Pardon Our Tidy Mess

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Hello Everyone!

Welcome to the newly improved, returned, and still untidy website. I’ve been working and reworking after mistakes made to improve this site. My goal for the site is for it to become the updated center of what we have here at Seymour’s Little Shop.

Facebook and other social media are terrific, in their own ways. The big thing, and I believe we all know, is that it really doesn’t belong to us either. Not when things like algorithms and other methods of monetization are in place to control what we see and who we see.

At least here at this site, you know what you see is placed here by us and you can see whatever it is we put on the site because there is no algorithm. Only my clumsy hands and intention to make this look and feel like I want it to.

One of the first things you’ll notice that I changed is that up at the top of the site you’ll notice a dropdown menu that brings you the options of ebooks, audiobooks, and online shopping. In the background of everything here at Seymour’s we are constantly working on ways to bring stories to you in every way we can. Some people prefer paper, others electronic, and some prefer to listen. Maybe you can do all of them like I am with the current 4 books that I am reading or in the midst of listening to.

This little shop is a place where we want you to feel honestly and wholeheartedly welcomed, but also a place where if you want a story, we are going to do are darndest to get that story to you. So, here through our physical store, or one of our affiliate links, you have the options of getting stories any way you want.

Electronic, Paper, Audio, and soon maybe even an actual person reading to you. (With obvious exceptions :P)

But outside of just how you enjoy your stories, we want you to have the chance to shop any way you want. In person is great because I get to see you all and ask a million questions about what you are reading and what you have liked. Sometimes that isn’t really possible and staying home and warm beneath a blanket is better. Now you can shop online and still support our store. I’ve mentioned it before via Facebook and other posts, but I’m trying to centralize it to make it even easier.

The correct story in your hand at the correct time is what we care about. All of this supports us and most importantly, it supports your love of stories, just like ours. So, please shop as you feel best. With everything going on in this world, there is little that can’t be cured by reading.

Trust me.

Every person has gone through things in their lives no matter how large or small. Reading provides one of the few escapes where it’s you, it’s quiet, and you can find yourself in a different place at a different time.

Here at our shop, we welcome everyone with a big hello and a warm smile. Come on in and join us. There are more stories to tell than there is time. 😀

Holiday Season is Upon Us!

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We have all finally made it. One of my favorite times of year. Not because it’s a time to give and get presents, but it’s a time that really brings people together, both physically and personally.

As a new business owner, especially in the retail market, one of the things I’ve always dreamed of was to be open and available during the holiday shopping season. This gives me such a chance to see people as they come into the shop. The conversations, the questions, all of it adds to the holiday magic that is this time of year.

Here at Seymour’s Little Shop, we want you all to know that this space is here for all of your holiday needs. This is beyond only the shopping part of it. We are an open space for browsing and chatting as much as we are for shopping. Come in and tell us about your new favorite read. See if we’ve read anything by your new favorite author, or ask about the new event plans we have.

Want to tell us how bad the weather is outside? Come on in! We are here 70 hours a week, so honestly, it could be 80 degrees outside, and I’d probably not even know. 😀

Here at Seymour’s Little Shop, we want you to think about this place as a nice space to be as much as we want to be your favorite place to buy a book and other related items. When the little bell above the door rings, know that we are here to greet you with a smile and hope that if there is anything you need, we are here to help.

But, there are also those who really need to get some shopping done and we are here for that too. In person we offer many new books to include all the new ones we bring in every single week. Custom orders are a great way for you to get something that we don’t have on the shelf and as a thank you we offer the 10% discount on all items ordered.

Now on the website, we can say that our link is up and running for our shop on bookshop.org. This is for those who find online shopping is the best way to help with the incoming holiday season.

Have a cousin in New Jersey?

You can order online and ship it directly to them.

Aunt in Vegas?

Off goes the new mystery novel they’ve been waiting for. Two great things about bookshop.org is that almost 100% of their stock is discounted in some way. You’ll almost never pay full price for a book through bookshop.org, but know that each purchase helps Seymour’s Little Shop.

Just like we do audiobooks through Libro.fm, bookshop.org is a terrific way to help everyone here in the community shop for their favorite reading related items while giving the freedom of online shopping and still helping us grow within the community with proceeds from each purchase.

Similar to ordering online directly from us, the online ordering page linked above will give you a button to our shop on bookshop.org. Everyone loves a new book for the holiday season, and if online is the best for you, I hope you’ll consider shopping through our online storefront there as we continue to grow here in our new home.

Also, I’ve attached a link below incase my rambling here has given you the itch to go buy a book. 😀

Seymour’s Little Shop of Books LLC Bookshop

New Additions to the Store to better serve our community

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I can’t believe it’s been three weeks since we opened our doors here at Seymour’s Little Shop of Books. Feels like yesterday and years ago all at the same time. Seeing so many smiling faces, both from new people and those who have come in numerous times. I cannot tell you how much joy it brings to my life each and every time I hear that little bell of ours ring as the door opens.

From watching children flip through and giggle as their parents let them pick out as many books as they can (many of them reading long before they even get out the door), to the grownups (with hearts still young and full of stories) who have come in minutes after I open up to grab one of our newest releases; nothing has told me more about how blessed I have become to be able to open these doors to the community here in Mount Joy and beyond.

Since our opening, we have heard many of you speak and praise authors and stories that you love and enjoy. Discussions on genres, book bindings, and how you find ways to enjoy your stories in a life full of more distractions than ever. I listen to each and every one of you, and though I may not always be able to do something about what I hear, I take what I find to heart and do the best I can. So, below is a small start to a series listing new additions here at Seymour’s Little Shop of Books. Each one in hopes that it further helps you find and enjoy your next favorite story.

Libro.fm

I am a big fan of Libro.fm.

What is it?

For those of you who enjoy Audio books, you are probably aware of Audible. This is the #1 audio book service on the market and an arm of Amazon.

Libro.fm is different. They are an employee owned company dedicated to helping independent bookstores like us here at Seymour’s Little Shop of Books thrive in a world dominated by large corporations. What this means for you is that if you are interested in listening to audio books as your way of enjoying your favorite story, we here at the shop have teamed up with Libro.fm as a way to bring you those audio books.

Is this any different than Audible?

Other than it not being part of Amazon, the answer is Yes and No.

I’ll start with NO:

No, you will not have to change the current way you purchase audio books if you are accustomed to purchasing monthly credits. Libro.fm offers the exact same type of membership that allows you to purchase single credits or multiple credits based on your choice that you can redeem for audio books.

Libro.fm also allows you to purchase audio books as single purchases instead of a membership, and it also allows you to purchase credit bundles if you would rather do that than sign up for a monthly membership.

Now for the YES:

  • Yes, Libro.fm is different in that it helps independent stores like myself instead of driving small businesses out of business to increase profits.
  • Yes, Libro.fm is different in that regardless if you buy you credits through the membership or in bundles, your credits never expire. If you save up several unused credits, but then decide that you need to pause or stop your membership, your credits are still yours to use.
    • Audible removes credits after a set amount of time, where Libro.fm they are yours to keep.
  • Yes, Libro.fm is different in that the audio books you purchase are yours to keep. What does this mean? Audiobooks that you purchase through them come DRM-free.
    • DRM (Digital Rights Management) is how electronic items are locked to specific devices and accounts. The audiobooks you get from them is DRM free so they are yours to keep and move from device to device if you need to so that you can listen to them how you choose. No more being locked a specific app just to listen to something you purchased.

These are only some of the ways that Libro.fm helps support both our community and your new favorite store here in Mount Joy. There are many different things we have going on here at Seymour’s Little Shop of Books and this is only the first in a small series of blog posts where I will continuously update you on what is happening. Another big thing that I will be doing is letting you know what I am listening to or reading so that if you feel inclined to come in and chat about it, I am all ears here behind the counter with a big smile.

So, not keeping a secret, my current listen on Libro.fm is…..

59 Minutes Audiobook | Libro.fm

59 Minutes by Holly Seddon.

We actually have this book here in the store for purchase as well as available on Libro.fm.

Thanks to you all,

Bill Seymour 😀