News

Owners: Joanne Saul and Samara Walbohm

Project: Type, an independent bookstore and art gallery in Toronto

Started: April, 2006

Joanne Saul and Samara Walbohm first met in the stacks at the University of Toronto's Robarts Library in 1995. They were both doing their PhDs in literature, so they were always surrounded by books. "We'd have these fantasies about what we might do if we didn't end up pursuing academic careers—about doing something related, but different," says Saul.

Saul went on to teach as an assistant professor at U of T. Walbohm, meanwhile, took a break to train with Canada's national rowing team for the Olympics before finishing her degree. A decade later, they were still daydreaming and talking about how people come together around books. "We wanted to sell books, but it was more than that," says Saul. "We wanted to bring back the idea of the community bookstore as a meeting ground."

There was one snag: Saul and Walbohm knew nothing about selling books. So before they even found a space in Toronto, they hired a store manager with 15 years' experience in the book business. Only then did they start hunting for a shop. "We knew right away that location was going to be everything," says Saul. They needed a place in a close-knit community that would respond to their kind of retail establishment — but where there was no real competition. Between big-box retailer Chapters/Indigo and local indie chain Book City, that narrowed their options to just a handful of neighbourhoods.

A full year into their search, in December, 2005, a small shop in trendy Trinity-Bellwoods came up for lease. "We walked in and just knew it was right," says Saul. "The building had a historical feeling, the ceilings were high, and it had a lot of character." As a bonus, the landlord threw in the basement, giving them almost 2,000 square feet for books and also a gallery focused on book-related art.

To get the space in shape, they built a new bathroom, installed a kitchenette and painted every wall. A carpenter built them a couple of display stands and a cash counter, and they carefully selected lighting for the basement art gallery downstairs and bookstore upstairs. Instead of installing wooden bookshelves, Saul and Walbohm decided to pay homage to their years at Robarts by displaying their inventory on library stacks. "It was also a heck of a lot cheaper," says Saul.

On their manager's recommendation, they bought a computer system called Word Stock to help manage sales and inventory, and joined the Canadian Booksellers Association, a group for independent book retailers. Then they set about filling the shelves. Saul and Walbohm knew that choosing the right books would be just as important to their success as location. They couldn't compete with Chapters/Indigo on selection, so their inventory had to be all about quality. "It's about trust," says Saul. "If I trust the people who are selecting things, then I know that I can't go wrong with whatever I buy. That's what we wanted to create." They solicited recommendations from anyone they could—friends, artists, film-makers. But they also trusted their manager, who put together a comprehensive book list.

Because the retail mark-up on books is relatively low—about 40%—they also decided to throw in a few non-book related items. "But we had a moratorium that we couldn't sell anything scented in the store, so no candles," says Saul. They restricted their gift inventory to items related to reading and writing, like stationery, or to book themes, like small toys in the kids' area or kitchen gadgets in the cooking area. "We didn't want gifts to compete with what we are actually selling," she says.

Saul and Walbohm opened the doors of Type in April, 2006. "People actually came in and said thank you," says Saul. They've hosted several book launches, which don't generate money themselves but draw in potential customers. Same goes for the gallery. Their first exhibit was Toronto artist Ken Nicol, who creates art with a typewriter. "We've had a real mix of artists since we opened," says Saul, "but there's always some kind of connection to the written word." The gallery not only helps bring the community together, but it also lures in people who wouldn't normally stop by, says Saul. "Our hope is that those people will actually buy a book."

The book business, dominated by big-box retailers, is fraught with challenges. Huge chains get the advantage of buying in bulk, allowing them to offer deep discounts. Type will never have the same pull. "It's a big thing to buy a book here when someone could buy it on Amazon for 35% off," says Saul. "But we're hoping you get something different at Type. People have called our store a curated selection. They say it's like browsing through their own fantasy library." To stand out, Type has also made a conscious effort to shine the spotlight on small presses, which are largely ignored by big chains. "Every month we work with a small press publisher and offer one of their books at a 15% discount," says Saul.

In September, the store started a literacy program, with the help of Saul's mother, a retired teacher. The program, called Word Stock, introduces reading and literacy to so-called reluctant readers from local primary schools. One day a week, Type hosts a group of 35 or so kids and invites teacher candidates from York University to work with them. The students read books, work on their own writing and also get to meet published authors. "The program has a waiting list, so it's great to know it's well received," says Saul.

Type is a ways off from turning a profit, says Saul, but so far they've met all their financial projections on schedule. "Getting to understand this business has been really interesting," says Saul. "I used to know a lot about a little; now I know a little about a lot."