Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kate Seng. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Kate, thanks for joining us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I hope Poe & Company Bookstore brings people together. I want to create a place where all feel welcome! We encourage community engagement through storytime, author signings and joyful daily interactions. We encourage reading with a book in hand and want to give back by providing a new book to those who would not be able to afford one. We partner with Blessings in a Backpack to provide that service. We are very selective in the books we promote and the authors that we invite in our store. We focus on impacting our community with positive and inspirational authors and books.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

We are a family-run independent bookstore located in Milton, GA. The vision for this business started a long time ago when I was in my twenties. I love that idea of a community space that allows people to come together and share their story. After watching You’ve Got Mail, I certainly wanted to recreate that space. My background is in Communications and PR and I continued on to get an MBA later in life. I have not owned a bookstore in the past but I have always been a writer and an avid reader. I love marrying the two at Poe & Company where you can find my two children’s books, Doodle Noodle and Mazie’s Full Heart. Our bookstore prides itself in having all genres and is happy to order anything that we don’t carry on the shelves. Customer Service is our biggest focus. We want you to feel good in the store and that we did our best to meet your needs. We are always open to suggestions.

Any advice for managing a team?

My advice for managing a team and maintaining high morale is to treat my employees like friends, because they are. I have chosen the people on the Poe & Company team because they each have many talents that lend themselves to our success. They have qualities that I don’t have and we compliment each other. I also listen to their suggestions. I’m not afraid of push back, although it isn’t always fun. I have to check myself sometimes. I encourage ideas and look to accommodate staff so they can do the things they need to do at home and with family. I encourage balance because I need balance.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My business partner is my husband. I met him back in grade school. LOL. We were in second grade homeroom together. Those were the days. We met up again after college when we were 25 and the rest is history. He is a huge help behind the scenes. He is busy with his own career but is very supportive of mine. He has great ideas and lends emotional support when needed. It works well.

Contact Info:

• Website: poeandcompanybookstore.com
• Instagram: @poeandcompanybookstorellc
• Facebook: poeandcompanybookstore
• Yelp: Poe & Company Bookstore

Image Credits
SAVMPHOTOGRAPHY and Blencoe & Company