We were lucky to catch up with Michelle Bear recently and have shared our conversation below.

Michelle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I am the fifth owner in Edmonds Bookshop’s 54-year history, and the previous two owners still work there. We are lucky to have this wealth and breadth of knowledge and experience. The previous owner (Mary Kay) and I have discussed how we feel the bookshop is really the community’s bookshop. She said that within a week of her ownership, after walking around the shop thinking to herself “that is mine, and that is mine” (all tongue-in-cheek,) she quickly realized how much the bookstore was not hers as much as it belonged to the customers, as one customer came in and exclaimed “where are my books, you moved them?!”

When ownership transitioned to me, and I was creating my own mission statement, two things became very apparent: I wanted the bookshop to continue being the community’s space, a safe place where anyone can come; and I find myself as more of a caretaker than an owner. My responsibility is to continue to shepherd this wonderful space along.

Michelle, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My current path, probably like a lot of women, has been quite circuitous. Thinking that my professional journey would lead me one way, and then to find myself owning a bookshop, was a path with many interesting course changes along the way.

I was set on being an artist (painter) and made a valiant try and making that full-time, fulfilling work. To make ends meet throughout the years, I have been a bookseller, pet sitter, museum assistant, outdoor educator, challenge course facilitator, naturalist, interpretive specialist, and back and to a bookseller. As I look back on it, I can see a common thread of always connecting with people. I can say I have learned a lot about the folks around me, and customer service at the bookshop is paramount.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I grew up with very little. We as a family did the best we could. In order to move forward, resiliency is a necessity.

When I was trying to figure out how I was going to find the funding to buy the bookshop, I first asked family for help in securing an attorney for drafting paperwork and an accountant. It was a small monetary ask (by comparison,) and I was met with disbelief. Before my dream could take off, it felt like the wings had been clipped. It was that exact moment when I realized that I really wanted this. I felt it. It was tactile, palpable. And I also knew, I was going to figure out how I was going to make it work.

Can you talk to us about your experience with buying businesses?

(Connected with being resilient…)

What truly magical thing happened in my funding journey, was how much my community supported not just me, but really the value of this community treasure of Edmonds Bookshop. I have two angel investors. One who lent me my working capital and the other who lent me the full amount of loan for the purchase sale agreement. It is a gift of trust that I do not take for granted, and work hard every day to not let them nor anybody in my community down.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.edmondsbookshop.com
• Instagram: edmondsbookshop
• Facebook: edmondsbookshop

Image Credits

Michelle Bear