Page 6 - BusinessWest March 20, 2023

Susan Shilliday, owner of the Bookmill in Montague, says her store — and those like it — are an escape for people.
behind the cash register, carrying on a tradition.
For this issue, BusinessWest talked with these independent bookstore own-
ers about the state of their business. And in the process, we get to tell some stories that are very intriguing in their own right.
It’s Not Home, and It’s Not Work
Shilliday told BusinessWest that, when she received that aforementioned
It was a desire to let others enjoy that experience that prompted her take the plunge, despite her lack of experience.
As businesses go, this one has a pretty simple model, she noted; it takes in books from those who don’t want or need them anymore (by appointment only), and then it sells them. Retiring professors from the Five Colleges, all within a few dozen miles or so from the store, are among the best providers of titles for the shelves, she said, adding that, on average, there are roughly 30,000 to 35,000 books on the shelves.
While most bookstores focusing on new titles have had their struggles in recent years, the Bookmill has been able to stay on a generally smoother path, said Shilliday, noting quickly that the pandemic certainly presented a number of challenges, and customers were “thrilled” when the doors were able to open again.
Overall, there are steady streams of customers to the landmark, located in an old grist mill and, later, a machine shop that, among other things, would stamp the handles of Louisville Slugger bats.
Many patrons are students or professors from the area colleges or residents of area communities, but many tourists also find the store, despite what it says in that logo that adorns bookmarks, T-shirts, book bags, and other items.
“People from this area seek it out,” she said. “And we have a lot of tourists who come in, a lot of book lovers who come in ... people drive up from New York, Boston, all over; there are a lot of people who make an effort to come here.”
And perusing the shelves for books is just one of the reasons they come,
email, she didn’t really know what to do with it at first. She said she knew a lot about books, but very little, if
anything, about retail or running a business. She ultimately decided that this was enough.
“It was the craziest thing I’ve ever done,” she said. “But it turned out to be one of those crazy things that turned out to be just the right thing.”
Elaborating, she said her daughter attended Hampshire College, and, following just a few trips to visit, she fell in love with the region and eventually moved here. One of her favor- ite things to do was visit the Bookmill, search for things to read, and, usually, settle into one of the comfortable reading chairs on site and read for a while. Make that a long while.
“There’s been a lot of change andalotof challenge.”
DOMAIN for SALE
wmass.com
Phone: 413.225.1850
We Gotta Key for That!
Car, Truck, Boat, Motorcycle, Padlock, Cessna, Gumball Machine... Whatever it is!
We can make it.
977 St. James Ave., Springfield, MA 732-8538 • www.servulocksmiths.com
6 MARCH 20, 2020 << FEATURE >> BusinessWest