In a "Talking Shop" interview with MobyLives, bookseller William Hastings of Farley's Bookshop, New Hope, Pa., stressed the importance of shelf talkers as a means of expanding the conversation with customers: "We realized that shelf talkers written by us scattered all over the store was like having that many more booksellers working the floor. Some people are afraid to ask for a recommendation or aren't sure about how to find what they need, so a well-written shelf talker can help out there.
"Customers have been really happy to have them. Most often they'll come up to the register with a book in hand and tell us that they are buying it, and are excited to read it, because of what the shelf talker said. Many have told us that they love just coming into the shop and reading through all of the shelf talkers in order to find what they want. In each case it leads to a discussion, perhaps more recommendations (from us to them or them to us), which is what it's all about anyway."
