Designer Samples Spring 2009

Sorry we haven't blogged in a while - but we had to let you know that our 2009 Spring Samples are in! They will be available starting Saturday, March 21st in our Weymouth, Norwood, Natick and Cranston stores.
Be early for the best selection!

How Do You Want to Browse?

We are working on a new way to present books in our stores and Bill asked me to "become a customer" and shop our racks and tables.
I thought you could help me with this and let me know how you would like to see books presented in our stores.
What stores do you think do a great job? Where do you always buy a book even if you didn't plan to? What store do you think of when you realize you need a new book?
There are lots of options to consider and I would really like to hear from you!
Help me help us get better....

What would make a difference to you - book shelves, racks, tables, higher, lower, smaller, taller, more books, less books, different books - please take the time to let me know what would make Building 19's book department better!

FaceBook Us!

Ok, so we finally decided to join everyone in 2008 and we got a Facebook account (Myspace coming soon!) So we would love all of our friends, who come into our stores or have ever been in our stores, to Facebook us. Our page is not too fancy yet, but we call it home (in Facebook terms) either way if you have a Facebook page or would like to join just search for "Building19" and we will be happy to welcome you into our Facebook family.

Also we will give users on Facebook some sneak-peeks, so if you wanna be in the know that is the place to be.

Thanks for being so supportive and we hope to see you soon, either in store or on Facebook.

Thirteen stores in Three Days

I have just visited 13 of the 14 Building 19 stores in the last three days to judge the progress our store people have made on grouping the book department into fiction and non fiction categories. Just couldn't squeeze in the Lynn store on Tuesday - next week, Ron and Carolina, I promise!
This was a daunting task (those of you who shop our stores know what I mean!)!
I am so proud of the staff who really took on the challenge and created an inviting, easy to browse department. Some stores are so well organized it looks like a real book store. Some stores even have a Spanish book section!

Let me know what you think after your next trip into your favorite Building 19 store. Give them a pat on the back if you like what you find!

The Next Generation of Building 19 Shopper is in the Making!

Last Wednesday as I was working in the Hanover store trying (and trying and trying) to get the books shelved by category, I overheard this conversation between two girls who were about 12 years old. They were cruising the book department looking at the vast selection of teen reads
First Girl: "WoW! I just paid $10 for that book at Borders!"
Second Girl" "See. I told you they had great books here at great prices" (imagine a bit of a valley girl inflection)
Our price? An amazing $2.98!
These young ladies were standing in front of the rack displaying about 30 titles of what's known as "Chick Lit" - Gossip Girl, The Clique, A List - these series appeal to young women from 12 to 20.

If I didn't know these were customers, I would think Bill McGowan scripted this for a commercial!

The books are great and always changing. Come on in to a Building 19 store and browse - what you save will more than offset the gas expended!

PS The Last Days of Mash mentioned in an earlier blog are no longer in the store.

Iron Age Work Boots

Starting Thurs, June 12 AFTER WORK at 6 pm: men's safety work boots from Iron Age, Knapp and more! You'll save 68% to 72% off the retail price.
See www.building19.com for more details!

This is what we mean by "Good Stuff Cheap"

Two events happening starting Saturday, May 3rd are perfect examples of "Good Stuff Cheap".
"Good Stuff Cheap" event no. 1: an Insurance Claim Oriental Rug event in our Burlington store. These gorgeous antique and antique reproduction rugs were in a rug showroom when a pipe leaked. They were sent out to dry, but they just couldn't meet the exacting standards that this rug importer had established. These rugs need a little TLC - and we've asked the cleaning and restoration experts at Koko Boodakian and Sons to help out. On Sat., May 3rd from 9am to 1pm, Michael Boodakian will be at our Burlington store to answer your questions - and they are offering our rug-buying customers a 30% off cash and carry rug cleaning coupon. Stop by and browse!

"Good Stuff Cheap" event no. 2: Starting Saturday, May 3rd in our Weymouth store, we have a selection of Luxury Men's Clothing, the likes of which we have never had in our 44 year history! You'll see suits, dress shirts, dress slacks, sportcoats and more from such venerable names as Hugo Boss, Burberry, Versace, Brioni, Eton, Ferre, Uomo and more. Come on in and try on a $1600 suit (our price: $449) or a $700 dress shirt (our price: $89.99).

Check our website for more info...