Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in a bookstore but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Katharine Tutko, owner of Moonbeam Books, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Moonbeam Books is an independent children's bookstore in Toronto, providing the best books, games, crafts, and puzzles for kids and teens in the west end. Our mission is to spark a love of reading in every kid who walks into our store by providing expert recommendations and by creating a welcoming and fun space for kids to explore! Our product selection is carefully chosen to engage kids' enthusiasm, imagination, and creativity. We love our community and have added programs over the years to make our store a one-stop spot for fun for the whole family, including book clubs, birthday parties, board game rentals, and even a family-friendly escape room. We pride ourselves on our relationships with our customers and our community. They know that they can rely on us for the best recommendations and stellar customer service.

Tell us about yourself

I have been a book lover all my life, to the point where books have become a significant portion of my personality. My first job was at a large chain bookstore, and as my educational and future career paths shifted, my constant was my part-time job at the bookstore. When it came time to decide what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing, I couldn't shake the idea of owning my own bookstore, so just out of university, I took the leap and opened Moonbeam Books. Being able to share my greatest passion with kids in our neighborhood and foster the same relationship with reading that made me the person I am today is the best motivator to put my all into my work. It is so rewarding to see kids who are reluctant to read try a book I recommend and return so enthusiastic about reading something new. I am creating an army of little readers, and I couldn't be more proud!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment is actually one that came very recently - we just moved to a bigger location! Being able to expand to a larger space - and during a pandemic as well - is a great achievement, especially for a business that is less than five years old. I am so proud that we've grown so much in such a short time. I've also had the opportunity to speak on the national news about Canadian Independent Bookstore Day, I've been on a nomination panel for a Canadian book award, and my recommendations have been included in a number of news articles. But, honestly, the greatest accomplishment will always be having a kid tell me my store "is the best store ever!"

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

For me, the greatest challenge with being a business owner is that it's all you. You wear all the hats - store manager, buyer, marketing manager, social media manager, CFO. All of it is your job, especially in the beginning. Juggling all those different tasks and responsibilities feels like a never-ending job, and it is so easy to burn out. It also makes it really hard to draw a line between your workday and your home life and to leave work at work when the day is done. 4+ years in, I'm still working on figuring that out.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Passion project - make the basis of your business something you are really passionate about because it will make you want to put in 100% every day, even on the bad days (and those definitely happen!) It's a cliche saying, but there's some merit in the idea of not working a day in your life when you do what you love.
  2. Work-life balance - it is so easy to let your work consume your every waking hour and sacrifice your social life, leisure time, and other commitments to your business. That is the fastest route to burnout. You have to learn when to say, this is a job for tomorrow, and put the work away for another day.
  3. Build your village - being a business owner can sometimes make you feel like you're doing it all on your own, but building a network of other business owners and friends that can give you advice or even just a supportive ear when you need a rant is so important. When you view other business owners as a community rather than competition, everyone wins, and you make each other better!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Starting a business is daunting for everyone, and the fear of failure is such a strong deterrent, but if you have a vision and if you have passion, take the leap! If you fail, you learn from it. And if you don't, then you're golden!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://moonbeambooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moonbeambooks/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonbeambooks/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.