March 3, 2010

Secondhand shops supersize to maximize potential

When the economy sours, people look to save money any way they can. That often translates to more conservation and recycling. And that's been a boost to local resale and thrift shops.

Now some of these secondhand businesses are seizing an opportunity created by the downturn: They're moving into the empty spaces bankrupt big-box retailers left behind. Today's new superstore is not a Wal-Mart. It's a for-profit version of the Salvation Army.

In Nashua, there's a Used Book Superstore. The parking lot is packed and it hasn't been this busy since the building housed a now-bankrupt electronics chain called Tweeter.

As she grabs a shopping cart and browses the children's section, customer Rose Watne says there are many good deals: "Love the fact that you're not paying full price for them, but you're getting really good books. I always walk out with more than I came for."

There are 100,000 books stacked on metal shelves. The store may not have the warm vibe of a cafe, but it's well-lit and organized. As with the Savers store down the street, the used bookstore partners with a non-profit organization.

Used Book Superstore gives a tax write-off to donors. Owner Bob Ticehurst says in turn, it pays the nonprofit five cents a pound for the books.

"The nonprofit raises money and we're able to keep all of our operations going," Ticehurst explains. "So, kind of a win-win for everybody."

Ticehurst says the margins are small, but his operation is able to make a profit.

"It's volume. At these prices, being a $1.99 and $2.99 — it's not like you're making a lot on every book, but it continues to add up."

Ticehurst now owns five stores. Like other secondhand merchants, he sticks to a simple business model: high volume, low cost of goods and cheap rent.

According to the National Association of Resale Professionals, the multi-billion-dollar a year industry is growing. Over the past three years, the number of secondhand shops has increased five percent.

"It seems like every time there's a new retail concept, sooner or later, somebody decides to supersize it, if you will," says Gary Mucica, a marketing professor at the University of Massachusetts.

He says thrift shops are typically nonprofit and now that they've demonstrated their potential during a recession, the for-profits are targeting the same frugal customers. Those businesses are helped because of the leasing bargains they're getting on empty storefronts. What's unclear is how this new business model will play out when the economy turns around. :::Read More:::

February 18, 2010

More than $1400.00 raised for Haiti relief
For two weeks, each of our Used Book Superstores has been collecting donations for the Haiti relief efforts of the Red Cross. We wanted to have a little fun with it, so we decided to make it a friendly competition with the winning store receiving a 50% off sale for newsletter subscribers. Well. The totals are in, and the stores collected:

Burlington: $463.20
Danvers: $200.11
Saugus: $314.38
Nashua: $376.96
Salem: $47.95

That means Burlington is the lucky winner! We were able to collect $1402.60 in total! We’re so proud of our amazing customers who generously donated to those in need. To show our appreciation the Burlington store will have a newsletter-exclusive sale on Monday March 8th where everything will be 50% OFF! You’ll need to be signed up to receive our newsletter to get the coupon for the sale, so make sure to spread the word!

February 17, 2010

Letter from our President
In light of some statements that have been made about us recently, I wanted to take this time to address our loyal customers, donors and all others who feel invested in our company. Regarding the news piece which aired recently, we are disheartened to see that the news team, while offering some insight to the great things our company does, did not portray a full view of who we really are and what we really do.

If it weren’t for the nonprofit fundraising program that we offer, hundreds of groups would not have received the almost half a million dollars that we’ve raised for them in the past two years and if it weren’t for the community programs we have started thousands of local troops overseas would not have received books to pass the time, teachers would not have been able to stock their classrooms as fully, and countless other groups would be without the books and media they so desperately need for educational purposes.

Our book donation container program is very simple: a nonprofit group or organization gets in touch with us to start a fundraiser and we place a book donation container at their location, for which we pay the rental costs each month. The community donates books to the nonprofit group hosting the container and every time it fills up we buy the books inside from the nonprofit group. This way everyone wins because we are able to get a variety of books and hundreds of nonprofit groups raise thousands of dollars a year. None of the books we receive come for free, including those obtained through our pick-up service which have numerous costs associated with them, from staffing phones and drivers to running a fleet of trucks to sorting the books and more. This is something we do as a free service to the community for those who want to conveniently and easily get rid of their books. Books donated at our Used Book Superstore locations benefit our nonprofit partner RARA (Retarded Adult Rehabilitation Association) who gets paid for every item donated there.

The news piece points out that some members of the community are confused by our company and may think of us as a nonprofit group. We are a for-profit company, a fact which we make more than evident both on our website and in our business communications. We do work with and help support more than 300 local nonprofit groups through our community initiatives and our nonprofit fundraising program, but we are a for-profit company. This fact is clearly written on almost every page of our website and every person who calls to donate books is clearly told that a tax receipt will not be provided because we are not a tax deductible organization. It has been brought to our attention that some people may accidentally think of us as a nonprofit, so we go out of our way to make it obvious that we are not. We have had no issues with this matter and are completely in line with the rules of the Attorney General’s Office.

While the news team did offer some attempt to show a balanced story, there were many details left out that may have painted a different picture, namely our continued support of hundreds of local groups in the area and the great relationships we have with all of our nonprofit partners. We also send 25,000 books overseas each year through out Books for Troops program at no cost to anyone but us. If you know someone overseas who would want to receive books, send us a message at www.GotBooks.com/troops and we’ll send the package out. Know a teacher who needs to stock their classroom? Tell them to get involved with our fundraising program or visit one of our stores any Wednesday for a 20% discount. Have a nonprofit group in need of books? Visit www.GotBooks.com/getbooks to fill out a book request form and we’ll do everything in our power to get those needed books to you. We’re also able to offer new and used books at deeply discounted prices at our Used Book Superstores so that they are attainable for all.

We’re very proud of the work we do and the people and groups we’ve been able to assist because of it. Since the news promos have aired we have received an overwhelming amount of support both from those who know and have worked with our company as well as those who have donated and appreciate that their books will be removed at their convenience and be reused. Many individuals who host their own fundraising container have called or emailed to let us know that they are very happy with all that we do.

Our goal is to keep books out of the trash and to make getting rid of books simple and convenient for the donor. We don’t deceive or fool the public by any means. We are proud of the work we have done, such as the more than $52,000.00 we’ve given to our longest-running nonprofit partner RARA and the $61,000.00 we’ve given to the Salvation Army in the last two years, to name just a few. WBZ’s interview team was very clear that we work with and support hundreds of local nonprofits and have raised more than half a million dollars for these groups in the last 2 years, but chose to gloss over these facts in favor of centering on the false perception of Got Books as a nonprofit - a perception that we are certainly not perpetuating.

We wish they could have focused a bit more on the whole picture, but apparently that doesn’t make as interesting television. Ultimately, we want people to see the new piece and take a look at our philanthropic track record and the community programs that we have implanted over the years and make their own decision. The work we do with our nonprofit partners is definitely rewarding and a win-win situation for all involved. We hope that this news piece won’t take away from all we have done and all we are able to do in the future.

Sincerely,
Bob Ticehurst
Got Books Founder & President

February 16, 2010

Got Books announces $500,000.00 raised for nonprofits in 2008-2009
Got Books announces that almost $500,000.00 has been raised for local nonprofit fundraising partners between 2008 and 2009. More than 300 local groups participate in the fundraising program which involves placing a Got Books book donation container at the group's site. The containers are meant to collect book and media donations from community members and each time they fill up Got Books buys the books inside from the nonprofit group. This system allows Got Books to gather a great variety of books for reuse and also allows many groups to raise money each and every month with little to no effort. In 2008 $206,800.00 was raised for these groups, with $260,800.00 raised in 2009.

February 10, 2010

Got Books ranks high with the BBB
Got Books has been ranked as a B- business with the Better Business Bureau.

January 29, 2010

Salem, NH Used Book Superstore Opens Today!
Our newest Used Book Superstore opens this Friday in Salem, NH at 419 South Broadway (right on Route 28)! This is officially our largest store yet, with a great mix of over 100,000 books, DVDs, videos, audio books, records and more. This place is really something to see, with its incredible art and photography section, immense selection, and the largest record section among any of our stores. We open at 10:00AM in the former Furniture World building and we'd love to see you there!

January 15, 2010

Nashua Used Book Superstore Opens Today!
Join us today at the Nashua Used Book Superstore for our Grand Opening! We start at 10:00AM and we're located at 293 Daniel Webster Highway (former Tweeter). With over 100,000 books and more, you definitely don't want to miss this!

January 13, 2010

Tweeter, Circuit City buildings' new tenants focus on second-hand sales
It almost couldn’t be more of a coincidence. Within the same 24-hour period, two chains based on opposite coasts announced plans to open a Nashua store this winter, one moving into the old Circuit City building and another occupying the old Tweeter.

They will practically be neighbors on the Daniel Webster Highway, both filling a big void created in the city’s retail corridor when two of the largest big-box retailers went bankrupt. But the real irony is in the similarity of their business models.

Both are essentially second-hand superstores with a unique business approach: They are for-profit companies that partner with local charities to serve as significant source of fundraising.

Although the stores are a far cry from their electronic-store predecessors, the timing may serve as an indication that discount, thrift and second-hand stores are about the only stores daring to expand these days.

The old Tweeter building at 293 Daniel Webster Highway is getting a makeover in preparation for its new tenant, a relatively new Massachusetts-based chain with three locations called Used Book Superstore. The Nashua store will be the first in New Hampshire and quickly followed by a second in Salem.

Owner Bob Ticehurst has signed a five-year lease for the Tweeter building, which has been vacant since the electronics chain shut down in December 2008. The book store will have a soft opening Friday at 10 a.m. and an official grand opening Jan. 22.

The old Circuit City at 224 Daniel Webster Highway will have to wait until March 18 for its new tenant, a thrift store called Savers based out of Bellevue, Wash., with more than 230 locations in the U.S., Canada and Australia.

Ticehurst, a former accountant and Marine reservist, was going for a brighter and more orderly concept than what people usually envision with used book stores when he opened the flagship Used Book Superstore in Burlington, Mass., in 2008.

“They think of used book stores as old and dark,” Ticehurst said. “People say this is like a Best Buy, but all books.”

The stores are huge, each with an estimated 100,000 books for sale. They have wide aisles, bright lighting and seating areas. The books are highly organized into more than 100 subcategories, according to Ticehurst, making it easier for customers to find what they need.

All books in the store cost $2.99 or less, which is why Ticehurst thinks now is an ideal time to expand.

“In this economy, it’s a perfect time for us to open,” he said. “Without spending a lot of money, people can walk out of here with a bag full of books.”

The stores also sell DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, VHS tapes and records.

Used Book Superstore also accepts donations at the store, but most of the merchandise actually comes directly from charities and nonprofit groups. About 300 nonprofits sell books they’ve collected through donations and drop boxes to the store as a method of fundraising.

Ticehurst has actually been selling books since 2000, when he founded a business called Got Books to sell used titles through Web sites like eBay and Amazon. He started out small, using his home as a warehouse, but outgrew the space in six months. He has since moved seven times to accommodate his growing inventory.

The partnership with nonprofits began around 2004, Ticehurst said. The program’s biggest partner is a Lowell, Mass.-based organization for adults with developmental disabilities and their families called Remarkable, Active, Resilient Adults of Greater Lowell Inc., or RARA. The organization has raised about $50,000 thus far through the program, Ticehurst said, enough to purchase a 15-passenger van.

Ticehurst now employs about 100 people through parent company Got Books and subsidiary Used Book Superstore. The Nashua and Salem stores are the fourth and fifth, following Burlington, Danvers and Saugus. The Salem store, located in the old Furniture World building at 419 South Broadway, will open Feb. 5.

Inventory in the stores changes daily. Hardbacks sell for $2.99, paperbacks cost $1.99 and children’s books sell for $1.29. DVDs are $4 and CDs typically sell for less than $2.

Got Books was recognized by MassRecycle as the Recycling Green Business of the Year for keeping more than 15 million books out of the trash between 2007 and 2008. To find a list of drop off sites, visit www.gotbooks.com. ::Read More::

January 11, 2010

New England’s largest used book store comes to New Hampshire
In just a few weeks, two of the largest used book stores in New England will open their doors in New Hampshire as the Used Book Superstore retail chain expands to Nashua and Salem. Combined, more than 25,000 square feet will be dedicated to the sale of new and gently used books and other media. The Nashua store will open on January 22nd in the former Tweeter building at 281 Daniel Webster Highway and the Salem store will take over the former Furniture World building at 419 South Broadway (Route 28) on February 5th.

Renowned for its positive environmental and community impact, as well as its bottom level prices, the Used Book Superstore has been featured in such outlets as Channel 5’s nightly news program Chronicle and as the Boston Globe’s Shopping Tip of the Day. In a time when many other companies are downsizing and even closing up shop, the Used Book Superstore and its parent company Got Books has thrived, expanding to five retail locations in just over one year and hiring more than 100 local employees.

The Used Book Superstore is nothing like you’ve seen before with over 100,000 books at each store location sorted into more than 100 specific categories, with thousands of items added to the shelves daily. Unlike a typical used book store, the UBS combines wide aisles, bright lighting, and highly organized items to create an environment conducive to browsing, searching, and lounging. Whether you want to get in and out with a specific title or peruse a pile in a plush armchair, this store can cater to you. Previously limited to three Massachusetts locations in Burlington, Danvers, and Saugus, the UBS is crossing into New Hampshire for the first time and bringing its “All Books $2.99 or Less” motto with it. :::Read More:::

January 9, 2010

Salem loses one bookstore, but gets another
The closure of a discount bookstore will pave the way for a more permanent tenant in one of Salem's large retail buildings, and other empty spots may be filling up soon.

Strictly By the Book at 290 South Broadway always was meant to be a temporary tenant, town planner Ross Moldoff said. The sign for Linens-N-Things, which occupied the space before the national chain went out of business in late 2008, still is partially visible beneath a plastic sign advertising books.

Moldoff said the owners of the property have found a more permanent tenant, but the deal had not been finalized so he could not say what store will be moving in.

"It's great news for the owner of the property," he said. "It's great news for the town of Salem."

While one bookstore is closing, another one will open soon. The former Furniture World at 419 South Broadway will soon be home to a Used Book Superstore, which is slated to open Feb. 5. That store had been vacant since 2007.

The store is owned by Got Books, a for-profit used book seller that sells donated books online and in stores in Burlington and Danvers. They will also open a new store in Nashua, according to their Web site.

The property is owned by Boston-based Taurus Management. Moldoff said the new bookstore seemed to be intended as a permanent use for the property.

Moldoff said he has been fielding more calls in recent weeks from people interested in becoming tenants in some of the town's vacant commercial real estate.

"That seems to be picking up from the end of last year," he said.

Moldoff said the town has been trying to do whatever it can to fill empty spots.

"The Planning Board has been very positive about trying to help get new tenants in some of these buildings," he said.

Denis Buckley of Salem, who was shopping at the Petco next to Strictly by the Book yesterday, said seeing that store empty was not a surprise. He said he has always noticed some vacancies in the 33 years he lived in Salem, but the last two years he has seen many more.

"I just think that this has become the way of the world," he said. "You don't know what is going to be here." :::Read More:::

November 3, 2009

THE HUNT: JUNK BUSTERS
The ritual of spring cleaning needs some serious rethinking. After all, winter is when we retreat indoors—and when fireside evenings with friends can lose their glow amid heaps of three-year-old New Yorkers and unwearable denim (not to mention the ancient iMac sitting sullenly in the corner). Since chucking it all into the dumpster means bad karma, you can always go the Goodwill route; for some kinds of junk, however, there are even better options. Try these smart fixes for clutter conundrums, and let the cocooning begin.

1. Lighten Your Lit Load: Reselling old books can be tempting: Harvard Book Store and Brookline Booksmith, for instance, pay 15 percent of a title's new retail price in cash, or 20 percent in store credit. But neither has much interest in the real dead weight—hardcovers and lowbrow bestsellers—and it's hard to bring yourself to schlep 200 pounds of books to a donation drop-off. Happily, Got Books will come straight to your door to collect any and all reading material (CDs and DVDs, too). The Lawrence-based company then sorts and redistributes its haul to the best possible recipients, whether a local elementary school or troops in Afghanistan. Better still, it recycles—not dumps—truly unsalvageable reads. 978-327-7600, GotBooks.com. :::Read More::

October 19, 2009

Ticehurst honored by RARA
RARA, a small private non-profit agency serving developmentally challenged adults in the greater Lowell area, will be honoring Bob Ticehurst, president of “Got Books,” for his ongoing philanthropic giving to benefit RARA’s clients. 

A recognition dinner will be held on October 21 at 6:00 at the Holiday Inn in Tewksbury. 

RARA board members will present Ticehurst with four plaques to be displayed in the company’s four locations in Lawrence, Burlington, Danvers and Saugus. 

RARA has been part of the “Got Books” fundraising program since 2006. Clients and friends of RARA have collected thousands of books to raise enough money to purchase a badly needed handicapped accessible 13- passenger van.

With the help of Ticehurst and his non-profit organizations program, RARA continues to raise funds to help provide quality social, athletic, and recreational activities that enhance the lives of their special needs membership.
:::Read More:::

September 4, 2009

Used Book Superstores To Hold $1 Sale in September
Each of the Used Book Superstore locations (Burlington, Saugus, and Danvers) will hold a $1 SALE in September! That’s right, only $1! All you need to do to take advantage of these great savings is purchase 5 or more items and all:

Books will be $1
Kids books will be 50 cents
VHS tapes will be 75 cents
DVDs will be $3
Books on tape will be $1
Books on CD will be $5

The $1 sale will take place in Danvers on Saturday 9/19, in Saugus on Thursday 9/24, and in Burlington on Saturday 9/26. With deals like these you can’t afford NOT to shop here!

August 4, 2009

Used Book Superstore Celebrates Anniversary with Events All WeekBurlington’s Used Book Superstore is fast approaching the one year mark and commemorating the anniversary with a week-long celebration featuring community events each day. Visit the store at 256 Cambridge Street (Route 3A) between August 10th and August 16th to participate in these events:

Monday August 10th: Free books and videos will be set up outside the store for a ‘Sidewalk Giveaway’ event beginning at 10:00AM. Customers may take as many as they like and the stock will be refilled twice during the day.

Tuesday August 11th: Bring in the kids for music, magic, face painting, storytelling by Tony Toledo and more will fill the hours between 10:00AM and 4:00PM on Kids Day. In addition, all children’s books will be on sale for 49 cents each.

Wednesday August 12th: Get a jump on the holiday season this year with the ‘Christmas in August’ event, which will feature a $1 sale on all Christmas and Chanukah books.

Thursday August 13th: Spend to save on ‘Coupon Day’. Customers who spend $10 or more will receive a 30% off coupon for future use.

Friday August 14th: Stock up on video cassettes during the VHS sale with all video tapes priced at just 50 cents each all day.

Saturday August 15th: Celebrate the store’s official birthday with cake and cupcakes for all visitors starting at Noon.

Sunday August 16th: Keep the celebration going on Sunday with free pizza and more between Noon and 2:00PM.

The Burlington Used Book Superstore is not your typical used book store. With over 100,000 books and thousands more added daily, it’s one of the largest used book stores in New England. All used books and most new books are 90% off the original price.

Donations of books, CDs, DVDs, videos, and audio books made at the Burlington store benefit nonprofit group RARA (Retarded Adult Rehabilitation Association) and are eligible for a tax receipt.

The Used Book Superstore is open from 10:00AM to 8:00PM on Monday through Saturday and from 10:00AM to 6:00PM on Sunday. For more information visit www.UsedBookSuperstore.com.

August 1, 2009

Danvers Used Book Superstore Holds Kid’s Sale on August 10th
On Monday, August 10th the Used Book Superstore in Danvers will hold a children’s sale in which all kids books will be just 49 cents each. There are over 30,000 kid’s books to choose between, with board books, picture books, chapter books, and everything in between. The store also features a children’s play area with an oversize chalkboard, seating, and coloring books for use.

The Used Book Superstore is located in Endicott Plaza at 139 Endicott Street in Danvers. Store hours are 10:00am to 8:00pm Monday through Saturday and 10:00am to 6:00pm on Sunday.

July 10, 2009

FREE Events for Kids at the Burlington & Danvers Used Book Superstore
Looking for new ways to entertain your children now that school has let out for the summer? Look no further than the Used Book Superstore! Join us this July for these fun and free events:

Visit the Burlington store on Saturday, July 18th to be amazed by local entertainment act “Magic by Paul” from Noon to 3:00PM. Paul will perform tricks and illusions to mystify minds both young and old. This magic show is appropriate for all ages.

Visit the Danvers store on Saturday, July 25th for a second "Magic by Paul" show also from Noon to 3:00PM.

Visit the Burlington store on Saturday, July 25th where musician MaryBeth Maes will perform a child-friendly set of favorites and originals from Noon to 1:00PM. Prepare to dance, sing, and learn during this acoustic set for all ages.

June 9, 2009

Book Donations at the Used Book Superstore Raise Money for RARA
The Retarded Adult Rehabilitation Association (RARA) has recently begun a partnership with local book seller Used Book Superstore to receive fundraising payment for all books donated at their retail locations. Other items acceptable for donation include DVDs, CDs, VHS tapes, and audio books.

RARA, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Lowell, serves developmentally delayed adults in the Greater Merrimack Valley region by providing programs and classes as social, recreational, educational, and pre-vocational outlets. Their mission is to promote public awareness and understanding of the needs and issues specific to the mentally handicapped and their families.

Funding for RARA is primarily comprised of donations from the community, and they will now be able to add the funding from items donated at the Used Book Superstore (located in at 256 Cambridge Street in Burlington and 139 Endicott Street in Danvers) to their collection. The group is paid for every item donated at these stores.

When patrons choose to donate their unneeded books to RARA at the bookstore they will immediately receive a tax receipt on behalf of RARA. The Used Book Superstore will then buy the items from RARA and they will be sorted by the bookstore’s parent company Got Books to determine their best future use, including stocking the shelves at the local bookstores.

This new bookstore fundraising program is the latest in a long standing partnership between RARA and Got Books, who first partnered in 2006. Since then Got Books has raised over $39,000.00 for RARA’s causes through their book collection fundraising program and their Charity Book Sale, allowing RARA to purchase a brand new 15-passenger van and fund their diverse community programming.

April 29, 2009

Listen to Got Books Owner Bob Ticehurst on 96.9FM's 'The Money Show'
Got Books founder and president Bob Ticehurst appeared on 96.9FM's 'The Money Show' on Saturday, April 25, 2009. Click here to listen.

March 17, 2009

Cheryl Richardson Recommends Got Books
Author, life coach, and professional speaker Cheryl Richardson recently mentioned the services of Got Books in her weekly email newsletter. The newsletter, titled "Prune Your Life: Time to let go of the old", focused on the ways we can eliminate the things in our life which are in excess, including clutter and books. Richardson has suggested several resources for donation and release of these items and mentioned Got Books as a way to manage the issue. Read her newsletter here.

December 24, 2008

Got Books Donates Gift Cards to Danvers Honor Society
Got Books recently donated a total of seven $25 gift certificates for the Used Book Superstore to the George Peabody Chapter of the National Honor Society at Danvers High School. The Honor Society will use the gift certificates to help fill the gift baskets that they are making for local children and their families who will receive them on Christmas Eve.

December 18, 2008

'Jumpstart' Thanks Got Books for Donations
A local chapter of the nonprofit group Jumpstart from Wheelock College recently sent their thanks to Got Books for the donation of children's books they received. Got Books gifted an assortment of books for children to the group in November. Jumpstart is a national nonprofit organization working toward the day all children in America enter school prepared to succeed. They do this through an extensive network ranging from their national board of directors, who oversee and govern their national operations, to their Corps members, who create caring one-to-one relationships with preschoolers year after year. The donation recipients showed their thanks in the form of oversized, kid-decorated card and a letter from the group's advisor. To learn more about Jumpstart visit the group's website at www.jstart.org.

December 11, 2008

Got Books Presents Check to Creative Living
Creative Living of Andover is one of our newest fundraising partners and was just recently awarded their first check in the amount of $1500.00. For the month of November Creative Living was the Got Books Charity Book Sale partner and earned half of all profits from every book sale in that month. Creative Living offers innovative, private, social, and recreational solutions for adults with developmental disabilities. Funds raised with Got Books through the Charity Book Sale benefit Creative Living's "Get Away Weekend" program which offers developmentally disabled adults the opportunity to enjoy a fun-filled weekend with friends in a warm, homelike environment. Learn more about Creative Living by visiting their website here.

November 21, 2008

Town of Danvers Welcomes Got Books
Danvers Recycling Coordinator Pam Irwin formally welcomes Got Books to town, with the opening of their Used Book Superstore. She writes:

"Welcome to Danvers! I am happy to have the Used Book Superstore in Danvers. Over the years you have participated in my recycling events and we have had a great deal of success. I am confident this bookstore will only add to that success. You provide a great service in so many ways, recycling books is only one of them. Danvers is lucky to have your newest store and I wish you all the very best. Please feel free to contact me if there's any way I can help or if you have any questions about our community."

November 17, 2008

Wetherbee School Visits the Charity Book Sale
Lawrence's Wetherbee School, located on Newton Street, recently visited the Charity Book Sale as a class field trip. Approximately 40 sixth grade students, escorted by 4 teacher chaperones, shopped and browsed the over 50,000 books, records, videos, and CDs in the sale, all receiving a free item and the option to purchase more for just $1 apiece. The group also enjoyed pizza and snacks in the book sale and the event marked the first trip to a book store for many of the visiting students.

November 14, 2008

Got Books Opens the Second 'Used Book Superstore'
Danvers area residents now have a new spot to call their own. A new community bookstore, the Used Book Superstore opend in Endicott Plaza at 139 Endicott Street on Friday, November 14th. The store offerd residents a new alterative in the purchase of books and more, as well as a section for children’s and teen books.

The Superstore also offers locals something unique: weekly discounts for all current and former military members and local educators. Teachers will receive 20 percent off their entire purchase every Wednesday after showing any form of proof that identifies them as a currently employed paid teacher or certified home school instructor. This program was developed in an attempt to lessen the burden of financing books for classrooms that many teachers currently deal with. Veterans will receive their 20 percent discount every Thursday after showing any form of military identification.

All other patrons need not worry; every book is discounted to a simple pricing system, which states that paperbacks sell for $1.99, hard covers for $2.99, and kids books for $1.29, among others. The Superstore offers more than 100,000 new and gently used books sorted into more than 100 categories with inventory added daily, as well as a selection of videos, audio books, and text books. Books for kids are in abundance, with picture books to young adult and everything in between.

The Used Book Superstore is located in Endicott Plaza between Savers and Ocean State Job Lot. Store hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Read more here.

November 11, 2008

Got Books Opening Chapter in Danvers
Lawrence and Burlington have Got Books and come Friday, Danvers, will too.
That's when the hybrid used book seller and professional fundraiser opens its second Used Book Superstore — in a 13,000-square-foot-space in Endicott Plaza, 139 Endicott St. The store will be adjacent to an Ocean State Job Lot and a Savers thrift store. The 70-employee, rapidly expanding Got Books is not your run of the mill used-book seller.

While it takes in donated books, CDs and DVDs, it is a for-profit company with a mission of finding new homes for used books. It uses some of its proceeds to support a variety of nonprofits. It also has a mission of keeping tons of books out of the waste stream, saving municipalities money on trash tipping fees.

Got Books gets books from nearly 300 collection boxes at area churches and schools, or it picks them up for free. From its collection boxes, it pays charities, schools and organizations by the pound. When the books come into its warehouse in Lawrence, a worker uses a handheld device to scan and sort the books. Only about 10 percent are good enough to sell online.

"That's what we need to pay the bills," said president and founder Bob Ticehurst, 30. The Arlington native and ex-Marine firefighter first started selling books on the side eight years ago as an accountant at a Boston investment management firm.

The books Got Books can't sell online go to its stores or to its charity book sale in Lawrence, which sells books for a buck Thursday through Saturday. Half the profits from the charity sale go to certain nonprofits. It also operates a program to donate books to troops and teachers.

At the Danvers store, books will be a bargain, selling for $1.99 for paperbacks, $2.99 for hardcovers and $3.99 for coffee table books.

"The goal is not to overprice things," Ticehurst said. "We want to get them (the books) back into the community." Read more here.

October 20, 2008

Got Books Presents the Lazarus House with First Fundraising Check
One of our newest book sale fundraising partners is Lawrence's own Lazarus House, a local nonprofit group which provides services to people who are in dire need of life's most basic necessities. Their goal is to prevent homelessness and to provide a hand up, not simply a hand out. For the month of September the Lazarus House was the Got Books Charity Book Sale partner and earned half of all profits from the book sale in that month. Recently, Lazarus House representative Dennis McCarthy visited Got Books to collect the group's first fundraising check in the amount of $1500.00 which will allow them to continue their efforts in the fight against homelessness.

October 17, 2008

Got Books and the Used Book Superstore Featured on TV's 'Chronicle'
Do you want to be eco-conscious – and economically conscious? In other words … would you like to go green and save green at the same time? Tonight, we go shopping for some essentials with one rule: everything has to be recycled, repurposed, and really cheap. And with that in mind, we find furniture, jewelry, house wares, clothing and books at prices that will make your friends green with envy. Visit the Used Book Superstore at 256 Cambridge Street in Burlington for over 100,000 new and gently used books, all 90% off the original price. Click here for more details.

September 19, 2008

Books for Troops Night Wins Big at Burlington Bookstore
Got Books? Well, many local soldiers now do. Lawrence-based organization “Got Books?” is in the midst of a year long program in which they have pledged to send at least 25,000 books overseas to local troops in 2008.

The first “Books for Troops” night took place on Thursday, September 18 at the Used Book Superstore in Burlington, a tradition which will be repeated on the third Thursday of every month. In the program, Got Books sorts, selects, and ships books in care packages to local servicemen and women who are currently stationed overseas. This service is provided free of cost to the public.

At the monthly “Books for Troops” night, members of the community are encouraged to select any book in the store which they feel would be good to include in a care package. Paperbacks and smaller books are recommended so that more books will be able to fit in each package. Packages will be filled and marked with postage right at the store and shipped to one of the contacts on the group’s waiting list. Visitors are also encouraged to submit the name and address of someone they know overseas to receive a future package.
The “Books for Troops” program was developed earlier this year by Got Books founder and former Marine Bob Ticehurst, with the aim of giving back to the local community and the military that he once served. “Being able to give these books to men and women who are fighting for us is so gratifying. We want to do anything we can to make their time overseas more enjoyable.”

“Books for Troops” nights will be held on the third Thursday of every month from 5:00PM to 8:00PM at the Used Book Superstore on 256 Cambridge Street in Burlington. To learn more about the program or to submit a name to receive a package visit www.GotBooks.com/troops.

August 20, 2008

RARA's New 15-Passenger Van Visits Got Books
With help from Got Books, our nonprofit partner RARA (Retarded Adult Rehabilitation Association) was able to purchase a brand new 15-passenger van earlier this year to celebrate the group's 40th anniversary. The van, both more up to date and much safer, is the group's first new van in more than ten years. RARA staff and members stopped by the Got Books headquarters recently to show off the new wheels. To read the story about RARA's new van click here.

August 17, 2008

The Globe's 'Shelf Life' Features the Used Book Superstore
Pre-owned tomes
The newly opened Used Book Superstore in Burlington has a pricing strategy that echoes its name: All books are sold for 10 percent of the original price, with a $1 minimum.

Got Books Inc., which operates the Burlington store as well as Charity Book Sale, a used bookstore in Lawrence, counts on the largesse of book lovers for most of its inventory. A for-profit company that does some charity work, its book-pickup service appeals to people who'd rather have their unwanted books hauled away than try to sell the books themselves, according to marketing coordinator Michelle Bushee. Got Books also collects books in about 300 drop-off containers throughout New England. The books generally do not qualify for a tax deduction, except at five locations.

At the Burlington store, children's books account for about a quarter of the 100,000 volumes on the shelves, Bushee said. The 13,000-square-foot store, which opened Friday, also sells audiobooks, CDs, and DVDs.

The Burlington store is strictly a for-profit enterprise, Bushee said. The company does donate and ship books to troops overseas, an effort shoppers are invited to participate in every Thursday. At the Lawrence store, half of the proceeds are donated to nonprofits. The Used Book Superstore is at 256 Cambridge St. (Route 3A) off Route 128.

August 15, 2008

The Boston Globe Makes our New Store the Shopping Tip of the Day!
This daily feature of the Boston Globe has set its sights on our Used Book Superstore! The UBS was featured as the tip of the day on Friday, August 15th. See it here.

August 1, 2008

Adelante Youth Center Partners with Got Books for Fundraising
Local nonprofit group Adelante Inc. is known for providing useful educational programming for the city’s youth, but now that goal can be achieved a little easier; they’ve recently partnered with Lawrence-based operation Got Books for fundraising. Got Books is a book seller and fundraiser which has helped raise money for many area organizations including schools, churches, and Lawrence’s own American Training, and they can now add Adelante to that list.

Adelante will receive half of all the profits made at the Got Books Charity Book Sale during the month of August. Adelante serves youth in grades 7-12 in Lawrence and surrounding neighborhoods and provides programs and role models to support the growth and talent of all children. Their goal of helping participants move forward personally, academically, and toward positive life choices is met through educational and supportive programming, as well as through academic scholarships. Since its inception in 1992, Adelante has raised and distributed over $2 million for scholarship assistance and nearly 100% of Adelante graduates have enrolled in four-year colleges.

The Charity Book Sale is open every Thursday and Friday from 9:00am-6:00pm and Saturday from 9:00am-4:00pm. There are more than 50,000 books, videos, and records to choose from, with inventory changing weekly. All items are just $1 and half of all profits from every sale in August will be directly donated to Adelante.

July 10, 2008

Lawrence Book Sale Grand Opening an Overwhelming Success
Thursday, July 10th marked the Grand Opening of the Got Books Charity Book Sale at its new Lawrence, MA location at 104 Glenn Street. The sale, having recently moved into town from North Reading, sells used and new books, videos, and records all for just $1 each and half of all profits are directly donated to one of the Charity Book Sale’s nonprofit partners. July’s beneficiary is Lawrence’s own American Training, a group which offers educational and vocational training for locals in need of job placement.

The Grand Opening was off to a start with a pre-opening “Business Before Hours” event presented by Got Books and the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce, which included networking, literature displays, and a continental breakfast. The ribbon was cut promptly at 9:00AM, with help from Mayor Michael Sullivan, and crowds of shoppers which had been awaiting the moment for up to 2 hours beforehand, rushed into the sale.

Shoppers filled the aisles and searched the rows of more than 50,000 unsorted books, filling basket after basket and helping the book sale have one of its most successful days to date.

“Sales from this one day rank higher than those of a typical good weekend,” says Got Books President Bob Ticehurst. “We’re going to be able to give a lot to American Training.”

But American Training isn’t the only one benefiting – customers were feeling the rewards too, making off with plenty of great deals and a new experience.

“It’s great to have a new book store in the city,” said Lisa from Lawrence, “we haven’t had anything like this in a while and it’s a perfect place to get books for the beach and for my kids.”  

It’s been years since Lawrence has had an English-language book store, and with this new edition Got Books hopes to bring books to the public at any affordable price, making literature accessible for everyone.

“We’re really looking to make a difference in the community here,” says Ticehurst, “we’re raising money for local groups and we’re bringing books to an area that didn’t really have many. We’ve been successful in Lawrence so far and we want the city to benefit as much as we do.”

July 8, 2008

Got Books Featured in the New Yorker!
Few of us have the space at home to amass enormous private libraries, however much we fantasize about rolling ladders and alphabetized shelves. Keeping in mind, too, the ever-present danger of death by falling stacks, every other season we find ourselves performing triage on our collection of books. To be kept: volumes that are compulsively re-read (Geoff Dyer’s “Paris Trance,” say), and those that taunt us for failing to finish them (“Ulysses,” which we shamefully admit to having once wedged under a car jack to change a tire). And then there are the one-night-stands—books that provided solace on an airplane, but whose charms do not endure—and those that, despite their enticing covers, we must concede we will never read.

But how to get rid of them, these books upon books? For the car-less, the prospect of lugging heavy boxes to the nearest used-books store is exhausting in advance. If you should be so lucky as to live in Massachusetts or southern New Hampshire, however, Got Books will pick up your books for free. And your unwanted tomes will have a happy and useful afterlife: they’ll either wind up at a weekly charity sale or be shipped to American troops overseas, recovering patients at Walter Reed Hospital, and schools in New Orleans whose libraries were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Got Books claims, “We never turn books away”—unless the books in question are deemed “unsafe or unsanitary for employees.” We wonder: would “Ulysses” squeak by?
—Ligaya Mishan, the New Yorker :::Read More:::

July 6, 2008

A New Chapter for the City
It has been years since Lawrence has had an English-language bookstore. That's about to change, as a well-known used bookstore in North Reading shuts its doors and moves to the Immigrant City.

Got Books Inc., whose vans pick up used books throughout the Merrimack Valley, is moving its warehouse and bookstore to South Lawrence, the company announced last month. "Basically, the move is out of necessity," said Michelle Bushee, marketing coordinator for Got Books. "We needed space, and the Lawrence location gives us that."
For years, city officials have been trying to attract a retail bookstore to Lawrence. Currently, the city has a small college bookstore tucked away on the campus of Northern Essex Community College and the tiny Spanish-language bookstore, Nobel, located in North Lawrence.

Nobel provides books to Cambridge College students in Lawrence for their courses. However, the store sometimes can't locate certain textbooks because it doesn't have a relationship with the publishers.

The Northern Essex store sells mainly textbooks, but the school also intends to open a bookstore at its planned Health and Technology Center downtown, according to school officials. The plan calls for a similar retail bookstore as in downtown Lowell.

But for now, the closest retail bookstore for Lawrence residents is Borders, located in a Methuen strip mall. Other than that, residents have just the public library downtown.
That has alarmed Mayor Michael J. Sullivan and schools Superintendent Wilfredo T. Laboy, who have said that a city the size of Lawrence needs a bookstore so that residents have access to basic literary and educational material. Both said a bookstore is key to the city's economic development.

The city has a population of 72,000 residents, and around 70 percent are Latino.
According to the 2000 Census, nearly 60 percent of Lawrence adults age 25 or older have a high school diploma, and 10 percent have a bachelor's degree. Nationwide, 80 percent of adults 25 or older have a high school diploma, and 24 percent have a bachelor's degree.With Got Books coming to town, residents will have better access to novels, history and children's books, and will discover "a new world," said Mark Schorr, executive director of the Robert Frost Foundation.

"I think it's great that we're getting a used bookstore," Schorr said. "Used books are every bit as interesting as new books. In fact, used books fit better into your hands."

Schorr said it was "long overdue" that Lawrence finally got an English-language bookstore for residents.

Got Books has been around for eight years and is known in the region for its pick-up vans. The books collected by the vans are either donated to libraries and schools or sold at the store. Got Books also has around 275 drop-off locations in the area.

Bushee said the Lawrence store, at 104 Glenn St., will hold its grand opening July 10 to 12. The store will be open Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The business office has already relocated to the city, she said.

In addition to around 60,000 books, Got Books will sell hundreds of unsorted records. "It'll be like a treasure hunt," said Bushee. :::Read More:::

Final Charity Book Sale a Major Success
Got Books has hosted its weekly Charity Book Sale at 35 Concord Street in North Reading for 3 years, and on June 28th its doors were closed, but not before hosting one final blowout. The store has been adding more inventory and reducing prices for weeks, all in an attempt to liquidate the books, CDs, DVDs, and videos that it had available for sale while preparing for a move to 104 Glenn Street in Lawrence.

A line of more than 50 shoppers wrapped around the warehouse building on Friday, long before the 9:00am start time, preparing to take full advantage of the unbelievably low prices (everything in the sale was just 3 for $1). Those at the front of the line had arrived ahead of time, some as early as 6:00am, stationed by the door in anticipation holding empty cardboard boxes and plastic bags soon to be filled with whatever gems they discovered in the sale.

“You have to get here early,” Joseph from Watertown remarked, “if you want to be in there first, you have to stake out a spot hours before they open.”

Once the doors open, however, getting in fast is what’s really important. Shoppers all but stampeded through the doors, eagerly running to their favorite section and grabbing items off the shelves. Some even spent the day there until the 4:00pm closing time, loading box after box into their vehicle or casually perusing the sale’s offerings.

As successful as Friday was, Saturday marked the true finale and the official closing of the Charity Book Sale. Shoppers paid a one-time admission for entrance and could then take as much merchandise as they desired throughout the day. Hoping to clear off the shelves once and for all, Got Books allowed the buyers to load up box after box, and two customers even backed up a truck to a warehouse dock. Shoppers came from all over New England and one woman rented a van and drove up from Pennsylvania. By Saturday’s end, she had filled her van with books, having paid just $15 to come in.

“It was crazy how much stuff some people were taking. For an admission price of $15-$35 they’re walking away with a car full of books and movies, but that’s what we wanted. We need to move out products and we love to see people getting great deals,” Got Books founder Bob Ticehurst said.

“I am going to miss this place,” said Mary from Reading, “I have been coming here every other week for a couple of years; my house is full of books that I purchased from Got Books.”

“Got Books makes books affordable to everyone,” said Stacey, a single mom shopping for kid’s books with her two children.

Got Books has a goal of finding good homes for the used items people donate. This goal was happily achieved this weekend when more than 800 people shopped and walked out with over 30,000 items. Half of all the profits from the sale were donated to Lowell-based nonprofit group Remarkable, Active, Resilient Adults (RARA), which offers educational and recreational programming for adults with developmental disabilities.

Got Books Moves to Lawrence!
Got Books has moved its warehouse headquarters to Lawrence! Our new location is 104 Glenn Street, Suite 1. Our Charity Book Sale will have its Grand Opening Weekend in Lawrence on July 10th, 11th, and 12th. Until then the sale will remain at 35 Concord Street in North Reading, where it will have its final blowout sales on June 27th and 28th. When the sale opens in Lawrence hours will be extended to three days a week during these times: Thursday and Friday 9am-6pm and Saturday 9am-4pm.

May 13, 2008

Local Heroes Earns Funds from Charity Book Sale
The month of April at the Charity Book Sale benefited the community nonprofit Local Heroes, a group dedicated to preparing and sending care packages to local soldiers stationed overseas. Through book sales in this time period, Got Books was able to raise $2,906.50 for Local Heroes. The group is completely volunteer run and earnings will go toward the cost of postage and supplies for each package. Over the last forty months, Local Heroes has sent out more than 6,000 care packages.

May 6, 2008

Got Books? Don’t Throw Them Out—They’ll Pick Them Up!
Kids have books, lots of books, and they outgrow them as quickly as shoes. If you are like most people you can find those books stashed all over – on shelves, in toy boxes and just about anywhere they can be squirreled away. They gather dust, they get dumped all over the floor and they take up space! One solution is to donate your outgrown books to a group that will put them to good use. One such group is Got Books. Got Books supports the community by giving away books to teachers for classrooms, donating to schools, libraries, other groups in need or selling them in book sales or online. As Got Books has a focus on reuse and works to keep books out of the waste stream. Children can learn lessons both about the value of giving back and the importance of protecting the environment. Even donating a single book means it will find a new reader and that it is one less book that will end up in the trash. Have fun with your child imagining where their book might end up. Got Books makes it easy for you to donate - they’ll pick up books, CDs, DVDs video tapes and audio books at your home or you can drop them off at one of their many local donation containers. Don’t think this is limited to just the little ones either - you can donate all of your adult books, cookbooks, textbooks, and many of these will be used for their Books for Troops program. Once you’ve donated all of the books which are no longer age-appropriate for your kids, you may just have some free bookshelf space to fill. Each Friday and Saturday Got Books hosts a Charity Book Sale where there are over 50,000 items to choose from. The sale is held at their North Reading warehouse, located about ten minutes north of Boston. With all items retailing for just $1, it’s certainly worth the drive. :::Read About us on Mom and Dad's Guide:::

Got Books was informed about this program from Comcast, a neighboring business in North Reading. This community service venture will aid the many schools in the New Orleans area that lost their libraries in the storm and will assist the region in its long-term recovery from the devastation they faced in 2005. The program's goal is to collect 15,000 new books to refill the bookshelves of establishments in need. Donations will come from NCTA delegates as well as other groups and companies, such as Got Books. Books will be given to the New Orleans library system to divvy up between libraries and schools; some books will go into their collections and some will be given to children to take home. :::More on Cable Cares:::