HOURLY CONSULTATION SERVICES
Inventory Management Consultation for Independent Retailers
Buying books for a bookstore requires more than just good taste. It requires thoughtful inventory management across a book’s full lifespan, and a solid set of systems to make it all run as smoothly as possible. For independent bookstores, this is one of the most complex and time-consuming parts of running their business. Ghostbuyers helps retailers approach buying with clarity, strategy, and long-term planning.
Our consultation services are designed to simplify the buying process, improve profitability, and support confident decision-making. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for a fresh perspective, each session is tailored to your store’s personality, goals, and constraints.
Ghostbuyers is led by Joe Foster, a buyer and educator with over 20 years of experience in inventory management and bookstore training. Joe spent 15 years at Edelweiss, where he supported hundreds of booksellers through webinars, trade show sessions, articles, videos, and one-on-one coaching. His deep knowledge of the indie bookstore market makes him a trusted resource for stores across the country.
Consultations include practical guidance on building strong relationships with publishers and their reps. This can lead to author events, co-op opportunities, better discounts, more advanced reader copies, and personalized support and advocacy from sales reps.
Scroll down to learn more about our services, pricing, and how Ghostbuyers can support your store’s growth.
Hourly Consultation
Consultation sessions are sold in prepaid blocks
2 hours: $200 | 4 hours: $360 | Additional hours: $100
Payment required before scheduling
A complimentary 15-minute consultation can be conducted to determine service suitability, compatibility, and establish preliminary goals.
We’ll work together and discuss the unique needs and personality of your store. In getting to know the space, constraints, and your own goals for the store, we’ll figure out how best to structure your inventory management systems to set your store up for success.
We can look at your POS system, vendors, your ordering schedule, a returns schedule, and any additional services that can help you do your best work as efficiently and as profitably as possible.
We can help you with:
- Strategies, philosophy, buying decision process training
- Frontlist ordering training, methods, and schedules
- Working with wholesalers, publishers, and sales reps to maximize efficiency, discounts, and industry presence
- Backlist reordering methods and schedules
- Returns, how and why
- Increasing turns and profitability
- Edelweiss Account Setup
- Including training, mapping, ordering, best practices, efficiencies, staff involvement, presence, etc.
- Working within a budget
- Ongoing reporting recommendations and evaluations
- Inventory performance
- Category evaluations
- Weak spots, strengths, opportunities
- Market comparison
Ready to get started?
Get in touch with Ghostbuyers to schedule a meeting
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