“Our customers are readers, and they appreciate Cardthartic’s thoughtful, simple expression paired with engaging images …
And CATS. Our customers love cats!”
When Linda Mooser opened her store in early 1995, “Internet bookselling had barely begun. Amazon had yet to sell its first book,” Linda says. “I wanted a brick-and- mortar operation that served as an alternative to new bookstores. So, I amassed 10,000 like-new, used books and set up a tiny cafe offering coffee, tea, muffins and pastries.
“We were an immediate success,” she’s proud to say, “expanding into larger quarters in 2000 and adding greeting cards and gifts. We continue to look for ways to diversify our offerings, handpicking our cards to reflect our desire to share humor, warmth, compassion and joy in life.”
Rep Donna Dillingham describes Linda as “an advocate for the written word,” and admiringly says, “I believe she has read every one of the thousands of books she has in the store! Books & Co. is a community resource and gathering place, hosting many charitable events during the year. Every time we meet ~ which is often ~ Linda has a new charitable project underway. And we’ve been meeting for 19 years!”
Owner Linda Mooser (left) with Store Manager Fran Paulman.
“We really know our customers,” Linda acknowledges, “and we are part of their lives. We’ve held everything from weddings to memorial services (most recently for a 94-year-old customer who considered Books & Co. her favorite place). Because we know them so well, customers often ask our help choosing the perfect card for a particular occasion. They LOVE Cardthartic ~ our most consistently loved cards, year after year ~ and often buy a stockpile of them.”
To store owners just starting out, this successful veteran would advise, “Trust your own sense of what you are. Stay with it and sell what you love, while listening carefully to what your customers say they want.
“Our customers are readers, and they appreciate Cardthartic’s thoughtful, simple expression paired with engaging images. They consider our Passages sympathy selection top-of-the- line. Next, they love the birthday cards and the range of sentiments/humor. And CATS. Our customers love cats!! :)
“When I started selling cards, I wasn’t a ‘card person,’” Linda says. “Has that ever changed! I now love choosing cards and sending them myself. Companies like Cardthartic have made me and so many of my customers Card People.”
