Sharon Small Business Q&A: Annie's Book Stop

We checked in with Merry Cutler, owner of Annie's Book Stop on South Main Street in Sharon to talk about her shop.

Annie's sells new and used books. The store offers a credit system in which customers bring in their paperbacks and receive a credit worth about 15 percent of the cover price. Credits can be applied for one-half of the customer's total purchase. Annie's has about 50,000 books in stock on a given day.

How long have you been in business and what makes Annie's successful?

“We bought it in 1989 and we’ve been in Sharon Heights since 1999. We used to be in the Shaws plaza,” Cutler said.

“We offer great books at a good price and good service. We know what we’re doing and are able to help people finding something they want. I’d have to say it’s got to be the service otherwise they’d all be some place else," she said.

“You can get books for about a quarter of the cover price. We kind of offer the small store experience. You don’t have to park and walk a half a mile and then walk half a mile inside the store,” said Cutler.

What is something people might not know about Annie's?

“They may not know we have new books. We pick and choose the kind of things that are really popular like the Wimpy Kid series and whatever is currently the trend," said Cutler. “New books we offer a 20-percent discount off the cover price. We’re willing to sacrifice a little to stay in business and keep people happy.”

What do you like about being in Sharon?

“It’s very nice. I live in the next town over but I’ve worked here in Sharon for 25 years now. Nice people, very well educated, good kids, nice schools,” she said.

Can you recommend any books for the summer?

"For kids who have not read it the Wimpy Kid series is fantastic. It’s that whole thing about the kid who doesn’t quite fit in. And I think we’ve all felt that way when we were growing up,” Cutler said.

“For grown ups. I tend to be little bit off-center. Suzanne Brockmann has a new paperback out. She writes wonderful suspense. If you want somebody for local flavor, Dennis Lehane,” she said.

Be sure to check back each week for a Question and Answer session with another local business owner.