By selling used books online, Bookmans Entertainment Exchange reaches customers well beyond its three Tucson locations.
The city's most high-profile seller of used books has taken a serious approach to the Web; 10 of its employees work full time at a warehouse sifting through the books they get from the stores and putting some of them up for sale through Amazon.
"It opens up your availability to sell to an international market," says Aaron Thornburg, the online-store manager and warehouse manager. "It's viable and strong. What it's done is given us the opportunity to buy more from customers."
Bookmans patrons will soon be able to buy directly from the company's own site. They're currently able to shop on www.amazon.com/ shops/bookmans_exchange.
But there are many reasons book lovers would still want to visit one of the Tucson stores rather than browse on the Internet.
People are also reading…
Sean Feeney, the executive vice president, describes Bookmans as "a discovery store," with thousands of titles, along with used magazines, CDs, games and videos.
All of the stores, which include two in the Phoenix area and one in Flagstaff, also serve as community hubs that sponsor local activities. The Grant Road store, for example, offers events that range from Friday morning story times and free tarot card readings to senior discount days and animal adoptions.
Not bad for what began as a small shop on North Tucson Boulevard. It had been called Livingston's Used Books when founder Bob Schlesinger bought it from his father in 1977.
• 1930 E. Grant Road
• 6230 E. Speedway
• 3733 W. Ina Road
