Dear breathe books customer,
I need your help.
Throughout the almost six years since I opened breathe books we've
been quite successful. We attract authors and presenters from around the
world, we have turned a profit every year since we opened, and we hired
Jenn Northington as full-time manager late last year. It is a good
business. Classes are often full and people show a great interest in our
programs, but the truth of the matter is that people are simply not
buying as much as they used to.
Even though we have had such wonderful success, but I am not immune to the
current economic situation. It's become increasingly difficult to keep
cash flow at a level to cover operating costs. That money allows us to
pay presenters to come to breathe, and to stock the great variety of
books, music, gifts and other items on our shelves, drawing a diverse
group of customers. Inventory is a major investment.
To address this we're doing something that may sound
counter-intuitive: we're going to expand. I believe that I need to bring
you more of what you want. In order to adapt to this new reality,
breathe books is launching an expansion program!
The expansion plans include diversification of products, the addition
of new classes, and ultimately the purchase a beautiful space to hold
more events, workshops, concerts, cooking classes and more. Here is
where we need your help. In order to finance the new business plan, we
are starting a community investment program, modeled after a successful
program in Brooklyn where the community recently supported the creation
of a new bookstore in their neighborhood.
So I'm asking you today to help breathe books thrive as a center of
community and learning. You can either donate money, invest in the store
and receive interest on your principal (2% - 4% - you choose your
interest), or purchase gift cards that never expire but have a start
date one-year from purchase. Rather than having money sit in a CD in a
bank, every time you come to breathe you will actually see your money at
work. This is not only an investment in breathe books, it's an
investment in our community.
Please let me know if you are interested in learning more. I'd be
happy to send you the promissory note, investor's agreement, and a
business disclosure form, per Maryland State law. And of course I'd be
happy to talk to you about how we will use the money raised in order to
create a deeper foundation for the bookstore and continue to offer events, books, products and experiences that enrich us all.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this letter and for
considering becoming a breathe books community investor!
With much love and gratitude,
Susan Weis
susan@breathebooks.com
|
This letter was first published on Facebook and on the breathebooks website on May 14. We have received quite a few emails and mentions in the media. People seem to be excited about this idea!
|
breathe books
810 W 36th Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21211
410-235-7323
www.breathebooks.com
|
