Today we’d like to introduce you to Ash Holland
Hi Ash, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The inspiration for The Lucky Fox Bookshop was borne out of a discussion with my wife and sister. After expressing my deep dissatisfaction with my previous job, my sister simply said, “why don’t you just start a bookshop?” It was something I had dreamed about for forever, but having it spoken aloud by someone I love made it a real possibility. From there, I hit the ground running: Got the paperwork all set up, created a website, and booked my first pop-up at my favorite local coffee shop.
Since that first event, the bookshop has grown tremendously, largely due to my passion for this community that has so graciously welcomed this little traveling indie shop with open arms. Folks here genuinely want to help you succeed, and their support — along with the guidance and love from my family — has been instrumental in helping the Fox become what it is today. Now, we host author talks, book clubs, and book fairs, on top of multiple pop-ups each month.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The support of the Portland community has made this a truly enjoyable experience. Even the hardest parts like figuring out taxes, handling events that don’t pan out, and refining my approach to bookselling have been a joy. I do most of my pop-ups with my wife, so we spend a few hours in cool places chatting with folks about books — what’s not to love about that?!
I think building anything from scratch comes with its difficulties and struggles. Establishing a model for this kind of traveling bookstore has been both energizing and maddening. It’s a constant balance of embracing the freedom this model offers and being terrified of that same freedom. I’m committed to letting it grow organically, though, which helps ease my anxieties and trust in the growth process.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Lucky Fox Bookshop is a traveling bookstore based in Portland, Maine. We travel around the New England area, bringing a curated collection of books directly to the people. We specialize in queer and fantasy (and queer fantasy) books, though most of our tables are covered in all sorts of genres from romance to horror. I’m most proud of the fact that The Lucky Fox prioritizes queer authors, queer characters, and queer readers. We spotlight marginalized voices and genuinely care about what our selection of books means for the readers who pop by our table. In fact, the shop is, in many ways, a community-driven business. We listen to folks as they peruse our table and take note of the books they love. As a mobile shop, we’re able to hear from queer folks in all areas — rural, urban, and everything in between — and their interests and needs help guide our curation.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I’m a firm believer that compassion is the key to any kind of success. Listening to yourself and to others, leading with empathy and care — these are underrated, but highly impactful, qualities. Any reader knows that the greatest gift books offer us is the ability to see from someone else’s perspective. I try to carry that into my business and my life as much as possible. And so far, it’s paying off.
Pricing:
- Prices vary by book
- We only sell new books
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theluckyfoxbookshop.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theluckyfoxbookshop/
Image Credits
Katie Kelley (@katiekelleyphotos)
Kyle Warnock (@kylewarnockphotography)