Ron Paul supporters: What would you think was in a store called "Independent Minds"

[icon124]

Guys, I'm asking you these questions because you are the people I want to target. Today I went into one of the biggest Barnes and Noble in the Baltimore area and they barely had anything on Libertarinism, Liberty, or Independent Thinking OR anything remotely close. I mean don't get me wrong, they have plenty of mainstream books out there proclaiming their "Liberty, Free Markets, and the GOV'T is bad" books, but as a fellow freedom loving friend I know that you know we don't trust the mainstream for our news :D

So, I've really had the last straw with this stuff. I'm so tired of having to go out of my way to find a truely conservative book or magazine...come to think of it anything of that matter (Besides online, but I can't always be online). We do have a vast majority of things online but you have to pay for some ebooks or buy them and wait. Sometimes I just want to get up and buy a book the same hour I want to read it lol.

I've been thinking about starting a store for independent free loving minds. And I want your opinions on what should be in the store. Now this would be a long term process because I am still collecting my thoughts :eek: but I want to hear from others as well.

Post any books that you would love to see in the store
*Economics
*Current Affairs
*Law
*Science
*Philosophy
*Religion
those are a few examples of book subjects...add more, and even give me titles of books you would love to see. I was also thinking about trying to keep up to date magazines and even movies. I would love to have movies, that would be so cool to have a movie section :cool: I was thinking having movies playing all the time would be cool too. Of course attached to headphones, but anyone could walk over and watch them.

Do you have any recommendations for magazines that should be offered? I know the very popular Republic Magazine would be one

EDIT*****
Coffee bar and snacks
Used books
Meeting rooms for political groups etc.
Study area
Tutoring for grade school students
Workshops
Learning programs for adults
"banned" books section
Propaganda, for decoration as posters, calenders, t-shirts
Political Memorabilia
In Store Kiosk - To look up information online about the book before you buy it
Free WiFi
Personal Wish Lists - Create a wish list for a birthday or christmas and have access to it online as well.

Come on I know you can help me brainstorm here!

Also this store would be located in a college town, but there also is a starbucks and barnes and noble not to far away.

[LibertiORDeth]

Start it on Liberty Island.
www.libertyisland.tk

[Kotin]

i would love to see alternative history books.

because as you know, history is always biased by the one who writes it..

[LEK]

Anything by Dave Hunt (like A Woman Rides the Beast)

[CoreyBowen999]

Luke.. he is asking for ideas.. don't adverise another forum when somebody is asking for help

[skinnyskittles1989]

all Rothbard and Mises' books

[CoreyBowen999]

I doubt the demand for this kind of stuff is very high so If you do start the store, make sure to have stuff that can attract other kind of readers too.

[tpreitzel]

Guys, I'm asking you these questions because you are the people I want to target. Today I went into one of the biggest Barnes and Noble in the Baltimore area and they barely had anything on Libertarinism, Liberty, or Independent Thinking OR anything remotely close. I mean don't get me wrong, they have plenty of mainstream books out there proclaiming their "Liberty, Free Markets, and the GOV'T is bad" books, but as a fellow freedom loving friend I know that you know we don't trust the mainstream for our news :D

So, I've really had the last straw with this stuff. I'm so tired of having to go out of my way to find a truely conservative book or magazine...come to think of it anything of that matter (Besides online, but I can't always be online). We do have a vast majority of things online but you have to pay for some ebooks or buy them and wait. Sometimes I just want to get up and buy a book the same hour I want to read it lol.

I've been thinking about starting a store for independent free loving minds. And I want your opinions on what should be in the store. Now this would be a long term process because I am still collecting my thoughts :eek: but I want to hear from others as well.

Post any books that you would love to see in the store
*Economics
*Current Affairs
*Law
*Science
*Philosophy
*Religion
those are a few examples of book subjects...add more, and even give me titles of books you would love to see. I was also thinking about trying to keep up to date magazines and even movies. I would love to have movies, that would be so cool to have a movie section :cool:

Come on I know you can help me brainstorm here!

History: Carry books written by professor, Dr. Antony Sutton. Professor Sutton certainly doesn't tow the party line when analyzing historical events. ( http://www.antonysutton.com )
Religion: Dr. Michael S. Heiser ( http://www.michaelsheiser.com )

[icon124]

I doubt the demand for this kind of stuff is very high so If you do start the store, make sure to have stuff that can attract other kind of readers too.

I wouldn't depend on the business for a main source of income...more of a "this really needs to be spread" idea.

I was thinking about locating it near younger crowds that still have time to learn, probably near a college campus...and there are plenty in this area. I just feel like something like this needs to be done...and I'm sure we have enough Libertarians that would support it in Baltimore and the surrounding area :) so maybe me starting this store could also spread Libertarinism and create the demand for others to come

Like you said though I would need to attrack others...and would probably work with a coffee bar etc. You know those types of things lol

[parke]

I got a better idea.

Combine your store with the one I have an idea for.

'Made in America'

Only goods produced in the 50 will be sold on the shelves. I bet Americans would fkn flock to it... even if it were higher priced. I would shop there exclusively.

[icon124]

I got a better idea.

Combine your store with the one I have an idea for.

'Made in America'

Only goods produced in the 50 will be sold on the shelves. I bet Americans would fkn flock to it... even if it were higher priced. I would shop there exclusively.

haha yeah that would be pretty cool, and I was thinking about something like that too, but really don't know exactly what to put in a store like that.

[CoreyBowen999]

This is a great idea. As a student myself, I would definately shop there :)

[parke]

haha yeah that would be pretty cool, and I was thinking about something like that too, but really don't know exactly what to put in a store like that.

I imagine it like a Target or Kmart only smaller. There are plenty of American goods still made in our country. We need to round up whats left and dedicate a store to it... Talk about firing up some Americans. I imagine it would be an artsy kind of store. Americans are by nature creative free thinking people. After years of decline on American goods, and having to purchase poorly made, lead tainted, Chinese CRAP people may start appreciating the QUALITY goods AMERICANS make.

Ohhhh.... We could save on labor by hiring illegal immigrants too!!:D

[clintontj72]

This may sound silly...but to diversify a bit...carry Mensa books, puzzles and other things...many of them are either fairly intelligent or trying to keep 'open' minds and would read material out of the mainstream...just another draw from another angle. I'm sure some people would hate on Mensa, but you cannot put every Mensa member or aspiring Mensa member in one big collective box. And no...i'm not a Mensa member.

[Andrew76]

Guys, I'm asking you these questions because you are the people I want to target. Today I went into one of the biggest Barnes and Noble in the Baltimore area and they barely had anything on Libertarinism, Liberty, or Independent Thinking OR anything remotely close. I mean don't get me wrong, they have plenty of mainstream books out there proclaiming their "Liberty, Free Markets, and the GOV'T is bad" books, but as a fellow freedom loving friend I know that you know we don't trust the mainstream for our news :D

So, I've really had the last straw with this stuff. I'm so tired of having to go out of my way to find a truely conservative book or magazine...come to think of it anything of that matter (Besides online, but I can't always be online). We do have a vast majority of things online but you have to pay for some ebooks or buy them and wait. Sometimes I just want to get up and buy a book the same hour I want to read it lol.

I've been thinking about starting a store for independent free loving minds. And I want your opinions on what should be in the store. Now this would be a long term process because I am still collecting my thoughts :eek: but I want to hear from others as well.

Post any books that you would love to see in the store
*Economics
*Current Affairs
*Law
*Science
*Philosophy
*Religion
those are a few examples of book subjects...add more, and even give me titles of books you would love to see. I was also thinking about trying to keep up to date magazines and even movies. I would love to have movies, that would be so cool to have a movie section :cool:

Come on I know you can help me brainstorm here!

Man, I love this idea, and I don't want to seem like I'm coming down on it at all, but I think your best bet would be to start an online bookstore first. If you get enough loot from that, then open an actual store. Once the store is up and running, you can still sell books online.
The key thing to remember with an online store is: extremely small overhead. You can store the books in your basement if needed. Or, don't have any books on hand at all, but when an order is placed through your website, "IndependentMinds.com" or whatever it may be, a mesg. is sent directly to a particular publisher who then sells/sends the book directly to the purchaser, and giving you a cut in the process - which is really all retail is anyway.
There's tons of research to be done on this site alone in regards to book recommendations.

[amy31416]

How about do-it-yourself books from indy publishers? There's lots of people out there who know how to do a lot of cool stuff to make yourself not just intellectually independent, but physically independent.

If you do get a physical location, have roundtable discussions on a weekly basis, with a specific topic in mind. You could also have another Saturday afternoon "do it yourself" seminar hosted by someone with a particular skill set, whether that be knitting or home brewing or whatever.

I agree on the "Made in America" theme that someone else posted also. It's time we support each other, rather than China.

[LittleLightShining]

Americans are by nature creative free thinking people. Hah! They are? This is a joke, right?

I like the ideas, btw. A suggestion for the bookstore: very early textbooks in math and English. They don't teach these subjects like they used to. You can tell from the pitiful spelling and grammar most people use or the inability of most young cashiers (and some older ones, too) to even count back change. I also find old history and science textbooks to be fascinating because the information (as in modern textbooks) is not always accurate and often infused with subtle or blatant indoctrination. These books give a lot more insight into society than most people think and so, to me, are more useful in an anthropological sort of way than as a teaching book.

Also, survival skills books, scout handbooks, farming manuals, organic gardening books, ham radio and simple electronics guides, field guides...

[belian78]

Hah! They are? This is a joke, right?

I like the ideas, btw. A suggestion for the bookstore: very early textbooks in math and English. They don't teach these subjects like they used to. You can tell from the pitiful spelling and grammar most people use or the inability of most young cashiers (and some older ones, too) to even count back change. I also find old history and science textbooks to be fascinating because the information (as in modern textbooks) is not always accurate and often infused with subtle or blatant indoctrination. These books give a lot more insight into society than most people think and so, to me, are more useful in an anthropological sort of way than as a teaching book.

Also, survival skills books, scout handbooks, farming manuals, organic gardening books, ham radio and simple electronics guides, field guides...

yes, all very good ideas...

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

What would you think was in a store called "Independent Minds"

No doubt, it would be filled with some type of hideous propaganda. Damn, I'm jaded.

Seriously, I like these suggestions from LittleLightShining.


Also, survival skills books, scout handbooks, farming manuals, organic gardening books, ham radio and simple electronics guides, field guides...

[icon124]

All good Ideas, and I do like the website idea...but there is a lot more competition online. That's why I figured I would start the store first and then branch off a website from the store recognition.

[nc4rp]

Free-Energy and Alternative-Energy science

[micahnelson]

Call it "Boston Tea Party" or "Red White and Brew"


Serve Coffee, tea and snacks- nothing fancy unless you want to.

Have a library/reading area where people can donate books. Make this space available to meetups and other political groups.

Special section of books called "Banned", copies of books that at one time or another have been banned or attempted to be banned.

Hats.
-Tinfoil
-Tricorn

Propaganda, for decoration as posters, calenders, t-shirts...
-50s WW2 Posters.
- Modern remakes of classic posters
- foreign propaganda in the original language

Political Memorabilia
- Vintage and replica historical campaign swag
- DNC GOP LP etc branded goods.

[icon124]

Call it "Boston Tea Party" or "Red White and Brew"


Serve Coffee, tea and snacks- nothing fancy unless you want to.

Have a library/reading area where people can donate books. Make this space available to meetups and other political groups.

Special section of books called "Banned", copies of books that at one time or another have been banned or attempted to be banned.

Hats.
-Tinfoil
-Tricorn

Propaganda, for decoration as posters, calenders, t-shirts...
-50s WW2 Posters.
- Modern remakes of classic posters
- foreign propaganda in the original language

Political Memorabilia
- Vintage and replica historical campaign swag
- DNC GOP LP etc branded goods.

Everything sounds good except for the hats lol

[icon124]

bump for thoughts

[yongrel]

Porn

[HenryKnoxFineBooks]

You can make a small fortune with a brick and mortar bookstore...just start with a large fortune.


Seriously, being in the "business", let me tell you that no matter what, you will be competeing with the internet stores.

Best bet, have a really cool coffee place, that also sells some of the above mentioned books.

[JosephTheLibertarian]

Guys, I'm asking you these questions because you are the people I want to target. Today I went into one of the biggest Barnes and Noble in the Baltimore area and they barely had anything on Libertarinism, Liberty, or Independent Thinking OR anything remotely close. I mean don't get me wrong, they have plenty of mainstream books out there proclaiming their "Liberty, Free Markets, and the GOV'T is bad" books, but as a fellow freedom loving friend I know that you know we don't trust the mainstream for our news :D

So, I've really had the last straw with this stuff. I'm so tired of having to go out of my way to find a truely conservative book or magazine...come to think of it anything of that matter (Besides online, but I can't always be online). We do have a vast majority of things online but you have to pay for some ebooks or buy them and wait. Sometimes I just want to get up and buy a book the same hour I want to read it lol.

I've been thinking about starting a store for independent free loving minds. And I want your opinions on what should be in the store. Now this would be a long term process because I am still collecting my thoughts :eek: but I want to hear from others as well.

Post any books that you would love to see in the store
*Economics
*Current Affairs
*Law
*Science
*Philosophy
*Religion
those are a few examples of book subjects...add more, and even give me titles of books you would love to see. I was also thinking about trying to keep up to date magazines and even movies. I would love to have movies, that would be so cool to have a movie section :cool:

Come on I know you can help me brainstorm here!

ew. I'm not a conservative.

[tangent4ronpaul]

I'm amazed that no one has mentioned Ron Paul's books!!!!

Carry the kind of books Loompanics used to.

oh - and "Red White and Brew" is a restaurant and there is a variation: "Red White and Brew Coffee". If you really like the name, try "Red, White and Brew Books"

-n

[tpreitzel]

Special section of books called "Banned", copies of books that at one time or another have been banned or attempted to be banned.



x2

For example, Carroll Quigley's Tragedy and Hope: A History of the World In Our Time. Many such examples exist.

[pinkmandy]

Best bet, have a really cool coffee place, that also sells some of the above mentioned books.

My thoughts, too. Only because of the internet. People who are smart enough to actually seek out those books shop online imo.

I still think the store could be awesome and the books would sell secondarily. Coffee is a good idea, so is the made in America idea. A glass case somewhere with a few nice hookas wouldn't hurt, either.

[icon124]

You can make a small fortune with a brick and mortar bookstore...just start with a large fortune.


Seriously, being in the "business", let me tell you that no matter what, you will be competeing with the internet stores.

Best bet, have a really cool coffee place, that also sells some of the above mentioned books.

by "business" do you mean a book store? a coffee shop? or just have a business?

and I've been looking more into it...seems safe to start online and then take the profits and start a store...but I like risk too :) so I'm still undecided...but the internet is definitly a lot safer.


My thoughts, too. Only because of the internet. People who are smart enough to actually seek out those books shop online imo.

I still think the store could be awesome and the books would sell secondarily. Coffee is a good idea, so is the made in America idea. A glass case somewhere with a few nice hookas wouldn't hurt, either.

I was also thinking I could turn an area into a tutoring place for grade school kids...and possibly even have programs for adults that want to learn as well. Hookas wouldn't fit into that lol..especially with kids around, but I do love me a hooka!

[HenryKnoxFineBooks]

I mean that I am in the book business. Antiquarian bookseller....rare books. And the business has changed radically since the advent of the internet. Alot of real brick and mortar stores have gone the way of the do-do.

[LibertyIn08]

Call Laissez Faire and see if you can work with them. They're the number one in libertarian book selling, and even they've had troubles. I think it'd be hard for you to break even at the moment.

[icon124]

I mean that I am in the book business. Antiquarian bookseller....rare books. And the business has changed radically since the advent of the internet. Alot of real brick and mortar stores have gone the way of the do-do.

oh okay cool...what state, and how successful are you, just curious...don't have to answer if you don't like...and did you get a website for your store?

[HenryKnoxFineBooks]

We are located in North Carolina, and have no "store". We use the internet (our own website, as well as ABEBOOKS, Bibliobooks, and the ABAA/ILAB website. Used to use Amazon when they first started, but they be pirates). But most of our business is done directly with our base of 5000 or so customers. We issue catalogs periodically directly to them, used to be all paper catalog, now its all emailed.

But we deal in rare books, which is a different animal from new and even used books.

I'll PM you a link to our site.

[1836]

Guys, I'm asking you these questions because you are the people I want to target. Today I went into one of the biggest Barnes and Noble in the Baltimore area and they barely had anything on Libertarinism, Liberty, or Independent Thinking OR anything remotely close. I mean don't get me wrong, they have plenty of mainstream books out there proclaiming their "Liberty, Free Markets, and the GOV'T is bad" books, but as a fellow freedom loving friend I know that you know we don't trust the mainstream for our news :D

So, I've really had the last straw with this stuff. I'm so tired of having to go out of my way to find a truely conservative book or magazine...come to think of it anything of that matter (Besides online, but I can't always be online). We do have a vast majority of things online but you have to pay for some ebooks or buy them and wait. Sometimes I just want to get up and buy a book the same hour I want to read it lol.

I've been thinking about starting a store for independent free loving minds. And I want your opinions on what should be in the store. Now this would be a long term process because I am still collecting my thoughts :eek: but I want to hear from others as well.

Post any books that you would love to see in the store
*Economics
*Current Affairs
*Law
*Science
*Philosophy
*Religion
those are a few examples of book subjects...add more, and even give me titles of books you would love to see. I was also thinking about trying to keep up to date magazines and even movies. I would love to have movies, that would be so cool to have a movie section :cool:

Come on I know you can help me brainstorm here!

As both a student of economics and a small business (retail store) owner, I don't think this is a good business plan.

It's a very niche market. You'd be better off perhaps with a regular bookstore that also had sections for these things...

[icon124]

As both a student of economics and a small business (retail store) owner, I don't think this is a good business plan.

It's a very niche market. You'd be better off perhaps with a regular bookstore that also had sections for these things...

why do you think this? what factors make it a bad plan? Just curious, I need to hear every opinion :cool:

Oh, what type of store do you run?

[kigol]

hmmmm

[RPTXState]

Talk to the guys at Brave New Books, in Austin. They appeal more to the truther crowd, but AFAIK they've been successful.

[WV Freedom Fighter]

My Favorite magazine...

Backwoods Home Magazine

http://www.backwoodshome.com/

They also have some good books, like this one...

http://www.backwoodshome.com/store/files/ss49.html

[JosephTheLibertarian]

My only advice: Don't go brick & mortar with a niche like this

[icon124]

Talk to the guys at Brave New Books, in Austin. They appeal more to the truther crowd, but AFAIK they've been successful.

hmm I like their ideas...I really like the videos playing all the time