If you are based in Cyprus, do not miss a chance to purchase secondhand books for a minimum of 1$! Below, I had the pleasure to do a wonderful interview with the lovely owner of BOOKMARK- Quality Preloved Books on Facebook, Andria ( she's the sweetest !).
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She packed them so beautifully for me |
To begin with, what made you want to start this small business in the first place and what was your aim behind it? Was it a passion project perhaps?
I always had a small business when I moved to Cyprus and a few years ago sold everything and decided to be a stay at home mom. About 6 months ago I wanted to try something new since the kids don’t need my undivided attention anymore.
I love books, my kids love books. I read about 3 books a week and over the years have accumulated a small library. Years ago, I had asked for maybe a refugee home to renovate and start a small local library. But I was denied.
A decision was made to just sell my books so I can buy other books. And it just grew. I am a firm believer in recycling damaged books properly. I hate that landfills are just filling up with books that can be reused. If you read a book and choose not to reread it, its new for the next person.
For me though, the most important is that I believe there is a lost generation because of technology. Most parents feel it’s too expensive to buy books for their kids. Why buy a child a book for 10 or 12 euros if they are going to read it in a day or 2? Parents can’t afford $50 a month for books so they just leave their kids to devices.
I love the way you think, I actually advocate for the same things. So, was the process of setting up the shop on Facebook easy? And what is some advice you'll give to someone who wants to do something similar?
Facebook was easy. Although its limited and want you to buy ads all the time.
I don’t know if I would give advice to someone to do something similar since I kind of like being unique even though there are probably more used bookstores out there (laughing ).
For me, it’s all about books. Actually, meeting some of the people I deal with. I have met and spoken to some lovely people, that share my love for reading.
Andria, what is the best aspect of running this shop and what is the part that let's say is more 'exhausting’?
The best part is the excitement when I hand -deliver the packages. Especially the kids. The smiles on their faces are priceless.
The most exhausting part has to be photographing and posting. Especially when I try to be on time, and I misspell something or if the blurb doesn’t come into focus cause the background of the book is black. I just have to be more patient. Giving up the books is also a little difficult.
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Her logo is the cutest! |
I feel that people should stop buying books that are on the bestseller list all the time and veer off the yellow brick road once in a while. Just because a book is on that list doesn’t mean you’re going to enjoy it. How many times do I hear or read about people reading 50 to 100 pages into the book and not being able to finish it? They should step out of their comfort zone sometimes. So many great authors in the '80s and 90's that people are bypassing because of the new genre of books that have become super popular. Diversity is the key. I read 3 books a week all different genres.
Reduce, reuse, recycle is the key. If a cover is slightly damaged but the pages are intact, I sell the book accordingly and let people know. Even kids’ books that might have a name scribbled inside does not make the book useless. Only if pages are falling out or have missing pages or the spine is falling apart (unless its vintage) I don’t sell it. And even then, Green Dot is on my speed dial and make sure they know I have books that need to be picked up separately. Every little bit counts.
I love that viewpoint. Let me ask you this, are you the only person who reads in your family or is this lovely trait only coming from you?
Thank you (blushing )!
Kids read as well. Not my husband. That’s why I have such a diverse line of books. We are also into history, especially WW1 and 2.I also like reading books that look interesting even if it’s not something I would normally pick.
Now, do you think you'll continue doing this thing for as long as you have books to offer?
I hope so!
People are always looking to sell books. I am also into vintage books. I hope to do this well into the future as long as I can afford it. Seems with COVID-19 more people need some fast -cash rather than the need to buy more books.
So, as long as my husband (who is not a reader, laughs) can support me -he is very supportive- I don’t see why not.
An author you recommend to almost everyone?
The author I recommend to everyone is probably Judy Blume. I grew up with her and I feel she wrote for every age group. She touched on subjects that we might have found out of the normal even in the '80s. When I first read “Are you their God it’s me, Margaret?”.
I felt that she wrote something that all girls can relate too. And her book “Summer Sisters” even though it was written in 1998 explains the line of friendship and love. Does that make sense?
It’s a simple reading about life experiences with no unicorns, rainbows and fantastical locations.
Is there a particular book you'll never be able to separate from?
Books I can’t separate from hmmmmm, so many!
I can say the most recent book I won’t be able to part with is Stephen King’s Revival. Not to give out any spoilers and it was a book I read over a year ago, but since I suffer from necrophobia, I sometimes wonder if there is a "BEYOND”.It’s one of his less than horror books and touches more on the supernatural.
Do you think that the age of Netflix and eBooks, is also the end of physical books?
I love the smell of books, the feeling of the pages in my hands. The sound of the swish of the page when I flip the page. As long as there are people out there that feel the same way, there will always be a market. Libraries maybe not. Costly to keep, and most people in this generation don’t even know what a library card is. The libraries here need to all be revamped and offer other services to be able to compete. Free internet, use of computers. Maybe DVDs and CDs as well as after school reading for kids that have no one at home.
Do you think people can judge how much of a reader you are based on the number of books you have?
I don’t think readers judge me in the number of books I have read. Most of my clients don’t know. But it does help when I select the books that I buy. I try to choose based on what I like. And because I don’t discriminate on the genre, I can have an assortment of books for all readers.
And lastly, what's the biggest benefit of reading books aside from the pleasure you get while engrossing in a fictional story?
The biggest benefit of being a big reader, any age is:
A. Larger vocabulary
B. Better story/essay writer
C. Can mingle and converse with just about anyone.
D. Time can never be replaced. Why waste it? Fill your days with places you might never see (I can travel anywhere from the comforts of my living room even during COVID)
Imaginary animals you might never see, and relive eras that you wished you lived in.
Any final thoughts?
Just a footnote.
When you read a book from your childhood...you can remember where you were when you read it and probably remember how you felt. What other experience can help you do that?
There you go friends, such a wonderful person and the best customer service, I can guarantee that!
See you soon,
Missreader aka Leni :)
