Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is November 30th. Heard of it? It's a new shopping holiday created by a big business [American Express] that's supposed to focus on small business.

See, Black Friday is all about the super deals and camping out at big box stores. Cyber Monday is all about shopping at home in your underwear. Small Business Saturday is supposed to focus on the little guy. That's nice, I guess.

I want to remind you, that at From My Shelf Books, we're here every day, not just during the mad rush of the holiday season. We'll help you find the perfect Christmas book for your 7 year old grandson, but we're here for his birthday in August too, or for that baby shower gift in May.

I could go over all the reasons to buy local. Money spent locally stays local. You help shape the character of your town. A small business is run by real people, with personality. People you know. Small businesses add flavor to a town, and you know that's more attractive than vacant stores.

I could tell you that it lowers your taxes. Local businesses generate more tax revenue per sales dollar, and the more local business, the lower your taxes will be. This has a multiplier effect and impact on local organization and residents.

Local business creates local jobs and opportunities. Independent businesses not only employ local people, but are the customers of local printers, accountants, craftsman, etc., and expand opportunities for more local entrepreneurs.

We live here, so we care about here. Small business donates twice as much per sales dollar to local non-profits and events compared to big business. We care about that road project, or if a local bridge gets fixed.

So, this Small Business Saturday, come visit us and see why we do what we do, but don't forget us the rest of the year, and we won't forget that you already bought that book for your daughter, or that that you always want the new Lee Child book. Don't forget small business doesn't run one day a year.

Angel Tree

Angel Tree tags are here!!! Remember, something you want; something you need; something to wear; something to read. These kiddos’ families have hit some desperate times this year, and Northern Helping Hands gets important gifts into their hands, including a book. Many of these requests can be fulfilled with $10 or less. And you always get 20% off Angel Tree purchases.

The deadline this year is EARLY: December 1st, pre-Dickens of a Christmas! They’ve realized how much time it takes to organize and wrap everything before their Christmas party. Want to go to a Christmas party and see some real joy and gratitude? You are invited to the party when these gifts are distributed. Stay tuned for details.

Plaid Friday

The name "Plaid Friday" was conceived from the idea of weaving the individual threads of small businesses together to create a strong fabric that celebrates the diversity and creativity of independent businesses.

Plaid Friday is the fun and enjoyable alternative to the big box store “Black Friday,” and is designed promote both local and independently owned businesses during the holidays.

Plaid Friday was conceptualized in Oakland, CA, a city known for strong shop local campaigns. Plaid Friday strives to bring back the days when shopping for friends and family during the holidays was a pleasurable and leisurely activity.

Help us celebrate by wearing plaid while shopping at participating businesses in Wellsboro on Friday, November 29th. Look for the special plaid placards at your local shops. Many of these businesses are offering specials during Plaid Friday.

Let's start a new Wellsboro tradition, celebrating our small businesses, celebrating our beautiful downtown, and reminding ourselves of all the benefits of shopping local!

Huck & Finn On Cole & Marmalade

Huck & Finn are famous. If you've been into the store, you probably know that. Well, now they are more famous and are on the Cole & Marmalade website.

It's a great article, and Huck & Finn encourage you to read it before they sell the movie rights. Huck & Finn dislike movie covers...

Huck & Finn, Bookstore Cats Read by Emily & Jonas

Come See Why We Made the Top Ten

Wow, you might have read that From My Shelf Books & Gifts has made the top ten of the Indie Awards sponsored by independentwestand.org. Heck, if you are reading this, there's a good chance that you put us there. We couldn't have done it without your votes. I want to personally thank you for that.

This contest started way back in September. Will we win? I don't know. I sure hope so. We will have to wait until November 25th at 10AM to find out. It's hard to be confident. Every business in the top ten looks great. It's tough competition. We made it to the top ten twice, and didn't win. Will this be our year?

Regardless, our customers and fans helped us get this far, and that's a good feeling. From My Shelf Books & Gifts is going to continue doing what we do best...books. Talking about books. Matching you with the right book. Special ordering you books, and adding to the literacy of our hometown.

If you haven't been in for awhile, we'd love to see you, and if you haven't been in, why wait? Come see why we have consistently made the top 25, and have made the top ten three times. We might not win the grand prize, but we didn't open a bookstore to win prizes. My wife and I opened a bookstore because we love books. Come on in and let's find your next great read...

Top Ten and Cole and Marmalade

I want to thank you all who voted for the bookstore and Huck & Finn. From My Shelf Books & Gifts made the top ten at Independent We Stand. We won't know until Monday if we actually win, but right now we feel like winners because of our supporters.

If you didn't cat it, Huck & Finn were featured on Cole and Marmalade yesterday. If for some reason you don't know who they are, check them out. Great cat stories from around the world.

I'd love to write a longer post, but I have to get going in the store. Again, thank you all!

Meet the Inspiration of Huckleberry Finn Written by Mark Twain

You've heard of Mark Twain, the pen name of Samuel Clemens. Did you know that Mark Twain has a connection with the Twin Tiers? Mark Twain married a woman from Elmira NY.

He lived a portion of his life there, and is buried in Elmira. He wrote portions of Huckleberry Finn as well as some of his other works in Elmira NY.

Mark Twain was a lover of cats, and two of Wellsboro's most famous cats were his inspiration for Huckleberry Finn. Meet Huck and Finn, the bookstore cats at From My Shelf Books & Gifts.

Wait a minute, how could two of the most famous cats of 2019 inspire the book? Well, maybe some of you aren't quite as familiar with cats as you think.

Have you ever walked into a room, and it was empty of cats, blink, and there was a cat? Of course you have. Cats teleport! You wondered why cats sleep so much. Well, that teleportation tires them out.

Cats also walk through time. Not all cats. It's a recessive gene, but Huck & Finn happen to be chrono gifted. They whisked through time, met Mark Twain, and inspired an American legend.

Now, Huck & Finn have their own book, "Huck & Finn, Bookstore Cats" If you love cats, books, or bookstores, buy a copy today. All proceeds will go to Huck & Finn fixing the timeline...

You Can Help Rural Literacy

The Totally Ninja Raccoons is a series of early chapter books about raccoons who become ninjas because they already have the masks.

I'm a co-owner of From My Shelf Books & Gifts. I've been a bookseller over 13 years. I noticed that if a child doesn't start embracing reading around 2nd grade that they start falling behind their peers.

My solution is the Totally Ninja Raccoons. Short chapters, humor, adventure, and one picture per chapter keep kids feeling a sense of engagement and accomplishment as they plow through these stories and ask for more!

Winning Independent We Stand would help me reach more rural schools. I could do more school visits, but the costs of time and gas interfere. This would help. I also could create more Totally Ninja Raccoon books with the help of my illustrator, and reach more children in rural schools.


JUST CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO BE TAKEN TO THE SITE TO VOTE!

Hello Humans

Hello there humans, nice opposable thumbs you have there. We're going to need to borrow those. No, not to open cans. Well, yes to open cans, but also we need you to vote for us.

You might already know that our store, From My Shelf Books & Gifts has proceeded to round two of the "Independent We Stand" contest. We need human help to make the top ten, then it goes to the judges who are all judgey and stuff.

You can vote up to 25 times a day from and IP address. This is so every member of the household can vote for Huck & Finn, well the store, but as we live at the store and derive our sustenance from the store...

So, click on our beautiful photo below. Voting is every 24 hours until midnight November 17. Humans can be soooooo dramatic. Anyway vote for us. The other businesses don't have cats, or even a dog. So, vote Huck & Finn, Note to Huck...insert some clever slogan here...

P.S. Tell them about our new book "Huck & Finn, Bookstore Cats"


CLICK ON OUR PHOTO AND BE WHISKED TO THE SITE TO VOTE