By Sabrina Pezzillo

Bestseller

The shelves still held the same weight that they did yesterday. Rows of beautiful leather-bound pages sat idly in Miss Ann’s bookstore. That week, they aexperienced their third-lowest sales period of the year. And it was only March.

Miss Ann shut the large wooden doors for the night, which followed the exit of one of her workers. The store had to let go of workers because business was failing, and the books just weren’t selling. 

She walked back to her dark office, fumbling around and falling hastily back into her chair. The light of her computer screen painted her face a disheartened shade of blue. She looked crossly down at the papers on her desk that were haphazardly placed by a different set of hands.

“I’ve worked here for three years, Ann. This store is only failing because you won’t change with the times,” said Cora, the mother who had just been let go of. She had left plans for the store on Miss Ann’s desk. “And believe me, I’m not so young anymore either, but my kids teach me a thing or two about change and improvement.”  

The memory flashed painfully through her eyes. She snatched the papers from their place and read them again. Community arrangements, collaborations with the local schools, and Partnerships with cafes all lined the margins of the papers. She could see the brilliance in the plan yet she was afraid.

“Your inaction is the reason why this store is failing,” argued Cora’s voice again, which cut through her weakness like a blade.

So the next day, Cora was called back into work. When the store opened and the morning light fell in, a second chair was pulled into the office. The pair squeezed the phones for all they were worth, talking their way up the chains of local businesses to sell their pitch to the stores. The schools were the easiest sell.

For the schools, Cora explained to Miss Ann that students from the local high school have a flourishing after-school writing program for young aspiring writers. Families come out to support their loved ones, and allowing the writers to open their section in the store would be a great way to generate foot traffic and public support.

By partnering with local cafes, they were able to schedule several “Read, Eat, and Adopt” events, where customers are encouraged to sit down with a book that interests them, read, and then buy the book. The combination of sweet treats sweetens the deal.

That coming spring, students and their families flooded the store. They called their friends to come and read the works that they had created in the program. Cora’s children were also in the writing program. She stood in the doorway with Miss Ann, observing the success.

“It worked,” smiled Miss Ann for the first time in years. By partnering with Cora, she was able to save her store and create a positive environment for students. She was afraid to make the venture at first, but with a passionate friend, they were able to get it done.

People found new loves at the read, eat, and adopt event. It was able to bring out members of all ages from the community, inspiring future endeavors in the store.

By partnering with another person, Miss Ann and Cora were able to create a positive impact in their community.