Shop Talk is a weekly column featuring locally owned and operated businesses. This week, we talk to Connie Popek, who owns Popek Booksellers with her husband, Peter. Their son, Michael, is manager of the store.

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How long have you lived in the area?

I was born and raised in Walton, then moved to New Jersey in 1974. In about 1980, my husband, Pete, and I moved back to the area.

From left, Michael, Connie and Pete Popek stand in their bookstore, Popek Booksellers, in Oneonta on Friday.

Tell me about your business:

We deal with used, rare and out-of-print books. We sell mainly online, but have more than 75,000 books housed in our store. We also have a large selection of low-priced paperbacks and hardcovers especially for our avid reader customers.

Describe a typical day in your business:

I start my day at home, where I check incoming orders online. When I get to the store, I pull the books from the shelves and get them ready for packing and shipping. My son, Michael, and I work together to get all of the orders processed and shipped. The customers are then e-mailed as to how each order is shipped and when it may be expected to be delivered.

Apart from the everyday store maintenance, we also research incoming books and get them ready for processing. There are always books to put away, books for repair, and books that have to be moved to other areas. Aside from Michael, my daughter Kelly also works for us, and we have two other great young people.

We enter books online, using a database program, which keeps the inventory up-to-date and organized. We also do a lot of buying of books that people bring in, so they also must be researched, and appraised. There are always boxes of books to be carried in or out, so no one ever leaves or comes empty-handed.[an error occurred while processing this directive]

How did you get started in this line of work?

In about 1983, my father-in-law, Walter, and my husband were attending the Lettis Auction in Oneonta. The was a Volkswagen van full of books up for sale. After much debate, my father-in-law won, and he purchased the load of books.

Later, at home, we were faced with the question of what to do with the pile of books. We did some research and found that people actually sought old books. We started writing, calling and mailing, and started selling some books. Soon we found that we actually enjoyed the whole process.

Where do you see this business in five years?

I like where we are now in terms of size. I like being a small business and having the ability to serve each customer individually. We have many return customers online, who come to us first because of the friendship we have developed. We also have many walk-in customers where we know exactly what they are looking for as soon as they come in. Being a family-owned, family-run business is great in a rural area like Oneonta.

What have you learned from your work?

I have learned that detail and organization are your best friend. Being able to answer the customer’s questions with knowledgeable information and have it at a moment’s notice can make a sale and make a customer for life.

What is the hardest thing you have to do?

I think the hardest thing is the everyday relocating of boxes of books. These go in the back, these go home, these go to storage _ always moving boxes.

The most enjoyable?

The most enjoyable thing is when a customer finds a book that they have searched for "forever" and the squeal with delight when it finally is in their hands.

How do you define success for your business?

I define success with the amount of happy customers. Anyone can make money, but making money while making someone happy is a successful business.

What are some advantages/drawbacks of doing business in this area?

The obvious advantage is being able to work close to home and family.

The only drawback I can think of today is the weather ... after 25 inches of snow, I think I would rather be sweeping beach sand.

What sets you apart from your competitors?

I think what sets us apart is the fact that we are a small, family-owned business that can take time with each customer, and get to know what they want or need, and to personally see that they get it.

What advice would you give to someone trying to enter your field of work?

I would tell them to know what they are getting into. Get a feel for books, and the book world. Know what people are looking for. Know how to tell a good book from a great book, and what makes it a great book. Also be ready for lots of carrying, sorting, carrying, paperwork, carrying, wrapping, carrying, and best of all ... reading.

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Shop Talk has appeared in The Daily Star each week since Nov. 1, 2003. Community Editor Emily F. Popek is the wife of Michael Popek of Popek Booksellers.