An Interview with Anne-Marie
What motivated you to start BFL?
I’ve always loved reading, but after becoming housebound by illness/disability, I quickly learnt how difficult it was to access (physical) books where you’re unable to leave the house. I couldn’t visit libraries or secondhand bookstores, and new books were out of the budget with rising medical costs. Online secondhand bookstores didn’t seem to exist, outside of Trademe/AbeBooks etc, but I knew I couldn’t be the only person in my situation. So the idea was born! And after only a couple of weeks of brainstorming and work behind the scenes, we launched the first online secondhand bookstore of its kind in NZ.
What’s your favourite part of running BFL?
It might sound cliche, but discovering so many new books and authors. I thought I had a fairly good idea of the types of books and authors we’d sell, but we’ve expanded so far past that. Through customer requests, donations etc, I’ve discovered (and loved!) books I never would have picked up
What was a highlight from the last four years?
Winning the BNZ Market Made competition in 2022 - that was a moment where it felt like, “oh yeah, someone else thinks this is a great idea too!” Otherwise I’ve loved working with other NZ small businesses and getting to share their products (something that we hope to grow this year), and our annual Five Book Drops of Christmas is always a highlight of the year too.
What’s the hardest part about running BFL?
I think I’ve shared it before, but having more ideas than energy. I have so many plans and dreams for this business, but the unpredictability of illness and disability, particularly a dynamic disability (one that can change day to day) means things have to be done extremely slowly, and sometimes I have to say “no”, despite how much I want to be able to do something.
How do you balance your health with the day to day running of BFL?
Can I say not very well? I’ve gotten a lot better at balancing the two recently, but I still have times where I overdo it and then am unable to work for long periods of time. It can be so frustrating to be working towards something, or achieve something, and then have to stop for days or sometimes weeks at a time because symptoms make working or progress impossible. I try not to let this impact the customers though, so it’s not something you’ll easily notice unless you’re behind the scenes.
What’s something you’ve learned over the years?
Something I’m really starting to learn now (better late than never) is that I can’t do it all myself, and that it’s OK to ask for help. Everything so far has been done by us (design, branding, website etc), mainly for budget reasons, but also this feeling like I “should” be able to do XYZ, especially if I used to be able to do it. Ah, internalised ableism at work…
What’s a challenge you’re currently facing?
The price of books has gone up everywhere, as has the cost of everything (shipping, packaging materials etc), but we’re determined to stay affordable and accessible, and to me, this just shows an even greater need for a place like us. It’s been difficult (but understandable) to see so many bookstores closing this year, so we’re trying to build on our strengths, like being an at-home business which means no expensive rents to keep our costs down and keep operating.
Where do you source your books from?
Our books come from a variety of places - donations from our customers, op shops, book fairs, and through our waste minimisation partners. And, fingers crossed, soon our Book Buy Back
What is something you’re proud of?
I’m proud of our ongoing commitment to sustainability, in all parts of the business. I’ve loved creating our premium Blind Dates, which are made with 100% compostable packaging, as that’s something I haven’t seen anywhere else. Our goal has always been to create as little waste as possible to begin with, rather than focusing on recycling or other “ambulance at the bottom of the cliff” methods later on. While it sometimes feels like we’re taking the hard route, it’s 100% worth it to know that we’re creating as little impact on the planet as we can.
What is something that surprised you?
The number of people I’ve “met” (online) who have shared similar stories to me, about their chronic illness journey, being housebound and struggling to access everyday things, and the joy that books bring them. This has surprised me in the best way, and I’ve felt privileged to hear all your stories.
What is your favourite book you've sold?
Ohh, that’s impossible to answer I think. We’ve sold thousands and thousands of books over the years, and being secondhand, every single one of them was unique. I do love finding surprise signed copies of things, or special editions that still come with their stickers/posters etc.
What was your most recent DNF and why?
I’m trying to get better at DNF-ing books, but I’m still not very good at it. Luckily I have more time than the average person, so it’s not the end of the world if I don’t particularly enjoy a book. Generally though if I DNF a book it’s because I’m not in the mood for it currently, and will often come back to it at a later date.
Who is Brody? How long have you had him, and how does he help you?
I feel like Brody deserves his own AMA! Brody is a Mobility Dog (service dog), and I got him not long after opening BFL in 2021. I was extremely lucky in that it was a perfect timing situation, where a dog was available that was ideally suited to me, and I'm eternally grateful for how it all worked out. As well as being a bit of a mascot around here, he helps me day to day with tasks around the home, including fetching things from other rooms, opening and closing doors, and brightening my day with his goofy antics. You wouldn’t know if you only ever met him while wearing his working jacket, but he’s a bit of a clown!
What is a dream you have for the future?
Where do I start? I still dream of my ideal book truck, but it’s on the back burner for now, as I remind myself that I’m still not well enough to drive, let alone leave the house that regularly. The current goal we’re working towards is hiring our first staff member, and we’ll see where we can grow from there.