Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarai Rivera.
Hi Sarai, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Spellbound Bookstore is a small indie bookstore that opened in November 2022. We sell new and used books, candles, and other gifts. We recently expanded into a new location in the center of beautiful Downtown Sanford (105 N Oak Ave). We have so many fun events planned for this new location!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In the beginning, the biggest challenge was finding the right location. It took me a year to find our first commercial space, but luckily, we were able to find a second, more central location. The other big challenge was finding our footing as an indie bookstore–creating a social media presence, planning events that appeal to our customers, and learning what books to purchase for the readers in our area. We’ve learned much through trial and error and continue improving daily.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We’re proud to be a woman-owned and Latinx-owned small business. We offer new, new surplus, and used books of all genres, gifts, paper goods, puzzles, and more! We host various events at our bookstore, including Children’s Storytime, Author events, book clubs, and game nights. What sets us apart is a curated selection of books and gifts at affordable prices with the added experience of a cozy, friendly bookstore where all are welcome.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
We love meeting our customers and providing personalized recommendations in person, but there are ways to support us online:
- We’ve partnered with Bookshop.org for online book shopping–when you choose us as your bookstore on Bookshop, every purchase supports us directly: https://bookshop.org/shop/spellboundbookstore
- We’ve also partnered with Libro.fm for audiobooks: https://libro.fm/spellboundbookstore
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.spellboundbookstore.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spellboundbookstorefl
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spellboundbookstorefl
- Other: https://bookshop.org/shop/spellboundbookstore
Image Credits
Mastropieces Photography (Daniella Hume) https://www.facebook.com/MastropiecesPhotography
