Another Year of Making a Difference

As we head into our sixth year, it seemed like a perfect time to share why we do what we do.

As an indie bookstore, we can curate our own inventory to make sure we are meeting the needs and interests of the local community. Also, having a curated selection allows us to have a much deeper knowledge of the books on our shelves, which makes it easier to make personalized recommendations to shoppers who visit the store. It’s all about the personal and welcoming environment we set out to create in 2017. We love helping local authors, too. Many new and self-published authors turn to indie booksellers for support with organizing events and stocking their books—two things that are not nearly as easy with large, chain retailers. We love hearing from readers who appreciate having us as a buying option vs the impersonal online frenzy. And the atmosphere of a small town bookstore that cares cannot be manufactured. Building a quality reputation takes time. Keeping the doors open takes a great amount of effort, savvy and tenacity topped with a scoop of good fortune. We are fortunate indeed and very grateful that your loyalty has enabled us to be the bookstore we set out to be. THANK YOU!

Do Bookstores Matter?

We’re happy to say the answer is an undeniable YES! If ever there were a test to see if they, in fact, do – 2021 would certainly have contributed the litmus paper. The pandemic brought people back to essential ways to stay connected, stay informed, learn and find escape all while confined to their home or in some cases a room. Book popularity increased both as resource material and gifts to both self and others. And while it’s true that online sales of books soared, we learned first hand that customers stay loyal to their local bookstore. Yay! We are so very grateful to each and everyone of you who helped us continue to keep our doors open. We loved that when given the choice of ordering online or coming in or calling us, you chose the personal touch. You let us know that we mattered to you. Nothing is better than that. In the words of our captain: “We have done well in our fifth year of business and it is all due to your appreciation and loyalty to our independent bookstore.” Here’s to meeting the challenges of the year ahead and celebrating being there for each other. Thank you!

La Conner Tops the List!

It’s no surprise that La Conner ranked Number One on the list of the 15 Most Charming Small Towns in Washington recently announced in Touropia. Whether you’re a local or a traveler from back East, you’re in for a treat when you visit our town. From unique cultural museums to delish seafood, you’ll find plenty to delight the senses. A broad range of options keeps shoppers happy, too. Everything from thrift store bargains to boutique brands are ready and waiting. And then there’s that unique bookstore. That’s US! We love it here and are happy as clams to be THE bookstore for our historic waterfront community. Summer is always a happy time at Seaport Books as customers get to also enjoy the delights of Gilkey Square while browsing our shelves. Wherever you hail from, we hope you’ll stop in to see us soon and soak up the smiles. Keep safe and keep reading!

We’ve Come A Long Way Baby

This month marks the beginning of our 5th year! Opening new doors is a gamble at best. SO much goes into just getting a business up and running. Finding the best location, getting the space and layout ready, choosing a name, deciding on the theme, ordering the inventory, creating a logo and signage, bringing the team on board, etc., etc. And then holding your breath to see if customers show up and can you make enough to pay the rent. Month after month, you ride the waves of being an indie bookstore. Ups, downs, squalls and lulls. And then, let’s throw in a pandemic to see if we really can keep it afloat! Happy to report that so far so good. We love our location on Gilkey Square and we love being an integral part of the community. Even in tough times, people are finding us on foot and Facebook. Whether it’s an order via phone line or on line, we’re staying connected. And in our book, that says it all! Thank you and here’s to another 5 years for Seaport Books!

A New Chapter on Connection

connectionWhen we opened our doors a little less than four months ago, one of our primary goals was to become a community hub. A small town needs a place to fuel expanding minds and foster diverse conversations. We believed that books had the power to draw people out and to bring them together and we wanted to write a new and exciting chapter on connection. What remained to be seen, however, was whether or not the “if you build it, they will come,” concept would actually work. So, how’s it going? The short answer is: we couldn’t be happier. From day one, we’ve seen the interest and felt the excitement as customers discover our happy little store. People are surprised and delighted that we offer new books and in such a wide variety of topics. It’s wonderful watching folks connect over a hot-off-the-press title or suggest their favorite read from a best selling author. All ages, all backgrounds, all demographics … in a bookstore, no one leaves a stranger. In just these few short months, we’ve expanded our shelf space and our event calender largely in response to the community need. We’re hosting multiple book clubs, book launches, children’s story time and starting in October, an evening Read Aloud. The best part? Being a part of the community. Some days it’s ordering a special request. Some days it’s saying yes to a hopeful new author. Or welcoming guests to a book launch. And sometimes it’s simply sharing a friendly wave hello with neighbor. It does indeed take a village and we’re happy to be a part of yours! Visit our Events page to download our current Event Calender.