“They would come in on a rainy afternoon, pick up a novel, and sit in one of those old armchairs for two hours,” Susan says. “I started offering free tea and cookies. Then people started bringing their own cookies to share.”
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Word of mouth spread. Odd Volume became known as a place where you could slow down, browse without pressure, and have a real conversation with the owner about what you were reading. Susan knows most of her regulars by name and remembers their favourite genres.
When the pandemic forced lockdowns, Susan worried she would have to close. Instead, her customers rallied. She started a “blind date with a book” service — for five dollars, she would wrap a surprise book in brown paper and leave it on a table outside the shop. People bought them by the dozens. They posted photos on social media, guessing what was inside.
Today, Odd Volume is busier than ever. Susan has expanded into the space next door, adding a small reading room with a fireplace and a corner for children’s story time on Saturdays. She still does not sell online. She does not need to.
“Amazon can give you any book in two days,” Susan says. “But Amazon cannot give you a warm chair, a cup of tea, and a cat purring on your lap while you decide between a mystery and a memoir. That’s what we offer.”
Her advice to other small business owners is simple: “Figure out what the big guys cannot do. Then do that.”
