Arkansas Bookstore Asks Community for Help

A family bookstore in Northwest Arkansas might have to close. The shop is called Once Upon a Time Books. Brother and sister Allison Harrison and Andrew Giezentanner run it. They started a GoFundMe page to keep the business alive. The goal is fifty thousand dollars. By Friday, supporters had given nearly eleven thousand dollars. The largest single gift was two thousand dollars.

The store began twenty-seven years ago. Their mom and dad started it when their father's landscaping work had slow periods. At first, they sold books from their garage on eBay. Over time, the business grew. It now has three shops, a bookmobile, and two warehouses.

Trouble started when an online partner changed its payment rules. In the past, the bookstore got money one or two days after someone bought a book. Now, the shop waits until the book ships, reaches the buyer, and then seven extra days pass. That can stretch to nearly a full month without income. To cover rent and payroll, the owners took out short-term loans with high interest.

The family has given thousands of books to children in Arkansas. They also started the Great Arkansas Book Giveaway to send free books to schools across the state. More shoppers are visiting the stores because they want cheaper books. Online sales used to bring in most of the money. Now, online and in-store sales are about even.

Nationwide, book sales have been falling since 2007. Back then, sellers made nearly seventeen billion dollars. Harrison and Giezentanner believe their shop still has a role in the community. They want to keep offering affordable books in Northwest Arkansas. The fundraising money will not solve every problem. But it could give the business a chance to steady itself and move forward.