoid the big box bargain siren call. Those corporation can afford a drop in Christmas sales and will be around no matter what. We need you more than ever this year, and we want to be here for the community for years to come.

 

Best to all our families this holiday season and joy to you all,

 

 - Sam, Todd & Aaron

Beating the recession: Knowing customers key to success

Beating the recession: Knowing customers key to success, experts say
By Jessica Bair

Sam Droke-Dickinson, in photo, and her husband, Todd, co-own Aaron’s Books in Lititz, Lancaster County. She said holding in-store events, expanding their new-books selection and working with the community helps increase their customer base. Photo/Amy Spangler

A retailer's customer base is at the heart and soul of its success....

Full article featuring words of wisdom from Aaron's Books: http://www.centralpennbusiness.com/weekly_article.asp?aID=224911702.1291873.924742.0149461.3776281.667&aID2=71125

Distinctive INDIE Lititz

Today was a pretty big day in our little hamlet. The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced Lititz as one of its Distinctive Destinations of 2009. Those of us that live and work here of course said "duh" :) So here is a little blog of town gloating.

Todd and I are still viewed by some locals as "outsiders" since we've only been here for 4 years... but we CHOOSE Lititz. We picked up our family and moved TO Lititz, BECAUSE of Lititz. We love this town. As an Army Brat growing up on military bases and small German towns, I fell in love with this town. Why? For the very reason that was mentioned by every speaker at the press conference today: community. Around this nation developers are killing trees, moving wild animals, and buying up farms to create new "false" communities, while towns like Lititz have it naturally. When people watch re-runs of Leave It to Beaver & Andy Griffith, some long for that town life where kids can walk to the corner store owned by "Mr. Jones" and get candy on their way home from school. Where they can freely ride their bikes to the park to play and feed the ducks, without having to check in with mom on the cell phone every 10 minutes, or having a parental escort. Where you can sit on your front porch and say "howdy" to all that walk past (and know at least half of them). Well, folks I have that... here in Lititz; and I wouldn't change it for the world. (yes, this is the same city gal Sam from a few years back, commuting and working in DC!).

What makes Lititz distinctive though is not it's history as observed by the Historic Trust (and yes, we do have our history, from it's Moravian roots 250+ years ago), but it is what makes up the town now- INDIES. This town only has one non-locally owned business.. and that one "chain" kept their building to match the historic nature of the town, and has no glaring neon signage... so unless you know it's there, you would miss it. This is a true INDIE town, even on the outskirts of town, you'll find vibrant indie groceries and hardware stores. Not to mention farms, service businesses, and restaurants. If we truly want to build better communities across America, we really need to look no further than Lititz, and not at some developers planning board.

So while the Historic Trust gives us this great title for our historic preservation, we need to toot our INDIE horn as well. What makes Lititz distinctive is the history... what makes the history is the community.... and what makes the community is our support of local independent businesses!

Below are pictures from the press conference, including the actual award and a citation from the PA House of Representatives acknowledging Lititz in all it's distinction :)