Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicolle Reid.
Hi Nicolle , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Books of Wimberley Philosophy
We price used books from a mobile book shop. I travel around Hays County and surrounding rural areas to bring books to folks, in towns that do no have a book store.
We will carry books that represent the under-represented voices. For people who are underrepresented, it means a lot to them to see themselves reflected in all kinds of media, and books are one type.
My inspiration for my second career at Books of Wimberley was my love for reading. I have always found comfort in spending time at the library, book stores and at my book clubs. My beloved home of Wimberley has a fantastic library but no bookshop, so I decided to create a mobile bookshop. We believe in reusing previously owned books. If you have read a book once and pass it along, the story doesn’t change and the beauty within it is not any different. We believe the book deserves to be shared again and again. At Books of Wimberley the book gets a new life.
Books of Wimberley typically sets up at area Farmers Markets. I feel proud when a market provides health, nutrition and economic benefit to the host community and I am always met with readers at these markets who are so excited to have a calm space inside the bookshop to hang out.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I started the bookshop with a 10×10 tent and crates and crates (which my 19 year old son built for me) of donated books, given to me by my friends in family in Oregon and Texas. The loading and unloading of these books was taxing on my back. Then I purchased the book trailer and outfitted it with book shelves from a Scandinavian box store and over a short period of time these book cases came disconnected and fell apart, from the rattling of driving down the road. Now I have wooden bookcases (built by my husband) and an efficient system where I tie the books into the shelves with ropes when traveling.
Finding just the right Farmers Market is a regular adventure….you must have readers at theses markets. 🙂
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love having a mobile bookstore because almost all of my customers who are readers are delightfully surprised and full of joy when they find me at a Pop Up Farmers Market, Winery, Brewery or Coffee Shop. Customers frequently tell me with emotion in their voice that my bookshop reminding them of the Scholastic Bookfair from their childhood and they LOVED the bookfair. I sell books which have stories that I have read and these books have warmed my heart, or enraged me to try to make the word a better place. I carry a load of classic books for kids and adults and when I parent comes across a book in the kids section, sometimes they have a visceral connection. They remember reading it with their parent as a child, some examples are Where the Wild Things Are, The Secret Garden, Amelia Bedelia books.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I reach out of local shops in Wimberley and they often host the bookstore. One favorite is The Wimberley Donut Shop. I am also working with Jaclynn Renée Wines and Fitzhugh Brewing for back to school events.
Pricing:
- My prices are close to half of the retail price
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @books_of_wimberley
- Facebook: booksofwimberely
