It all started with an idea that fogged up a windshield on a Calgary Tuesday….
Chapter 1
“Hey Jennifer,” I said, as I merged into Calgary’s downtown traffic on a bustling Tuesday morning.
She glanced at me, her eyes already suspicious.
“What is it?” she asked. I could tell she was already suspicious.
I grinned, knowing what was coming.
“I have an idea.” Pause.
Her sigh fogged up the windshield.
“Well? Let’s have it,” she prompted, her voice the perfect blend of tolerance and dread.
I paused dramatically, savoring the moment.
“I’ve been watching a lot of YouTube videos lately, and it seems to me that selling books on Amazon would be fun! I mean, we both love books, especially buying them. I’m sure we’re not the only ones who have this addict-I mean passion. Why not fill a need?”
I kept my eyes on the road, but I could feel the look. That sideways glance, paired with a wrinkled nose and slightly narrowed eyes—my wife’s patented cocktail of skepticism and exasperated affection.
I grinned like a kid handed two scoops of bubble gum ice cream from Foothills Creamery.
“I think we should open a bookstore.”
Her response was calm—almost too calm.
“Okay, dear,” she said, as we turned into her office parking lot. “If that’s what you want to do, we can do it.”
And so, Jennifer and Ryan Books was born.
Chapter 2 : Two Clueless Bookworms
A month later, we were officially incorporated. We though of the most creative and unique name for our store and the race was on. The plan was simple: source inventory from local charity thrift stores and estate sales, then use Amazon’s FBA program to handle the logistics. Easy as baking a blueberry pie—if you’re Jennifer. She’s a cooking savant. Me? Not so much. Turns out, selling books isn’t nearly as simple as YouTube guru bros make it seem.
We kicked things off with a lucky Kijiji find from someone shutting down their garage-based business. We bought a ton of books. It seemed perfect. Until it wasn’t. It took until after Christmas to sort, list, and ship those countless boxes. Our first sale? A book on black magic or dark voodoo—fitting, considering the chaos we’d just waded into. We were in Edmonton for an Oilers vs. Flames game when the notification came through. It felt like a good omen—unfortunately, sales didn’t exactly pour in after that.
It took months of trial and error to learn some hard lessons: high prices don’t guarantee sales—just because a book is listed at a premium doesn’t mean anyone will pay it. Textbooks only sell if they’re relevant, and Canada’s smaller market means books move slower. Plus, Amazon storage fees add up fast with heavy books.
Still, through all the challenges, building this business together has been worth it. And by sourcing from charities and non-profits, we’re not just growing our inventory—we’re helping reinvest into the community.
Chapter 3: lessons learned
(sounded better in my head)
Beleive it or not, we did learn some things along the way.
Turns out, running a bookstore is about way more than just tossing books online and hoping for the best (we learned that the hard way—no thanks to those YouTube gurus with their flashy thumbnails).
Here’s what we’ve learned about making sure you get the best experience possible when you shop with us:
🔎 The Amazon Tango
Mastering our listings became an unexpected journey. Keywords? SEO? We started debating whether “gently loved” or “vintage charm” would catch your eye first. (Spoiler: It’s always a little bit of both.)
🚀 Prime Time
We got serious about Amazon Prime. Now, your book is in your hands before you even have a chance to second-guess that late-night impulse buy. And if for some reason it’s not quite right, Prime’s easy refunds ensure you’re taken care of with no hassle. You get a worry-free experience from start to finish.
🧼 The Spa Treatment
Every book we send gets a personal touch
Because let’s face it, people don’t just buy books; they buy the excitement of unboxing a perfect, well-cared-for treasure.
The next Chapters….
We started this whole journey because we thought it would be fun, but what really keeps us going are the messages we get from you—like when you tell us,
“This book arrived exactly as described!” Or the time someone actually framed our thank-you note. (Jennifer might still blush about that one.)
In short, when you shop with us, you’re not just getting a book—you’re getting a little slice of care and joy with every package. And with Amazon Prime, you’re also getting peace of mind, knowing that if anything’s not right, we’ve got you covered.