Hannibal Goes Indie: Ft. Laura Gibbons' Red Hen Bookshop
How Did You First Get Started?
Lots of baby steps that snowballed very quickly lol. Going back to about 2011, I wasn’t in a good place where I was employed (now former). I had completed an Associates of Arts in ’07, and decided to finally complete my Bachelor's degree. I had previous experience with independent contracting and marginally running a business, and knew it was something I enjoyed. So I spent 22 months barely sleeping and working two jobs and taking care of the (then very little) chicks while completing a ton of coursework each week for online classes and came away with a newfound appreciation for pillows and ergonomic chairs, as well as my BS in Business Admin and Management.
After two more years of job hunting, I came away frustrated that I could not find decent children’s literature, or any decent literature available for purchase for that matter, I started talking with my husband about opening a bookstore (and, incidentally, using that degree I worked so hard to get) to meet a need. I knew early on what the name would be based on: The Little Red Hen as told by Florence White Williams; I love folk tales and this is the one I have loved the most and remembered the longest. There was a lot of prep work: making a business plan, revising the business plan, revising again, revising again, speaking to bookstore owners, speaking to business professionals, speaking to publishers and distributors and tax professionals, and revising that business plan a few more times (you should revisit a business plan at least once a year anyway), and then running an Indiegogo campaign to cover at least part of my start up fees. In the first few months I changed website hosts, made some mistakes, and learned a lot of lessons.
Why Do You Love It?
Why? (or as I am sure my own chicks are thinking sometimes: “whhhyyyyyyyyyyyy?????”
in their very best whine)
Firstly, I LOVE books. Always have, always will. “We should open a bookstore” is the bibliophile version of “we should open a bar” or “we should start a band” We have all thought it at some point.
Secondly, I want other people to be able to get the books they love locally, and with a good variety. Before the website went live, there was no “full service” bookstore in this corner of the state, and when the Book Stop closed in Quincy, to this entire region from north of St. Louis to a little east of the river. It is only our (incredible and fantastic) library that kept this region from being a “book desert”. I don’t think people should have to drive an hour or more to go to a bookstore, and that is why I intend (Lord willing and the creek don’t rise) to have a brick and mortar store in Hannibal.
Thirdly, I LOVE watching people from the very small to the very tall love on books and discover more books to love; or discover their love for books. I love talking books with people. I love making an impact through books.
Finally, I have a purpose: better access to books to encourage literacy. Did you know: the adult illiteracy rate in the US is just over 40% as of the last assessment in 2003. That breaks down to 14% of the population being unable to read past a “below basic” level, and 29% having a “basic” reading level. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/06/illiteracyrate_n_3880355.html)