Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Erickson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Owning a bookstore has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. When the only bookstore in town closed a few years after we moved here, I was pretty dejected.
At that time, it wasn’t possible to make my dream a reality, as my husband was traveling a lot for work and we had three kids in elementary school. Once our youngest started middle school (and quickly approaching our 50th birthdays), we spent some time reflecting on the fact that life is short and decided to give it a go.
I did a ton of research about opening a bookstore and while not all of it was entirely promising, we made some adjustments that we thought could work and set about making plans. Our kids were 100% in from the beginning and loved working at the store. They, along with our other employees, are essential to our success.
Everyone has their area of expertise and contributes in so many ways. We’ve been open for about a year and a half now, and things are going very well! It’s been a real labor of love, and I’ve learned so much, although I do feel that I have a lot more to learn. The response from the community has been amazing, and we’re so grateful for the support.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My biggest struggle personally has been learning how to work retail. I’ve never worked in a retail environment before, and learning how to utilize a point-of-sale system, and to manage inventory and scheduling were challenging.
I’m still trying to figure out how to stay on top of which books to order but I have the feeling that will be an ongoing issue. Most people are pretty patient and ok with waiting if we have to order a book we don’t have, but I always do a little internal happy dance when someone comes in to ask about a specific book and we have it in stock. Those little victories can mean a lot.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have a degree in Elementary Education and was a stay-at-home mom for 16 years. During that time, I helped to start the Lakes Area Imagination Library, which is a local affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, in Becker County. I’m still the director of that organization. I have also served on the Detroit Lakes School Board for the last 7 years.
I’ve met a lot of people through volunteerism, and am probably best known for being a proponent of the importance of literacy. I’m extremely proud that since we started in 2011, the Lakes Area Imagination Library has provided over 136,000 books to the children of Becker County, at no charge to the families.
I’m also very proud of my time on the school board, as were able to pass a referendum to fund much-needed renovations and additions to our facilities. I would say I’m a person who likes to get things done, but I’m open to compromise.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I think the best way to network and find a mentor is to join organizations and just ask for advice from the people you admire.
I have found that most people that I have approached have been very open and accessible, and for those who haven’t been it’s just not meant to be. You also have to be willing to give what you get and be open to people who reach out to you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bluebirdbooks.store
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluebirdbooksmn22/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluebirdbooksmn
