Sourcing Your Book Inventory and Storing Books

Thrift businesses have increased in popularity as more consumers become conscious of waste and sustainability.

Used and vintage booksellers will need to contend with a very high number of SKUs and product listings, as each item will be one of a kind. Online booksellers, therefore, may choose to hone in on a specific corner of the market and seek out rare or unique titles within a genre or time period.

Used and vintage books can be found through a number of sources, including:

Thrift stores

Library clearout sales

Garage or estate sales

Local buy-and-sell listings

Other used bookstores

Online marketplaces like eBay

Unless the used book is rare, vintage, antique, or out of print, it would generally retail for less than the list price. As such, you may want to be selective about the used books you carry, especially if you’re selling online. Consider the effort required to list the book (a one-of-a kind item) on your website and storage. If the book is easy to find elsewhere or doesn’t have much demand, your retail price may be too low to justify carrying it.

Books should be stored away from high humidity, out of sunlight, and in a manner that prevents them from warping or bending. When listing used or vintage books for sale, be sure to include additional information about the edition, including print date, condition, and any damage.