Since the early 1900s, the Gaylord Bros. catalog has sold supplies such as stamps, shelving, and preservation tools to libraries. Now, in the early 2000s, the Syracuse, NY-based company is expanding its reach to consumers. In January it launched BooksForever.com, a Website selling many of the same preservation tools and accessories, but in smaller quantities.
Prices range from a $10 box of book jackets to a $2,000 leather-massaging chair. Within a month of the site’s launch, it was selling an average of $500 worth of goods a day.
And Gaylord has bigger plans for BooksForever, says director of e-commerce Brian Shenker. It expects to expand its product range to include gift items, such as elaborate bookends, desk accessories, and furnishings, in time for the fall-holiday season. It also plans to expand its offering of children’s furniture. And in October it expects to launch a 72-page print catalog, with a mailing to 100,000-150,000 prospects and customers.