So.
Remember yesterday when the Nowhere Bookshop website went live? And Elizabeth (our superhero manager) and Victor and I were surrounded with hundreds of shirts and mugs and books that I was certain we’d still be surrounded with a week from now? Well, turns out I’d underestimated the excitement and support because we got thousands of orders the first day.
um. what.
This is a real-time look into the various emotions of yesterday…
Me when I saw how many fantastic people wanted to support this strange new Indie Bookstore that hadn’t even opened yet:
Me when I realized we’d almost made enough to pay for the wheelchair ramp we’re adding inside the store:
Me when I realized that we didn’t have nearly enough merch ready to ship:
Me when I told Victor that I need to make a giant rush order to the local screen printer to fulfill everything that was still coming in:
Victor when PayPal froze my business account because there was way too much activity on it and they assumed I must be doing something illegal:
Elizabeth when orders kept coming in faster than she could possibly keep up with them:
Elizabeth when she found out that our screen-printer was running low on the shirts we needed:
Elizabeth and I when we begged the screen-printer for help and he found a giant stash of what we needed in Illinois:
So, long story short, yesterday was incredibly successful/terrifying. The first several hundred of you who submitted orders will get yours this week (please share them online if you like them!) but if you ordered something we’re low on it may take a few weeks for you to get it. I’m sorry! I know we already say that on the website as a disclaimer but I still feel bad that we didn’t have enough already printed. As far as problems go it’s a very good problem to have and I’m so very lucky that you guys are understanding and awesome even through our growing pains.
A little behind-the-scenes look:
Currently Elizabeth’s guest room is a staging/packing area:
And my house is filled with boxes and boxes of books that are all being signed and personalized:
Thank you again for your support and your patience and for the wonderful community you’ve made and continue to grow.
Check out the website if you haven’t already. And thank you again!