Here's How You Can Support Bramble Books
Donation protected
Dear bibliophiles, browsers, scholars, collectors, beach-readers, daydreamers, quarantine-escapists, and kids in blanket forts with flashlights (up past their bedtimes),
To get straight to the point: we need each and every one of you more than we ever have. Our doors closed in mid-March when the seriousness of the Covid-19 pandemic became evident, and it appears they will stay closed through at least early June—if not longer.
That’s a minimum of three months without seeing our shop door swing wide, letting us know another book lover has found our treasure trove. Far too long.
As you can imagine, small businesses like ours are hurting in this quarantine. While we will absolutely wait until it’s safe for our customers to shop before opening our doors again, the longer this unprecedented situation goes on, the more grim the outlook becomes.
You don’t have to spend too much time looking around to realize an important truth: independent used bookstores are rare and wonderful things. But in a lockdown, the very quirks which make us unique and appealing are the same things threatening our continued existence.
Consider the following:
Mainstream book stores can and do easily fall back on a fully cataloged and internet-ready inventory. Bramble Books depends on leisurely afternoons of in-person browsing.
We pride ourselves on not only giving books a second chance, but also on maintaining a large, affordably-priced inventory. We can’t count on stacks of full-price NYT bestsellers propping up our sales.
We offer highly specialized and esoteric books, particularly in nonfiction subgenres. In other words, books you didn’t even know you were looking for until you found them in our shop.
Our specialty is getting books into hands right away, and that simply can’t happen in a lockdown.
While there were some federally funded loans made available for small businesses, places like Bramble Books—where the owners are the sole employees—weren’t eligible for much of that assistance. There’s an entire swath of indie stores in this same situation right now, and many of us are turning to our loyal customers for help.
So, as much as it pains us to ask for assistance, it looks like we’ve reached that point. We are setting a goal of $10,000, which will help us keep up with expenses, both while we remain closed, and as bills continue to come due after we open. We, like most businesses, are beginning to imagine what the future will look like for our shop. We know we are in a marathon, not a sprint, and that the effects of this crisis may go on much longer than the lockdown itself.
Our loyal customers already know this, but Bramble Books (formerly Indian Path Books) has been a hidden gem of Spring City for 30 years. David, co-owner with his wife, Elizabeth, has very clear memories of shopping at this store when he himself was a child. So many locals have come through these doors, and we would be absolutely crushed if we had to close them forever.
Thank you so much for reading, and for anything you’re able to contribute. In a very real way, you’re keeping independent book sellers on the map, and you’re helping to ensure future afternoons of unhurried browsing, newly sparked curiosity, and discovery.
#SmallBusinessRelief
To get straight to the point: we need each and every one of you more than we ever have. Our doors closed in mid-March when the seriousness of the Covid-19 pandemic became evident, and it appears they will stay closed through at least early June—if not longer.
That’s a minimum of three months without seeing our shop door swing wide, letting us know another book lover has found our treasure trove. Far too long.
As you can imagine, small businesses like ours are hurting in this quarantine. While we will absolutely wait until it’s safe for our customers to shop before opening our doors again, the longer this unprecedented situation goes on, the more grim the outlook becomes.
You don’t have to spend too much time looking around to realize an important truth: independent used bookstores are rare and wonderful things. But in a lockdown, the very quirks which make us unique and appealing are the same things threatening our continued existence.
Consider the following:
Mainstream book stores can and do easily fall back on a fully cataloged and internet-ready inventory. Bramble Books depends on leisurely afternoons of in-person browsing.
We pride ourselves on not only giving books a second chance, but also on maintaining a large, affordably-priced inventory. We can’t count on stacks of full-price NYT bestsellers propping up our sales.
We offer highly specialized and esoteric books, particularly in nonfiction subgenres. In other words, books you didn’t even know you were looking for until you found them in our shop.
Our specialty is getting books into hands right away, and that simply can’t happen in a lockdown.
While there were some federally funded loans made available for small businesses, places like Bramble Books—where the owners are the sole employees—weren’t eligible for much of that assistance. There’s an entire swath of indie stores in this same situation right now, and many of us are turning to our loyal customers for help.
So, as much as it pains us to ask for assistance, it looks like we’ve reached that point. We are setting a goal of $10,000, which will help us keep up with expenses, both while we remain closed, and as bills continue to come due after we open. We, like most businesses, are beginning to imagine what the future will look like for our shop. We know we are in a marathon, not a sprint, and that the effects of this crisis may go on much longer than the lockdown itself.
Our loyal customers already know this, but Bramble Books (formerly Indian Path Books) has been a hidden gem of Spring City for 30 years. David, co-owner with his wife, Elizabeth, has very clear memories of shopping at this store when he himself was a child. So many locals have come through these doors, and we would be absolutely crushed if we had to close them forever.
Thank you so much for reading, and for anything you’re able to contribute. In a very real way, you’re keeping independent book sellers on the map, and you’re helping to ensure future afternoons of unhurried browsing, newly sparked curiosity, and discovery.
#SmallBusinessRelief
Organizer
Elizabeth Bucy
Organizer
Spring City, PA