Shoppers in Lincoln, Neb., have made
Indigo Bridge Books' third
holiday season the best one yet for the general interest store. "This year
we're seeing a significant increase in sales as our presence in the community
becomes stronger," said manager Kate Janulewicz. "A lot of people
want to support us for the reasons that we wanted to open our doors to the
community in the first place."
Indigo Bridge Books was founded in 2008, initially inspired by the idea for a bilingual children's story time and based on the belief that books can bring people together and bridge differences.
Every Saturday, retired teachers
and other volunteers read tales in English and Spanish to youngsters. A new monthly
program for kids, indiZoo, launched in November. A critter from either the
Lincoln Children's Zoo or the Pioneers Park Nature Center is the star
attraction during a fun educational session, along with stories and themed
crafts. The first two visitors were Stella, a screech owl, and Huggie Bear, a
hedgehog.
Top children's book bestsellers this season at Indigo Bridge Books are Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth and Tony DiTerlizzi's The Search for WondLa. The latter is a favorite handsell for Janulewicz, who read and loved the book after hearing the author speak at the Midwest Booksellers Association trade show. Another popular selection is Allen Kurzweil's Potato Chip Science: 29 Incredible Experiments. Janulewicz wasn't sure how the book and kit combo would do at the store but brought in an ample amount anyway--and it's nearly sold out.
For grown-up readers, customers are picking up copies of Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1 ("that's a hot one," said Janulewicz) and Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff.
A display at the front of the store makes gift-giving a little easier for shoppers. Indigo Bridge Books staffers have assembled themed baskets, like "Fun and Funky for Her" with a journal, note block, stationery and pencils; "Music Lovers" with copies of Music: A Very Short Introduction by Nicholas Cook, High Fidelity by Nick Hornby and Music Listography: Your Life in (Play) Lists by Lisa Nola; and "Going Green" with Colin Beavan's No Impact Man, Ellis Jones' The Better World Shopping Guide and a reusable ChicoBag.
The "Fair Trade" gift basket includes a hand-knit cap from Tiny Hands International, an organization working to stop sex-trafficking in India and Nepal, and a bracelet from Handmade Expressions, a Texas company that partners with disadvantaged artisan communities in India. "We carry a lot of things that are fair trade, that benefit the people who are making them," said Janulewicz.
In the Café Indigo, store-branded mugs are paired with different assortments of organic coffees, loose teas and hot chocolate, which Janulewicz noted appeal to customers as impulse gifts as Christmas gets closer. Across from the café is a board that frequently highlights a different cause or organization. This month there are suggestions for "giftless gift-giving," places in the community to donate time or money during the holidays.
With the "Giving Tree
Project," Indigo Bridge Books is making the holidays brighter for kids at
the Friendship Home, a shelter for women and children who have endured domestic
abuse. The centerpiece of the store is an eye-catching tree in the children's
section, constructed by a local artist out of a support pillar and adorned with
white lights. The tree is decorated with gingerbread house cut-outs, each of
which has on it the name of a child at the shelter and a description of his or
her interests such as planes or jewelry making. Customers can purchase a book
for an individual child or make a donation to the program like some patrons
have done, including several who gave $100 and $50.
Indigo Bridge Books' spirit of generosity extends year round. Every weekday from 11:30 to 1:30, the store hosts the Table. Displays are dismantled and transformed into a communal table, and diners pay what they can afford. The "priceless menu" includes baguettes and two kinds of soup daily (choices are announced on the store's Facebook page), which is purchased at cost from a local restaurant. "We have people from all different walks of life, in different age ranges, sitting at the same table discussing topics like college finals and family struggles," said Janulewicz.
Customers who purchase an Indigo Bridge Books canvas bag (which has the store's logo on one side and the story behind its name on the other) and bring it with them to the store to tote home purchases receive 10% off. This is a gift that keeps on giving: the perk that doesn't end with the holiday shopping season.--Shannon McKenna Schmidt