Spellbound Children’s Bookshop asks public for $18,500 to expand

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Press release here:

Spellbound Children’s Bookshop has launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo to fund its planned move and expansion. The campaign runs through May 15, 2013 with a funding goal of $18,500 to help cover costs associated with moving the bookstore into a larger space.

Crowdfunding is a way for members of the public to provide needed funds for creative projects, inventions, and small business ventures. Instead of a bank or one or two large private investors bankrolling a project, the funds come through many small contributions, usually with gifts or “perks” given to the contributors.

Visit Spellbound’s campaign page at http://bit.ly/GrowBks for specific information about the budget for funds raised and the perks offered to contributors.

Why Spellbound Needs to Expand

During the recession, Spellbound moved and downsized to lower expenses. The bookstore is currently sharing retail space with Zapow illustration gallery on Battery Park Avenue.

While it has been a great partnership, with Spellbound and Zapow co-hosting some wonderful events over the last year, Spellbound needs to go back to having a free-standing kids-only space again to better serve our customers and the larger community.

This move will mean that Spellbound will once again be in a 100% kid-centered space, and the larger square footage will mean more room for a larger inventory, as well as the great book-themed events that the community has come to expect from Spellbound. One planned feature is an event room that will be used for in-store events, those open to the public as well as private events, such as birthday parties, baby showers, and workshops. The addition of birthday party rentals, which many customers have asked for, is one example of the additional programming a new space will allow the bookstore to offer. When not in use for an event, this room will also house a large inventory of used and bargain books that will be a great addition to Spellbound’s inventory alongside new books for babies to teens.

About Spellbound Children’s Bookshop

Spellbound was founded in 2004 by Leslie Hawkins, a native of Western North Carolina and a graduate of UNC-Asheville. Spellbound Children’s Bookshop is a locally owned independent bookstore specializing in books for young people, from babies to teens/young adults. Spellbound is a long-standing member of the American Booksellers Association and the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance. More information at www.spellboundbookshop.com.

14 Comments

Orbit DVD April 9, 2013 - 7:34 am

It’s been my experience that banks don’t loan money to smaller businesses… even before the recession. They will however, pour millions into failed restaurants and communities, but a store like mine for some reason is considered “high risk.”

I’m all for different forms of funding, so I see no problem with this. I bet quite a few people will not use the discount and are giving the money simply because they love the business. Now, if you need to do it more than once, that should tell you that maybe it’s time to quit.

bob April 8, 2013 - 3:10 pm

This arguably is not a real business but some sort or business/hobby/charity hybrid. Giving away 30% coupons for $5 is almost as bad as groupon economics.

Abraham Lincoln April 6, 2013 - 10:36 am

Zapow would benefit more from having a book space with comics, graphic novels, and magazines like fangoria, stargate, mad, juxtapoz, etc. It’s still a recession….and Anyone can start a kickstarter or whatever, it’s their right. Hope Leslie gets her bigger space

Nate April 5, 2013 - 6:06 pm

The lowest giving level on their Indiegogo page is just $5, and gets you a 30% off gift certificate for the store. They could pretty easily *lose* money if they sell enough of those . . .

Orbit DVD April 4, 2013 - 9:02 am

I wonder why she left West Asheville. That was a great location.

Nate April 5, 2013 - 6:09 pm

Ironically, the fundraising page actually says that they’re looking to move back to West Asheville. Where was their previous location over there? I was only really aware of the downtown location on Wall Street they shared with a photography studio.

LJ April 7, 2013 - 4:50 pm

Her foot-traffic increased by about 400% her first year on Wall Street. Profits also went way up. I was sad to see her leave WAvl but her business initially did much better downtown. Then she got priced off Wall Street. I wondered how it would work to be in with Zapow. Definitely not as little-kid friendly as her other two locations.

A Book Signing Story | Debbi Mack's Blog April 3, 2013 - 6:08 pm

[…] PS: I was spellbound by this article. […]

Doug S. April 3, 2013 - 9:53 am

Let me get this straight…

NFB April 3, 2013 - 12:06 pm

Get what straight?

Doug S. April 4, 2013 - 12:21 pm

A for-profit business is soliciting donations to the tune of a whopping $18,500 not to simply survive and stay lit, but to move into a bigger retail space. Is this correct?

Luis April 4, 2013 - 11:50 pm

Spellbound has “survived” by downsizing into a tiny shared space within a gallery. If not for the partnership with Zapow, this bookstore would likely not exist.

But that is neither here not there. Any “for profit” business can solicit donations from the public, and the public can then decide whether or not to contribute.

Doug S. April 5, 2013 - 12:30 pm

“Any “for profit” business can solicit donations from the public, and the public can then decide whether or not to contribute.”

Absolutely. I am also free to express my opinion that this seems to be a lazy, and somehwat tacky, business plan.

Smytty April 7, 2013 - 7:48 am

Knock yourself out and don’t donate.

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