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

Margaret, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

My mission is building community through books. My mother’s passion was literacy, and her life’s work was teaching children to read, storytelling, and promoting literacy. She taught me to read when I was three years old, so from a young age I was immersed in stories and books. I taught students with learning disabilities for 21 years before opening Bear’s Books. I am also a writer and have taught creative writing at Mercer University and in my bookstore. I believe that a love of reading builds and elevates communities. Stories allow us to see our humanity and how we are all connected.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have a background in teaching and creative writing and enjoy making book recommendations across genres, as well as hosting book discussions, literary events, and writing classes. We have a diverse selection of titles in our inventory for children through adults. We frequently order books for customers and have shipped books to customers as far away as Australia. We get to know our customers well and are able to make personal recommendations tailored to our customers’ preferences. We frequently host writers for reading and signing events and also have an In My Backyard program which features self-published local writers.
Community is very important to me, and I enjoy partnering with businesses and organizations in the community in creative ways. We enjoy hosting a variety of events, such as Read with Pups, an Adult Summer Reading Program, a Cookbook Club, and more. Customers frequently reserve the store after hours for book club meetings, birthday parties, or showers. An independent filmmaker has done filming in the store, and we even hosted an engagement photo shoot here.
We do pop-up events at schools, theaters, and other locations in the community. I like for people to see that books and reading are relevant, educational, and, best of all, fun! Bear’s Books is an inclusive space that offers a wide range of opportunities for people to engage.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I was very fortunate to connect with a local organization, NewTown Macon, early in my journey. My 21 years of teaching experience did not prepare me for many practical aspects of starting a business. NewTown Macon offers an excellent course, the Entrepreneur’s Academy, which walks participants step by step through the process of researching the business market, identifying ideal customers, writing a business plan, and much more. They also have a loan program, and it was my small business loan from NewTown Macon, along with the information that I learned from the Entrepreneur’s Academy, that enabled me to open Bear’s Books.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I was still teaching full-time when I came up with the idea of Bear’s Books. I taught elementary-aged students at the time and was looking for a way to focus on my love for writing and literature for adults. I started by hosting book discussions and literary-themed events in the evenings, along with a website featuring essays about my connection with books, authors, and writing. From that point, it was very much a next-right-thing journey toward opening a storefront. I took small steps, such as the Entrepreneur’s Academy at NewTown Macon and, when I experienced success, I would take another step toward a brick-and-mortar storefront. Bear’s Books started as an abstract idea and a call I cast out, both through in-person events and a website, for connection. It has grown into a physical space with a treasured community of customers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thebearsbooks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearsbooksmacon
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bearsbooksmacon

Image Credits

Mike Young Photography
Kenzie Muenzer
Peyton Jeter