Market Fresh Books deli style: Used books by the pound a bargain at any weight
What's more appealing than a story sandwiched between two covers and at half the cost? Whether it's a heavy read or a light romance, you'll find both at Market Fresh Books deli style where used books are sold by the pound.
This Evanston bookworm's paradise, and the only place in the nation thought to sell tomes by the pound, recently opened a second and larger location on Church Street. The expansion is telltale of the growth seen nationally in the used book industry. Paul and Susan Frischer opened their first store in October of 2009 to customers who love the idea of buying their favorite titles for $3.99 a pound. The couple also operates an online used book business, Heavytail.com.
No longer the musty, dusty kin to mainstream booksellers and monster chains, used books and the shops that house them are changing the marketplace. In 2004, consumers spent more than $2.2 million on 111 million used books, up 11 percent from 2003, according to a study by the Book Industry Study Group. Sales are both in on-line purchases as well as in used book stores nationally.
At first glance, Market Fresh looks like any other small bookstore. Shelves line the walls and aisles and browsers roam, nose to a page. Blue bins of CDs, DVDs, video games, audio books, comic books and graphic novels and magazines--all sold by the pound--are stacked in the back of the store. At the register, Susan sets the books on what looks just like a deli scale and the digital red numbers race to the weight. The heaviest purchase so far? Sixty-three pounds bought by a PTA member.
Frequently staying open later than their set hours, the Frischer's are often selling books in the Church Street location as late as 11p.m., the glow of the shop being an insomniac's heaven. There's much to praise about Market Fresh. It's quirky, the help knows the stock and it feels as comfortable as am old hand-me-down sweater. That warm and fuzzy feeling comes from the stock.
"The beauty of a used book," Susan said, is "it has a history. Not only does this come through in its writing, it also tells through its condition, and any writing inside or lack thereof by its previous owner."
Due to the long waiting lists at local libraries for new, hot titles, the Fricher's rent out new books for 75 cents. Pay the cover price and a 75 per day rental fee is deducted when you return the book. Market Fresh also offers coupons on its website. Susan's current reads include, Stieg Larsson's Girl With the Dragon Tattoo; Scott Westerfeld's Pretties; Charlaine Harris's Dead Until Dark; and Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief.
"Used books provider a greater margin than new books, " said Meg Smith, marketing executive for the New York-based American Booksellers Association. "They are plentiful, and can be used as incentive to get people into the store. Some stores give credit for new books to those folks who bring in used books."
Industry watchers added that they expect chain booksellers will follow suit. With less money to do activities such as buying tickets to sporting or music events, more people are returning to a pleasure--reading--that captivated them in their younger years.
Posted by Lori Rotenberk
