My Dream Bookshop

I would love to run a secondhand/new bookshop, if I could do it for pleasure rather than to make money. My ideal bookshop would be a beautiful, peaceful place with hidden nooks and inspiring art and music. I would offer a full computerised catalogue of the available books, as well as a notification service for customers' wish lists. I would love to set it up as a glassed-in studio in a rainforest-like area. Part of its charm and eccentricity would be the fact that it's off the beaten track, so that it becomes a destination of its own. Comfortable chairs are a must, of course!

Each section would have its own theme - perhaps even set up in the layout of a home, with a "kitchen" for cooking books, a "workshop" for home improvement books, a "rumpus room" for children's books, a "home office" for computer books, a "greenhouse" for gardening books, a "cellar" for historical books, and so on. Some books would be mingled together in unexpected ways (such as novels scattered in suitable non-ficiton areas, as well as in their 'proper' spots). I would offer gift vouchers and gift wrapping. There would be interesting displays and information for book-lovers (about book groups, local libraries, websites and so on). I would invite authors to give talks and autograph their books. Beautiful journals and pens might also be available for journal-keepers.

Perhaps some form of food would be available, and certainly drinks (not too expensive). There could be a selection of carefully-chosen book-themed gift items as well, such as bookends or particularly beautiful bookmarks or artworks.