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The Good Bookman is a regular feature profiling a bookseller in each column. The Good Bookman will reveal what our colleagues are doing in the hopes we can all learn from each other's experiences.
Name and Company: Ken Lopez, Bookseller (President of the ABAA)
Location: Hadley, Massachusetts
Website: Lopezbooks.com http://www.lopezbooks.com
Years in Business: Ken began in the early 1970's as a collector and scout. He issued his first catalog in 1981.
How do you sell your books? Ken maintains an office and sees customers by appointment. He also issues catalogs, uses the Internet and sets up at bookfairs.
Number of books online: 15,000 and adding more.
What Internet Selling Venues do you Employ? Abe.com, alibris, Amazon, Antiqbook and several others, including ABAA.com and ILAB
Specialty: Literary modern firsts
Number of employees: Three full time employees
Do they price your books? Yes
What database do you use? We use one designed by one of the employees.
The Most Useful Computer Program you've used: Most of our traffic occurs through Abe.com, Alibris, and higher-end books come through ABAA.com. Abe is the most useful because the database is big and fast.
Your Favorite Web Page: Abe.com for is search ability and ABAA for learning about books.
Your Biggest Blunder: I blocked those out of my mind, but I guess it's the books I didn't buy.
Future Plans: We do a lot with writers' archives; it's a portion of the business that's been increasing over the years. We work with agents and brokers to place archives with institutions. It feels like a good thing to do.
Your favorite book: Dog Soldiers by Robert Stone. It was the book that sent me into book collecting and that led into scouting books.
Ken Lopez is the current president of the ABAA (Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America). Our readers who'll be attending the Boston Bookfair will see Ken's collection of modern firsts on display. When asked about the best way for online sellers to become more acquainted with the ABAA, Ken suggested that, "going to a bookfair and talking to some of the dealers when it's not really busy is helpful. It's a good way to introduce yourself."
As far as the ABAA is concerned, Internet selling is just another venue and, according to this year's president, "online sellers are just like any other bookseller." Anyone wishing to join will follow the procedures listed on ABAA.com. Other ways to get to know ABAA members is to look in their printed directory or online for members residing in your area. "You can visit the shop or office to introduce yourself," Ken suggested, adding that he had one seller visit him one afternoon and found the time they spent was enjoyable and productive. He strongly recommends the ABAA as a professional affiliation because it affords a level consumer protection for people who are buying collectible and expensive books. This, in turn, makes members a more desirable source.
To have your bookselling business considered for The Good Bookman, send an email to editor@bookologist.com.
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