The Fun Part

Opening a used bookstore: April 2026—Books are on shelves. The space feels real. Stef shifts focus to kids and teens, remembers pop-up skills from a dream, builds inventory systems, designs community zones, and her body starts pushing back from all the box-moving.

In this episode, it's a catch-up from early April, and shelves are filling. It feels like a big deal—books are actually on shelves, and the space finally feels achievable.

My focus has shifted fully to kids and teens books for now while I patiently wait for the next space for all ages. But the mental energy shift is real—I'm all in on serving this age group well.

A dream reminded me of skills from past pop-up work: flexibility and the ability to tolerate other people's views and philosophies. These translate directly to knowing my customers and being adaptive based on their needs.

Store updates:

• Learning Square POS and SKU systems
• Inventory has started—two shelves of board books done!
• Building a pricing matrix I can print and use to train staff
• Documenting grading strategies (fair, good, excellent) for each book
• Pricing intentionally affordable so people will talk—using affordability as free word-of-mouth

I'm also designing the space with community activation in mind: a typewriter for kids to leave notes, a magnet wall, a reading nook. Intentional spaces that invite participation.

And finally, my body is pushing back. Low back pain from moving boxes is real, and I'm starting to realize I'm going to have to hire someone for the more physical tasks.

Current Book Count: ~12,000+ (and two shelves already on display!)

This is the fun part. Building it, piece by piece. 

🐦‍🔥 Follow along as The Phoenix Used Bookshop continues to rise—subscribe to A Bookshop of My Own and get updates at phoenixusedbookshop.com