Noting that, "for the small guys, surprisingly, things are starting to look better in the land of independents," Gwenyfar Rohler--a writer and bookseller (Old Books on Front St., Wilmington, N.C.)--profiled Lori Fisher and her shop Quarter Moon Books & Gifts in Topsail Beach, N.C., for an Encore piece headlined "Live Local. Live Small."
"Our sales are approximately 26% above last year, but more importantly this year's sales are 8% above our best year of 2007," said Fisher, who has owned the bookstore since 1995. She added that the business had "been struggling the past few years and the sales this year were going to be the determining factor for the future of Quarter Moon.... This year has been quite a relief for me. I believe our new outdoor patio with colorful furniture has attracted more people to the store, and our extended hours in the evening for the wine bar has had a significant effect on our increased sales this year."
Praising her staff for their "irreplaceable" focus on personal service, Fisher observed: "I feel people who own small businesses have invested their heart and soul into them and really want to make a difference for their customers and their community.... I have established relationships with a lot of families over the years, watched children grow into adults and look forward to seeing them year after year."
