paz | Paz and Associates

Develop a Sense of Place

Mindy Ostrow and Bill Reilly take a break from their daily duties in the children's play area of their bookstore designed by Paz & Associates, the river's end, in Oswego, NY.

Paz & Associates – the one-stop resource for independent booksellers. Your first consultation is FREE, call now (800)260-8605 or send a message.
Create a Warm & Welcoming Environment

Relax and stay a while at Creekside Books in Skaneateles, NY, designed by Paz & Associates for owner Erika Davis, a Paz workshop graduate

Paz & Associates – the one-stop resource for independent booksellers. Your first consultation is FREE, call now (800)260-8605 or send a message.
Follow Your Dreams

Workshop graduate Eileen McGervey leaves corporate life to open her store, One More Page, in Arlington, VA

Paz & Associates – the one-stop resource for independent booksellers. Your first consultation is FREE, call now (800)260-8605 or send a message.
What a Great Bookstore!

...is what customers say about workshop graduate Arlene Lynes's bookstore in Woodstock, IL, Read Between the Lynes

Paz & Associates – the one-stop resource for independent booksellers. Your first consultation is FREE, call now (800)260-8605 or send a message.

Ann Patchett’s Pulpit

Posted on February 22, 2012 by paz

Her talents reach far and wide, yet Ann Patchett has chosen to use her talents, media attention, and energy to speak up for the value of indie bookstores. As a special guest on Stephen Colbert’s Colbert Report on Comedy Central, … Continue reading →

Posted in bookstore, Community, Independent Bookselling, Small Business, Uncategorized | Tagged Amazon.com, Ann Patchett, bookstores, independent bookstore, small business, Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report | Leave a comment

Sales & Spirits Up

Posted on February 1, 2012 by paz

During the American Booksellers Association’s Winter Institute in New Orleans last month, there were high spirits — even before the first cocktail party. From the moment booksellers began arriving in the city that embodies strength and resilience, everyone began comparing … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, bookstore, Business opportunity, Buy Local, Local business, Main Street, New economy, Small Business | Tagged bookstore, bookstore bookseller indie independent main street consulting design marketing, business opportunity, Community, economies, local, Main Street, retail, small business | Leave a comment

What do you say after you say ‘hello’?

Posted on January 16, 2012 by paz

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: “A customer walks into a bookstore … and leaves empty-handed.”  When you consider that exceptional customer service is one of the few competitive advantages that an indie bookstore can rightfully claim, it’s mind-boggling … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Occupy Amazon.com, We’re All Fed Up

Posted on December 10, 2011 by paz

With Amazon.com’s latest marketing tactic, independent retailers, citizens, and community builders are fed up with the predatory strategies that are legal, but highly unethical.
Continue reading →

Posted in Books, bookstore, Buy Local, Internet, Local business, Loss Leader, Main Street, Mom & Pop, Sales taxes, Technology | Tagged Amazon.com, bookstore, bookstore bookseller indie independent main street consulting design marketing, business ethics, Community, independent, independent bookstore, retail, small business | Leave a comment

The Next Generation & The New Economy

Posted on October 19, 2011 by paz

Janet Geddis, a young entrepreneur with a dream, but no capital, finds a way to engage the community and opens an indie bookstore in Athens, Georgia. Continue reading →

Posted in Barter, Books, bookstore, Business opportunity, Buy Local, Community, Local business, Mom & Pop, New economy, Social Media, Young entrepreneur | Tagged bookstore, bookstore bookseller indie independent main street consulting design marketing, business opportunity, Community, economies, independent, independent bookstore, Indie movement, local, retail, shop local, small business, store | Leave a comment

The High Cost of Cheap

Posted on September 30, 2011 by paz

Amazon.com’s release of the Fire tablet reminds us of the high cost of cheap. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Buy Local, Ebooks, Internet, Loss Leader, Sales taxes, Tablet, Technology | Tagged Amazon's Fire, Amazon.com, bookstores, Community, e-books, ebooks, economies, Sales Tax Collection, Tablet | Leave a comment

Ideal Anchors for Community Development

Posted on August 13, 2011 by paz

While the ‘Shop Local’ movement continues to gain momentum, smart commercial real estate developers look to independently owned local bookstores as anchors and valuable tenants. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, bookstore, Business opportunity, Buy Local, Community, Developers, Development, Investment, Local business, Main Street, Mom & Pop, Real Estate | Tagged big box, bookstore, Borders, business, business opportunity, Commercial real estate, Community, Developers, Development, economies, independent, independent bookstore, independent business, indie, local, Local economies, Main Street, Real Estate, retail, small business, store | Leave a comment

Now is the time

Posted on July 28, 2011 by paz

Borders store closings opens opportunities for entrepreneurs who recognize the lasting value of a community bookstore. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, bookstore, Business opportunity, Community, Local business | Tagged Borders | Leave a comment

Information Filters Narrow Views

Posted on June 24, 2011 by paz

When the Internet intuits what search results based on previous searches, how do we see what we need to see rather than what we already know? Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Filters, Internet, Public Libraries | Tagged bookstore, Eli Pariser, independent bookstore, Internet, searches, The Filter Bubble | Leave a comment

The Future for Brick-and-Mortar Bookstores

Posted on June 1, 2011 by paz

If Harold Camping’s prophecy came true and the world had ended on May 21st, there wouldn’t be much need to consider the future of indie bookstores. Though we would never pretend to be able to predict how life will unfold … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, bookstore, Ebooks, Technology | Tagged BISG, business, e-books, future, independent bookstore, Main Street | Leave a comment

Develop a Sense of Place

Create a Warm & Welcoming Environment

Follow Your Dreams

What a Great Bookstore!