Episode 29 | Wichita Chamber Business Accelerator

What do you do when national competition comes flooding in? How do you survive? This is the story of a small local bookstore outlasting large national chains. Sarah Bagby has been leading Watermark Books & Cafe through difficult challenges, but has always been able to move forward, partly by having the right focus. She joins host Don Sherman to share what makes her business stand out.

For 45 years, Watermark Books & Café, an independent locally owned bookstore and café, has been a home for books in Wichita, KS. While their physical store houses books, their home extends well beyond the four walls and into our community. They sponsor over 100 author events featuring bestselling and soon-to-be bestselling authors. Watermark collaborate with non-profits, other local businesses, schools, churches, libraries, and other organizations that make our community what it is. Since 1996 they have been an anchor for the Lincoln Heights Village Shopping Center at the southwest corner of Douglas and Oliver.

Watermark's purpose is to connect books with readers and to provide tasty food their our café patrons. They match a myriad books to a diverse population of readers, including children, in physical, eBook and audio format. With open minds and a knowledge of books, they strive to be a place for discovery and expansive experiences. Watermark supports local authors, donates to nonprofit organizations, schools, libraries, and sources their coffee from a local roaster. Whether you seek an author event, a book club, a coffee meet-up or something good to read, they welcome you and are committed to representing our entire community in our selection of books.

Watermark Books & Cafe

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On this episode we discuss:

• Becoming more entrepreneurial in the face of competition
• Growing up in a house of readers
• Why a book is not a passive experience
• Being in the business of ideas
• Keeping people from feeling alone during the pandemic
• How the community helps her bring national authors to town
• How the internet scares Sarah
• Not forgetting the value of local retail businesses
• Everyone comes in with a problem to solve
• Focusing on customer engagement
• Admiring local non-profit leaders
• Reopening the cafe

Listen on popular podcast directories and aggregators, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Pandora, and ICT Podcast Network or using the player above. Send feedback on this show and/or suggestions for future guests or topics by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or emailing communications@wichitachamber.org.

Preview:

Wichita Chamber Business Accelerator is a weekly podcast devoted to supporting and learning from area business owners. Released every Wednesday, it's produced by Forge Podcast Co, managed by the Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Evergy. 

Learn more about this podcast series by visiting our January 7 blog post.