Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Freeh.
Jennifer, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Several years ago, our daughter Danielle was working at Mr. Mike’s Used Books. She loved her job – great co-workers, wonderful customers and a positive, friendly atmosphere at the store. When Mr. Mike decided to retire and move away, we approached him about buying the business. My husband, Vince, and I, along with Danielle were blessed to become the new owners of Mr. Mike’s. We kept our incredible staff and loyal customers while adding our own joyful voice to the store. We have learned so much about running a small business and have loved getting to know the many people who enjoy spending time at Mr. Mike’s.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Every new business venture has some ups and downs, but we have been so blessed to have the staff continue working with us. They have all the institutional knowledge and a love for Mr. Mike’s. We have not encountered any major obstacles – every now and then the wi-fi goes out or the cash register stops working. Vince can usually get those things back up and running pretty quickly. For the most part, we have had an easy time of building the business. The atmosphere in our store is generally very positive. It’s a joy to connect readers with great stories at terrific prices.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Mr. Mike’s Used Books is a quaint bookstore in Cary, NC. We buy used books from our clientele for either cash or store credit. We carry a wide variety of titles and genres ranging from General Fiction through Classics. We have a huge selection of children’s books, award winners, early readers and chapter books. We carry cookbooks, financial and business titles, self-help, religion, history and western. Mystery is one of our biggest sections along with romance and sci-fi. It’s easy to find something for everyone. We also carry a nice selection of merchandise including bookmarks, Paws to Read bracelets, earrings and necklaces, drink coasters, greeting cards and locally made freeze-dried candy. The characteristic that makes Mr. Mike’s most special is the positive atmosphere in our store. Mr. Mike’s is a joyful place that truly cares about the customers.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Jumping into the business world is a big risk. There is a great deal to learn and many things can go wrong. We are not generally big risk-takers because we have a large family and need security to provide for them. However, we knew that Mr. Mike’s was a successful business and felt as though we could keep it running smoothly. We have worked hard to maintain a positive work environment and keep the business profitable. We feel that it’s necessary to take some risks in life and if you are willing to work hard, risk can often equal reward.
Pricing:
- Hard Cover General Fiction – $5.99
- Children’s – $0.99 – $2.99
- Teen Fiction – $3.99
- Mr. Mike’s Tote Bags – $9.99
- Gift Items – $3.99 – $9.99
Contact Info:
- Website: http://mrmikesusedbooks.com/
- Facebook: Mr. Mike’s Used Books
