Tweak # 116: Lisa Uhrik welcomes bookshop explorer (and literacy expert) Ken Bigger, who stopped at Plenty as store #252 on his country-wide tour. Their conversation takes a turn from travel stories to a big idea: literacy isn’t a simple “have it or don’t” trait. It’s a continuum that includes traditional reading and writing, plus digital and cultural know-how, and even skills like attention, empathy, and reflective thinking. That shift changes how we talk about the people we

Libraries play a vital role as shared community spaces. Learn how thoughtful design supports connection, discovery, and welcome in today’s libraries.

Tweak # 114: Hello Quiet Carpenter, I want to thank you. While reflecting on your work, I wrote you a poem. It’s from the future – 2036 – and it’s about the way you helped turn the world around, not with noise or spectacle, but with steady care. In this short reflection, I’m thinking about the people who stay. The ones who tend places, keep company, notice what needs attention, and quietly make room for others. I imagine a bookshop, a familiar rhythm, and the kind of work tha

Tweak # 105: What if the “industry standard” isn’t the only way? In our latest podcast, Lisa’s research reveals three broad themes shaping today’s bookshops, and how knowing yours can transform everything from layout and design to inventory strategy. We’re challenging the idea that all bookshops must adhere to 3-4 inventory turns per year. Instead, we explore how your bookshop’s core focus — whether book-centric, community-centric, or advocacy-centric — can guide your decisio

Tweak # 098: This episode salutes the 10th anniversary of Independent Bookstore Day, a celebration of the enduring influence of...

Indie Bookstores build community. But what does that look like, exactly? Settle in for a read. We've got the best example, but first a...

Tweak # 094: It's a tiny word with a big mind shift: home . We've long adopted the third space mindset, but Mindy Massey's use of a...

Tweak # 092: Like Mr. Fred Rogers, you're creating a special sort of space for your neighbors. And there are three specific things you're...

Tweak # 086 - Inspired by the NPR article on DJ Johnson's Baldwin & Co, we're thinking about telling the story of your store today. How...