The Mystery Company is closing its doors. The store that my wife, my staff, and all our customers and friends built here in Carmel, Indiana, and have struggled to sustain for nearly seven years will shut down in the next week or so.
We've just hosted our last two author events; we have discussion groups this week; we'll celebrate our time together here at a party on Saturday, January 30, 1:00 - 3:00 pm; and then we'll be wrapping up operations in the first few days of February. We'll be at the Carmel Clay Public Library to support the launch of Jeff Stone's DRAGON on February 9 -- that will be our last event.
There will be some kind of clearance sale, or perhaps someone will come along ready and able to buy out our inventory/business in whole or in large part, and be able to carry on in some way -- we're open to all possibilities -- but I'll be moving on to new challenges in a new job out of state. I start on February 15 at Kenyon College, in Gambier, Ohio, where I'll be general manager of the college's bookstore.
It's hard to express how disappointed we are that things didn't work out at The Mystery Company, and how much we'll miss the many friends we've made here in Indiana. We've given this everything we could and we've had a great run. In the end, though, it just wasn't enough.
Business here has been rough for a while, especially since gas prices spiked in the summer of 2008. Up 'til then, sales weren't great, but at least they were slowly growing. Almost overnight, though, that incremental growth evaporated and we started seeing our numbers turn negative. We'd hoped to see a boost from our involvement in Bouchercon 2009; the convention was a great success and we did sell a lot of books at the convention. But the costs of our participation -- in terms of both time and money -- were overwhelming, and we've seen no residual effects on our sales -- no additional walk-in business, no additional internet/telephone orders, nothing. (That's been kind of a shock to us.) Finally, we hoped for a good holiday season, but our sales between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year were once again disappointing -- our second straight poor holiday season.
I haven't had a paycheck from the store for two years, and we weren't feeling as though that would turn around anytime soon. The only reason I've been able to stick with this so long is that Jennie has been well-employed, paid reasonably well by a company that offers important stuff like health insurance. For some time, though, she has felt that she's been on shakier and shakier ground. Her employer has been engulfed in its own problems and is in the midst of eliminating 5500 positions. In particular, it has been actively working to outsource the kind of work that she's been doing. Jennie still has a job today, but it's become increasingly difficult to believe that she'd continue to be employed there for much longer. And even while she is there, the company's management has worked hard to make life difficult for its employees. Instead of responding to the many pressures on it with grace and respect for the staff, it's engaging in the kinds of tactics that are designed to get people to quit so that the company doesn't have to offer buyouts.
(As I've been talking about our situation over the past few weeks, I've found that folks completely understand the difficulties that the store is facing and are completely understanding of our decision to close. On the other hand, everyone is finding it difficult to believe that things at my wife's employer are so bad, and that the company has treated our family so poorly in these last few weeks. It used to be a wonderful place to work, the kind of firm that truly valued its employees. It's not like that anymore, and I think that the difficulty folks have believing that stems from real fear about what this company's new and horrible pattern of behavior might mean for this community.)
Since we no longer believed that Jennie was likely to stay in her job long enough to get us through paying for college for our daughters, we began to consider our next steps.
We thought hard about the book business, and what it might take for a small, independent store like ours to stay afloat. The business is changing dramatically, pulled in many directions all at once. Shoppers are shopping differently, big retailers are engaging in ruinous price wars and technology is completely rewriting the book on the book itself.
Our goal has always been to create an environment that offers opportunities for connection -- readers with books, readers with each other, readers and writers, readers with literary communities here in Indiana and across the globe. While we still believe in the goal, we've found it difficult to achieve in this context. The streetscapes of the Indianapolis metropolitan area aren't friendly to small, locally-owned independents -- far too much of the development around here is designed to exclude rather than include. This is our second location, and while it's better than our original spot on Rangeline Road, it's still problematic. The culture of discounting is at odds with a culture of customer service. We can't tell you how frustrated we are with the increasing number of people who are coming to us for advice, but are obviously doing most of their buying from others. And, finally, the lousy economy is a drag on all of us, making it difficult for even our strongest supporters to spend much of their money here right now.
We can imagine strategies to deal with some of these issues, and the economy is cyclical, so some of the pressures would ease on their own were we able to wait things out without the pressure on our family that Jennie's job situation has created. At the same time, though, there are larger challenges that won't go away without serious investments of time and money. We believe that even a locally-focused store that's built on the idea of getting to know our customers has to be built on strong technology. Independent booksellers need to find ways to participate in print on demand, to offer electronic texts and the devices on which they're read, and to be available 24/7 with robust, full-featured virtual stores on the web in addition to keeping our real, brick-and-mortar stores open and lively. Some of this is possible today, some of this is still beyond the reach of small independents. But going forward, all of this is necessary and all of this will take resources beyond what we have at our disposal.
Making the decision to close hasn't been easy, but we knew that things had to change for both the business and for our family. This position at Kenyon offers an opportunity to apply all my experience in a community that truly values books and words, and I'm especially looking forward to working through all of the book business' larger issues among so many smart people. I love what I do, but I have been doing this for over 22 years now, working as a mystery bookseller in Boston, Kalamazoo and Carmel since 1987. Kenyon will offer a fresh context and fresh perspectives, and I'm excited to be joining such an amazing community.
I'm not disappearing from the mystery genre. Though I'm giving up our retail store, I'll still be doing the occasional mystery publishing project through my company The Crum Creek Press. (We have some cool stuff in the works.) I'm still expecting to be able to attend at least two mystery conventions this year. And, of course, we do sell mysteries at The Kenyon Bookstore.
It's been a great ride here at The Mystery Company, and I'm grateful to all of you who've been along for part or all of it, all of you who've made it possible and made it so wonderful. We've done so much here together!
Please keep an eye on our website and emails for details about our last days, and I hope to see many of you at the party on Saturday, January 30, 1:00 - 3:00 pm. We are offering $10 off any purchase of $40 or more and $30 off any purchase of $100 or more, in store on on our website. If you're ordering on the web, just ask for this discount in the special instructions box on the checkout form, and we'll apply the discount when we process your order.
Thank you!
We've just hosted our last two author events; we have discussion groups this week; we'll celebrate our time together here at a party on Saturday, January 30, 1:00 - 3:00 pm; and then we'll be wrapping up operations in the first few days of February. We'll be at the Carmel Clay Public Library to support the launch of Jeff Stone's DRAGON on February 9 -- that will be our last event.
There will be some kind of clearance sale, or perhaps someone will come along ready and able to buy out our inventory/business in whole or in large part, and be able to carry on in some way -- we're open to all possibilities -- but I'll be moving on to new challenges in a new job out of state. I start on February 15 at Kenyon College, in Gambier, Ohio, where I'll be general manager of the college's bookstore.
It's hard to express how disappointed we are that things didn't work out at The Mystery Company, and how much we'll miss the many friends we've made here in Indiana. We've given this everything we could and we've had a great run. In the end, though, it just wasn't enough.
Business here has been rough for a while, especially since gas prices spiked in the summer of 2008. Up 'til then, sales weren't great, but at least they were slowly growing. Almost overnight, though, that incremental growth evaporated and we started seeing our numbers turn negative. We'd hoped to see a boost from our involvement in Bouchercon 2009; the convention was a great success and we did sell a lot of books at the convention. But the costs of our participation -- in terms of both time and money -- were overwhelming, and we've seen no residual effects on our sales -- no additional walk-in business, no additional internet/telephone orders, nothing. (That's been kind of a shock to us.) Finally, we hoped for a good holiday season, but our sales between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year were once again disappointing -- our second straight poor holiday season.
I haven't had a paycheck from the store for two years, and we weren't feeling as though that would turn around anytime soon. The only reason I've been able to stick with this so long is that Jennie has been well-employed, paid reasonably well by a company that offers important stuff like health insurance. For some time, though, she has felt that she's been on shakier and shakier ground. Her employer has been engulfed in its own problems and is in the midst of eliminating 5500 positions. In particular, it has been actively working to outsource the kind of work that she's been doing. Jennie still has a job today, but it's become increasingly difficult to believe that she'd continue to be employed there for much longer. And even while she is there, the company's management has worked hard to make life difficult for its employees. Instead of responding to the many pressures on it with grace and respect for the staff, it's engaging in the kinds of tactics that are designed to get people to quit so that the company doesn't have to offer buyouts.
(As I've been talking about our situation over the past few weeks, I've found that folks completely understand the difficulties that the store is facing and are completely understanding of our decision to close. On the other hand, everyone is finding it difficult to believe that things at my wife's employer are so bad, and that the company has treated our family so poorly in these last few weeks. It used to be a wonderful place to work, the kind of firm that truly valued its employees. It's not like that anymore, and I think that the difficulty folks have believing that stems from real fear about what this company's new and horrible pattern of behavior might mean for this community.)
Since we no longer believed that Jennie was likely to stay in her job long enough to get us through paying for college for our daughters, we began to consider our next steps.
We thought hard about the book business, and what it might take for a small, independent store like ours to stay afloat. The business is changing dramatically, pulled in many directions all at once. Shoppers are shopping differently, big retailers are engaging in ruinous price wars and technology is completely rewriting the book on the book itself.
Our goal has always been to create an environment that offers opportunities for connection -- readers with books, readers with each other, readers and writers, readers with literary communities here in Indiana and across the globe. While we still believe in the goal, we've found it difficult to achieve in this context. The streetscapes of the Indianapolis metropolitan area aren't friendly to small, locally-owned independents -- far too much of the development around here is designed to exclude rather than include. This is our second location, and while it's better than our original spot on Rangeline Road, it's still problematic. The culture of discounting is at odds with a culture of customer service. We can't tell you how frustrated we are with the increasing number of people who are coming to us for advice, but are obviously doing most of their buying from others. And, finally, the lousy economy is a drag on all of us, making it difficult for even our strongest supporters to spend much of their money here right now.
We can imagine strategies to deal with some of these issues, and the economy is cyclical, so some of the pressures would ease on their own were we able to wait things out without the pressure on our family that Jennie's job situation has created. At the same time, though, there are larger challenges that won't go away without serious investments of time and money. We believe that even a locally-focused store that's built on the idea of getting to know our customers has to be built on strong technology. Independent booksellers need to find ways to participate in print on demand, to offer electronic texts and the devices on which they're read, and to be available 24/7 with robust, full-featured virtual stores on the web in addition to keeping our real, brick-and-mortar stores open and lively. Some of this is possible today, some of this is still beyond the reach of small independents. But going forward, all of this is necessary and all of this will take resources beyond what we have at our disposal.
Making the decision to close hasn't been easy, but we knew that things had to change for both the business and for our family. This position at Kenyon offers an opportunity to apply all my experience in a community that truly values books and words, and I'm especially looking forward to working through all of the book business' larger issues among so many smart people. I love what I do, but I have been doing this for over 22 years now, working as a mystery bookseller in Boston, Kalamazoo and Carmel since 1987. Kenyon will offer a fresh context and fresh perspectives, and I'm excited to be joining such an amazing community.
I'm not disappearing from the mystery genre. Though I'm giving up our retail store, I'll still be doing the occasional mystery publishing project through my company The Crum Creek Press. (We have some cool stuff in the works.) I'm still expecting to be able to attend at least two mystery conventions this year. And, of course, we do sell mysteries at The Kenyon Bookstore.
It's been a great ride here at The Mystery Company, and I'm grateful to all of you who've been along for part or all of it, all of you who've made it possible and made it so wonderful. We've done so much here together!
Please keep an eye on our website and emails for details about our last days, and I hope to see many of you at the party on Saturday, January 30, 1:00 - 3:00 pm. We are offering $10 off any purchase of $40 or more and $30 off any purchase of $100 or more, in store on on our website. If you're ordering on the web, just ask for this discount in the special instructions box on the checkout form, and we'll apply the discount when we process your order.
Thank you!
Jim, please don't doubt for a second that you did absolutely everything you could have not only to make The Mystery Company work for you and your family and staff, but also for the readers and authors who found such a warm welcome at the store. Wishing you satisfying work and lots less stress at Kenyon, and sending you big hugs!
Posted by: Elizabeth Zelvin | January 25, 2010 at 02:23 PM
Jim, the Mystery Company was one of my favorite stops last summer. You deserved success for all your hard work in supporting authors and making this past Bouchercon so memorable. I feel despair at how independent bookstores are struggling. If you can't make it, who can? Best of luck as you reinvent yourself.
Posted by: Julie Kramer | January 25, 2010 at 02:27 PM
So glad I got to see you at Bcon and was hoping the sales would turn it around for you. You're such a part of the mystery community we won't let you go that easily.
Posted by: cara | January 25, 2010 at 02:44 PM
Oh, Jim... what can I say? Ever since we first met at an ALA convention years ago, I've had nothing but admiration for your knowledge and love for the genre. I'm so sorry we will not see as much of you in future... but our loss is Kenyon's gain.
I hope things settle down for Jenny. Please know I'm thinking of you.
And like Roberta and Patty, I want everyone to know how lucky we were to have our first "male" board member at SINC. You are without peer.
Posted by: Libby Hellmann | January 25, 2010 at 02:50 PM
Jim, we hardly knew ye! Seriously, your moving on is a tremendous loss to the bookselling community, as well as the writing world. I can say for all of us that we'll miss you tremendously. Great good luck with the new gig, and my best to your wife and family.
Posted by: Shane Gericke | January 25, 2010 at 04:06 PM
Jim: What an asset you have been to our whole community. Your advice and friendship has seen me from my first book to my sixth, coming in August. I don't think I need to tell you what a loss this is to the many authors you've stood by, promoted, and encouraged. I wish you and your family the best and a future full of promise.
Posted by: Phil Dunlap | January 25, 2010 at 04:34 PM
I'm so sorry to hear this sad news, but I'm glad that you've been able to think it all through and make a good decision for your family/
Bouchercon 2009 rocked, and I hope to see you in San Francisco - we'll raise a toast to that vanishing breed, the independent bookseller.
Posted by: Rae | January 25, 2010 at 04:39 PM
All the best in the future. I'll miss stopping in when we're in town.
Posted by: Caryn St.Clair | January 25, 2010 at 04:41 PM
Thank you for such an honest and open post.
Good luck.
Posted by: John McFetridge | January 25, 2010 at 05:17 PM
I wish you the best of luck, Jim. Glad to hear we'll still see you on the mystery front. Hope to make it on Saturday.
Bev Myers
Posted by: Beverle Graves Myers | January 25, 2010 at 05:20 PM
It's hard to imagine the mystery community without Jim and The Mystery Company. Our loss is Kenyon's gain - such a great school and a wonderful place for you to end up. So glad to hear you'll still be sharing your opinions and publishing.
Posted by: Hallie Ephron | January 25, 2010 at 05:31 PM
Good luck, Jim.
Posted by: Janet Koch | January 25, 2010 at 06:06 PM
Wishing you and your family all the best in your future endeavors, Jim.
Posted by: Kaye Barley | January 25, 2010 at 06:40 PM
It was a pleasure to meet you at Bouchercon this year, Jim. So sorry to hear that this chapter is closing for now. I wish you and your family the best in this transition and whatever may unfold for you with Kenyon, Crum Creek and beyond.
Posted by: CJ West | January 25, 2010 at 07:22 PM
In 2007 when I started my blog, I had a long list of author book signings at indie mystery bookstores around the country that I posted each month. That list has shrunk noticeably in just two years, and now I found I'm taking off Mystery Company, too. Every time I have to remove a bookstore from that list, it really, truly hurts, and I feel a deep pang of loss. There will be some who will say about another store closing, "so what?" but as the wise saying goes, no one really appreciates what they've lost until it's gone. Thanks for your years of support to books and crime fiction, and best wishes to you and your family going forward.
Posted by: BV Lawson | January 25, 2010 at 08:05 PM
Jim, I am so sorry to hear you are moving on. You have made an immense contribution to the mystery community in so many way and you'll be missed. I am glad to hear you have some mystery projects in the works. I wish you the best of everything in your adventures. Hope to see you again in the future!
Posted by: Mary Jane Maffini | January 25, 2010 at 08:39 PM
So sorry this had to happen, Jim, but I wish you all the best at the new bookstore. They are gaining a wonderful manager, and you will hopefully be losing a lot of the stress you've taken on in the past while. Lots of love and hugs to you and your family.
Posted by: Judy Clemens | January 25, 2010 at 09:42 PM
I was sad to hear the news of your closing and of your wife's situation. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon at all. It was a pleasure meeting you at Bouchercon 2009 and I'm sad to hear it wasn't the boost you needed. Good luck at Kenyon and to your family!
Posted by: Sara Reyes | January 25, 2010 at 11:24 PM
Jim.....you shall be missed. Reading the work struggles you and Jenny have experienced redently makes me wish only for joy and happiness in you next adventure. Thanks for all you have given to readers, writers and other booksellers.
Mary Alice at Mystery Lovers Bookshop
Posted by: mary alice at mystery lovers bookshop | January 26, 2010 at 05:52 AM
Dear Jim -- I truly enjoyed coming to your store and was so impressed with your total knowledge of the books you recommended. Your store was a little gem and you were a wonderful and inspirational owner. All the best to you and your lovely family.
Posted by: Cindy Starks | January 26, 2010 at 07:43 AM
Jim I am so so sorry. What a damn shame. A real loss for our community. A sad day indeed but good luck to you and your wife.
Posted by: MJ | January 26, 2010 at 07:50 AM
Add me to the voices in Indy that will miss you greatly! I wish you the best at Kenyon!
Posted by: Kevin Smith | January 26, 2010 at 08:28 AM
Thanks, Jim for working so hard to develop a great independent bookstore---in spite of our difficult times. Walking into your store, I always felt I'd found the best book concierge--always directing me to the perfect next book. Kenyon students and faculty will be lucky to have you guiding them now. Keep us posted on your next chapter.
Posted by: Sharon Thompson | January 26, 2010 at 08:36 AM
I'm so sorry to hear the store is closing & that you'll be uprooting & moving, but the position sounds promising & new opportunities are out there. I knew you in Kalamazoo & have followed you online. I still miss Deadly Passions--& can't possibly forget you when I pass that area downtown.
Best wishes go to both you & Jennie & your family! God bless you.
Posted by: Karen Bower | January 26, 2010 at 08:47 AM
Jim, thanks for sharing this story. As always, you are educating and comforting us! I'm so sad to see The Mystery Company close. It is such a part of my experience of "Carmel," and the store, you, and all your staff will be greatly missed.
We are all living through this economy, so your family's choices are understandable. It's wonderful that you were able to find a position that will offer you growth and challenge. Kenyon will be lucky to have you.
All the best to you and your family.
Posted by: Elizabeth Roe | January 26, 2010 at 09:43 AM