FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES
A Family Bookstore Each new Walls of Books速 store introduces a unique culture of literacy and education into a community. Our goals are to consistently offer fair amounts of cash and store credit to customers for buying and trading their used books, create a family-friendly environment, and promote the many benefits of reading. From children to adults, we will offer a great selection of reasonably priced used and new books for every customer who steps through our doors. Walls of Books速 also stocks a wide assortment of new toys and educational products, adding to the ultimate goal of promoting literacy and education with every item we sell.
WE ACT LIKE A NEW BOOKSTORE Gone are the days of dusty, cramped, poorly-lighted, smelly, hole-inthe-wall bookshops! Walls of Books速 carries used and new books, but our stores look very similar to those bookstores carrying new books only. We maintain rigorous inventory controls and training concerning shelving guidelines, floor plan design, and genre layouts. Walls of Books速 is a refined, clean way of operating the predominantly used book business.
SHANE GOTTWALS | President and CEO 1-888-94-BOOKS | shane@gottwalsbooks.com
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We Give Real Value Few stores offer as much consumer benefit as Walls of Books®. We promote store credit and cash payouts to our customers. We want them to bring books for store credit in particular because not only are they providing great inventory, but their store credit must be used in conjunction with 50% out-of-pocket funds. It is a unique system that brings profitability to you and exceptional value to your customers... every transaction, every time. We show you how to determine store credit and cash amounts, ensuring that both you and your customers gain from every exchange. Few businesses embrace the core concept of recycling consumer goods like Walls of Books®!
...AND WE’RE GREEN! We save books from being tossed out. Many people have no desire to keep books on their shelves once they have been read, some people want to discard their books when they move, and others simply want to clean the “clutter” out of their houses. Whatever the excuse, Walls of Books® provides an outlet for these unwanted books by offering store credit in exchange for these gently-loved titles. Our goal is to recycle quality used books because, after all, the words are no different whether it’s an old copy of The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis for $2.97 at Walls of Books® or a brand-new paperback printing for $8.95 at the big bookstore down the street!
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A Unique Opportunity INVESTMENT
PROFITABILITY
The total projected initial investment for your new franchise is $77,900 to
With our proven guidelines for evaluating and
$170,700. As with any business, start-up costs are not set in stone. Many
issuing store credit and cash payments, you
factors will determine the total initial investment necessary to open your
will know how to treat your customers fairly
own Walls of Books store. You have many things to consider, including the
while giving yourself the proper margins for
franchise fee, fixtures, equipment, supplies, and inventory.
resale. Our training will help you understand
®
SCALABILITY
the resale book market so you can buy and sell used and new books for profit. Our support
The Walls of Books® startup model is based upon an average store size of 1,500-
team is always available, and all the Walls of
3,000 square feet of viable retail space. However, the store can easily be scaled to
Books® stores stay connected throughout the
accommodate the needs of a larger (or smaller) store, allowing for an expansion
workweek. You will never be alone.
on the base concept. Obviously, more cost will be involved with the purchasing of extra inventory and shelving, but this can all be done within reason. Want to be even more ambitious? Is your community wide-reaching, or do you have more than one strong consumer base within driving distance? Open multiple Walls of Books® locations! Having more than one store gives you even more benefits, including, but not limited to, the ability to sell and transfer books between stores. Our original stores opened as a multi-store operation, so our team has the necessary experience to help you open multiple locations. Whether you want a small shop that adds value to your community (while adding income to your pocket) or a large, multi-store operation, Walls of Books® can help you attain your goal of opening a retail store. This is all at a much lower startup and ongoing cost than other retail operations. 4
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Support & Training Your store operation will succeed with teamwork. We provide a group of core teachers that LOW FRANCHISE FEE
will lead you through our extensive training process. We provide complete training for you and your managers, and we will help you customize a plan to maximize your potential as a bookselling team. You will be trained for 3-4 days at the corporate headquarters located in Byron, GA. Prior to opening, our team will join you at your store’s location for extended, on-site training and store setup. Some of the tools and training provided include:
ONGOING SUPPORT
• Choosing shelving
• Pricing guidelines
• POS software
• Book genres
• Tracking inventory
• Customer service
• Approved vendors
• Running the store
• Marketing
• Book acquisition
• Workshops & events
• Staffing
• Purchasing strategies
• Safety
• Accounting
ON-SITE TRAINING
PROTECTED TERRITORY
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Do You Have the Write Stuff? Is the Walls of Books® Franchise System for you? Are you the ideal candidate for a franchise store? Use these qualifying questions to help make your decision:
DO I LOVE BOOKS? Your passion needs to show!
DO I LOVE INTERACTING ONE-ON-ONE WITH CUSTOMERS? This is a service industry more than a sales job. Your job will be matching books with customers, so you need to have great interpersonal skills.
DO I WANT TO READ BOOKS ALL DAY OR MAKE MONEY? Some people envision booksellers spending most of their time relaxed behind the counter reading a Dickens novel. You might sneak a chapter or two here and there, but you will be running a business. Sales and customer care are the priority. Be ready to work!
DOES MY COMMUNITY HAVE A NEED FOR A WALLS OF BOOKS®? We are not asking whether or not your city has a bookstore already. Even with competition, can Walls of Books® fill a need where you live? We provide a service that most bookstores do not. We will help you decide if Walls of Books® is the proper fit for your community.
AM I READY TO PROVIDE THIS ASSET TO MY COMMUNITY? Your bookstore will become a respected operation that promotes culture, literacy, and learning. Are you ready for the attention that comes with that honor? Are you ready to take pride in your Walls of Books®?
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Get Started Today! Are you ready to start the exciting journey of becoming a Walls of Books® owner? We would love to schedule a time to discuss your options and share more information about the great opportunities with Gottwals Franchising, Inc. Call us toll-free at 1-888-94-BOOKS to speak to a franchise specialist. We can answer your questions by phone. Then, you will receive our Request for Consideration. Once completed—if we think this is the proper fit for your situation—we will award your franchise territory and begin the process of opening your Walls of Books® location. We can help you open in as little as 8-10 weeks! Remember, with your extensive training, protected territory, and ongoing support, you’ll be ready and best prepared to succeed from the very beginning. That’s the goal of the Walls of Books® system... providing a one-stop, streamlined source for opening your own bookstore!
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Locations The Walls of Books® franchise currently has 17 locations in 6 different states. We would love to have you join our growing team! We are prepared to open in all 50 States.
GEORGIA | KANSAS | LOUISIANA | OHIO | SOUTH CAROLINA | WASHINGTON, D.C.
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Hear from Current Franchisees
“
I have been a Walls of Books owner now for 2 years and have been so pleased with the support and willing participation in the success of my business that Shane and all his staff have shown. I have never felt hesitant to ask for help and have always received it above and beyond what I could have expected. I am honored to be part of this organization! Jan McTier | Ellijay, GA | Former Postal Service Worker
“ “
We love the Walls of Books/Gottwals family! They have made running a used bookstore easy, classy, and a lot of fun! Karly Casey | Atchison, KS | Former Stay-at-home Mom
Gottwals Franchising, Inc. is easy to work with. Shane knows the bookstore industry inside and out, and has great ideas for the success of each Walls of Books store. He and his staff will be with you from day one and become like family. Each store is unique and has personal touches from the owner, but Shane and all the corporate staff will assist each store owner to succeed. Lois Harper | Tifton, GA | Former Higher Education Employee
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CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS Gottwals Franchising, Inc | 660 Peavy Road | Byron, GA 31008 WallsofBooks.net | 1-888-94-BOOKS