Hi Folks,
Honestly, I'm a bit at sea about what to write this month. The last few weeks have been kind of a blur. But, I do have something kind of neat that might interest some of you and I figure that an update on what's going on at the shop might be nice. So, here we go . . . .
Something Neat
As you'll see in the regular newsletter this month (which will be out shortly), Borderlands is partnering with a writing program called Anam Cara <https://writewithfriends.com>. Rather than go into it here, I'll just point out that sponsors are eligible for a bigger discount than "regular" folks. If you use promo code "borderlandsfriends", you'll get $30 off (rather than the usual $20).
Full disclosure: Anam Cara's side of the promotional deal is that Borderlands will get 15% of any signups that come in through our promotion codes. I'm not really concerned about the income (especially not with you-all) but, if the program is good and legit, it might be a nice little bit of extra income for the shop. The most important thing to me, however, is that it is, in fact, good and legit. So, if you do decide to try it out, please let me know what you thought about it. There is an option for a full refund, if you decide you're unhappy with the program.
How Are Things Going?
There are two answers to that question. There's the "considering current events" answer and the "compared to what was normal" answer.
Considering current events things are going pretty well. The shop is open, our systems to deal with the risk of Covid-19 seem to be working well (but <crosses fingers>, check with me in a bit less than two weeks about that), and the staff and customers are all happy with what we're doing. Sales, all combined, are looking like they're going to be around 65-75% of what we did this time last year. That is damn, very good and we're grateful.
Combined with the PPP loan, a bunch of new sponsors, and the other fund-raising events that people have put together for us (thank you, Annalee and Charlie Jane!) things are looking alright financially speaking.
Compared to what was normal, things are completely up in the air and probably going to stay that way. I don't think that I'm going to have any clear idea of how the rest of the year is going to go until the end of July. That will be the first complete month of having the store open and, by then, I think that the initial rush of people who are clamoring for new books will have subsided. I'll look at those sales and use them for a baseline moving forward.
Of course, that's making a bunch of assumptions. First, that the infection rate in the area doesn't get bad enough that we need to regress to curb-side pickups or even mail order only again. Second, that what we're doing to manage infection risks works and no-one at the shop gets sick. If someone does get sick, then we'll have to reassess and, most likely, close for two weeks or more. Despite maintaining social distancing as a staff, we all cross each other's paths enough that we'd all need to quarantine. Third, that . . . well, given this year so far, I'm allowing for more surprises. I think that a meteor is pretty unlikely but we are due for a big earthquake so; let's say I'm being a tiny bit pessimistic.
The last thing is what I think is going to happen with our move and the work at the new building. I don't have much to say there. The priority has been getting the Valencia Street store back open and operating safely, so the new building has been on hold. I hope to get back to working on that in July but . . . well, see the previous paragraph. However, I do still plan on moving and finances for the new building are stable for now. I told both of the tenants in the apartments that they should get in touch with me if they're going to have trouble paying rent and both have assured me that they're doing alright. I believe we'll get there, I just have no idea whatsoever what the time-line is going to be.
When it all comes down to it, just like everyone else, we're hanging in there, playing the hand we're dealt, and continuing to make the best choices possible. I hope that all of you are doing well and staying safe.
All Best,
Alan
Monday, June 29, 2020
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Sponsor Letter, June 5th 2020
Hi All,
So, when I went to write this note, I went looking for the one that I sent out in May. And . . . couldn't find it because I didn't send one. This really has been a weird time (I'm sure for all of you as much as for me). Anyway, sorry for the silence.
Though there is a note this month, it's going to be a short one. I'm still juggling quite a bit of stuff despite having gotten everything in place for the whole curbside pickup thing. I swear, the sheer amount of paperwork that I needed to get ready, not to mention all the signs I had to put up . . . it all seems like a bit much. And, there's more paperwork coming now that we're heading into actually being open for customers. Plus, as you've seen in the store newsletter, I'm trying to get things moving along at the new shop after too long with no progress.
But, I do have some news. First off, assuming that the city continues along its current course, we'll be able to open for customers on the 15th. As I said in the newsletter, we're going to go a little slow and wait 'til the 17th to do that. But, you all are special and so, if you'd like to come to the store to shop, we'll be open just for sponsors on June 15th and 16th. I'll send out complete details next week but I wanted to toss that in your minds now.
The second open-for-business thing is that we'll be open by appointment for sponsors outside of normal business hours. If you're in an at-risk group, live with someone who is, or if you just want to be extra cautious -- we've got you covered. If you set up an appointment, you'll be the only person in the shop (other than maybe a couple of staff). For that matter, if you're really concerned, we can keep staff down and just have one person here to let you in and ring you up. We'd prefer to do appointments Monday to Friday either between 9 am and noon or 8 pm and 10 pm but . . . hell, you're a sponsor -- I'll come down here, bloodshot eyeballs and all, at five am if that's what you want. If you're interested, just email sponsors@borderlands-books.com and we'll set it up.
And that is about it for this month. In closing, we're all doing fine around here. Having the staff back has been so very, very nice and they are all happy to be out in the world and interacting with real people in real life. Business was a bit slack in May but nothing too dire. Really, comparing year over year numbers on a monthly basis is pretty much a fool's game. Once we're through the 2nd quarter of this year I'll have something meaningful to mention but, for now, it's just day by day, all the way.
Warm Regards to You and Yours,
Alan
So, when I went to write this note, I went looking for the one that I sent out in May. And . . . couldn't find it because I didn't send one. This really has been a weird time (I'm sure for all of you as much as for me). Anyway, sorry for the silence.
Though there is a note this month, it's going to be a short one. I'm still juggling quite a bit of stuff despite having gotten everything in place for the whole curbside pickup thing. I swear, the sheer amount of paperwork that I needed to get ready, not to mention all the signs I had to put up . . . it all seems like a bit much. And, there's more paperwork coming now that we're heading into actually being open for customers. Plus, as you've seen in the store newsletter, I'm trying to get things moving along at the new shop after too long with no progress.
But, I do have some news. First off, assuming that the city continues along its current course, we'll be able to open for customers on the 15th. As I said in the newsletter, we're going to go a little slow and wait 'til the 17th to do that. But, you all are special and so, if you'd like to come to the store to shop, we'll be open just for sponsors on June 15th and 16th. I'll send out complete details next week but I wanted to toss that in your minds now.
The second open-for-business thing is that we'll be open by appointment for sponsors outside of normal business hours. If you're in an at-risk group, live with someone who is, or if you just want to be extra cautious -- we've got you covered. If you set up an appointment, you'll be the only person in the shop (other than maybe a couple of staff). For that matter, if you're really concerned, we can keep staff down and just have one person here to let you in and ring you up. We'd prefer to do appointments Monday to Friday either between 9 am and noon or 8 pm and 10 pm but . . . hell, you're a sponsor -- I'll come down here, bloodshot eyeballs and all, at five am if that's what you want. If you're interested, just email sponsors@borderlands-books.com and we'll set it up.
And that is about it for this month. In closing, we're all doing fine around here. Having the staff back has been so very, very nice and they are all happy to be out in the world and interacting with real people in real life. Business was a bit slack in May but nothing too dire. Really, comparing year over year numbers on a monthly basis is pretty much a fool's game. Once we're through the 2nd quarter of this year I'll have something meaningful to mention but, for now, it's just day by day, all the way.
Warm Regards to You and Yours,
Alan
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