Schuler Books - Michigan, USA

This is the first in my newly minted Book Shop Series where I visit independent book stores in various places and do a lil review of the place. Independent, or Indie, book stores vary by such a large degree, from atmosphere to book selection, that comparing them to each other -- or gods forbid big box book stores -- is an unfair way to judge them. So, in this post I am going to set up a group of criteria by which I am going to score each store I visit. I want to emphasize that this is not meant to dissuade you from visiting or patroning any of these places. All of these opinions are my own and not influenced by any company or brand. (Legal language like I am famous lol.)

Criteria

1. Atmosphere

When I walk into a book store, I want to feel like I am being hugged by candle light. Cozy and comfortable is the name of the game. With warm colors, beautiful wood bookshelves, and just the right amount of decorative clutter will fill the space with an air of an old school library. This is the atmosphere I most commonly want in my book shops. The other option is for the store to create and stick to a theme of their own. If you only sell mysteries and make your shop look like a detective's office, that's perfect. If you stick to romance and the place is covered in pink and flowers, amazing. Atmosphere is scored out of 6, with 1 being: there is a store with books in it and 6 being: I feel transported to the book space of my dreams.

2. Book Selection

The worst thing in the world is a bookstore that only sells the NYT best sellers and nothing else. When book shopping I am looking for either breadth or depth or, in a perfect world, both. Breadth meaning many different genres and kinds of books, at least one full shelf of every genre they have available. Depth meaning only one or two specific genres but with a wide range of authors, publishers, reading ages, etc. Both meaning ... both. The best ways to gain bonus points in the category is if the store offers the option to order in a specific book if requested OR if they have a used book resale collection. (Both these bonus points don't apply to stores that specialize in selling used or rare books, obviously.) Book Selection is scored out of 6, with 1 being: where are the books? and 6 being: there is every book!

3. Non-Book Book Lover Items

As book lovers, we tend to also love a combination of the following things: hot drinks, candles, house plants/gardens, furry animals both wild and domestic, baked goods, journaling, artistic/crafting endeavors, and reading related items. As such, have a section of the store that sells non-book items that fall into any of these categories is always a good thing. This can be anything from fancy bookmarks and annotation supplies to mugs with puppies all over it. A good selection of other items being sold will only boost the shopping experience and all of these are tempting impulse buys for any cozy book person. Non-Book Book Lover Items is scored out of 6, with 1 being: a paper bookmark...for $5...really? and 6 being: I spent almost as much on these as I did on books!

4. Come Hang Out

A bookshop should be inviting. I want to feel like I can go and browse for a long while without feeling eyes on me begging me to either buy something or get out. To me, book stores should be a kind of third space where you can go and create a sense of community. With events, book clubs, places to sit down, I want to get the vibe that I can come and stay a while, maybe start the book I just bought or try out one that I am looking to buy. Part of this is also the customer experience with employees. Can the workers suggest recommendations? Are there employee picks on the shelves? Are they willing to have a chat about their recent favorites or authors they love? We book people just want a place where we can gush about or worship books the way we always want to. Come Hang Out is scored out of 6, with 1 being: I'm feeling like a nuisance...should I leave? and 6 being: I may never go home.

Schuler Books

Schuler books was established in 1982 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Over the years they have grown and opened three other stores across Michigan in Okemos, Ann Arbor, and most recently West Bloomfield. They host a myriad of events at all of their locations every month from book tour events and author panels to book talks and children's reading times. Although they don't host any book clubs of their own, they are more than happy to host your book club at any of their locations. They will make sure that they have your chosen book on offer for your members, and will even offer a 20% discount on the book. All their rules and regulations on having Schuler books be the host location of your books club can be found one their website here. The Grand Rapids and Okemos locations both boast an in-store cafe with a pretty grand selection.

Schuler books also offers their services as a small independent press that prints self published books both in small batches and on demand. In 2009 the Grand Rapids location became the first independent bookstore in the US to acquire an Espresso Book Machine. This high-speed machine automatically prints, binds and trims high-quality paperback books complete with a full-color cover! When Schuler Books got their Espresso Book Machine there were only 20 of them in the entire world. This machine allows them to print digital-only titles, print-on-demand titles form publishing companies, and out-of-print public domain Google books. You can find out all they have on offer on their website here.

I visited the West Bloomfield location on this book shop trip. Located in a small strip-mall, the immediate impression upon walking in is that this is a place I want to shop. I was greeted by a very friendly staff, but wasn't pushed to engage unless I needed something. The sale tables at the doors had a good verity of genres of books. The title tables included recent releases, staff picks for the month, and a themed selection for each category heading (example: they were highlighting BIPOC sci-fi in the YA section).

Highlights of the store were their extensive non-book items collection. They had on offer everything from mushroom shaped mugs to Mansfield Park scented candles. An entire alcove up front was dedicated to puzzles and literature themed board/card games. They also had calendars, journals, planners, and stationary. The best part of all though were the following two thing:

1. The seating areas!

This is one of the two available places to sit and chill during your time visiting the store. There is another in the children's books section. The fireplace, the cozy chairs, the tables (!) is all so wonderful. Although this picture doesn't have any people sitting in the area, a very adorable older couple was sitting there reading only minutes before this was taken. We love a bookstore that encourages people to stay a while.

2. The used books!

They have an extensive, and I mean EXTENSIVE selection of used books. Not only are the books they have available set at great resale prices, they offer a buy-back program for acquiring their used books. Although they don't guarantee that they will buy any book you bring in (market and inventory do play a part), for books that they decide to take they offer 20% of the resale value in cash or 30% in-store credit (that doesn't expire!). It is one of the most efficient programs I have ever seen.

Final Score

Atmosphere: 4 - Although the overall feel is comfortable, it isn't cozy. It still gives off a bit of a box store feel, but I put that down to floor size and a lack of taller, space dividing furniture pieces.

Book Selection: 6 - Literally all the books! Couldn't get more all the books if it tried.

Non-Book Book Lover Items: 6 - Such a great mix of stuff! I fell victim to a few impulse buys on my trip.

Come Hang Out: 4 - Even with the seating available, it is only for very few people at a time and doesn't scream invited to stay for a long time.

Overall Score: 83%

Now this may change when I have the chance to visit the Grand Rapids OG location, but I did really love this store. I found it a great alternative to Barnes & Noble if you want a box store like selection while still supporting an independent bookstore. If you find yourself in Michigan defiantly go check them out!

Leave a comment with your opinion of Schuler Books if you have been before. If you haven't tell me your favorite independent book shop and maybe I will visit and review it in the future!

As always,

Keep wondering and stay wandering!