#178 How MahoganyBooks adapted to the pandemic and racial justice movement
Retail Gets Real · with Ramunda and Derrick Young · July 21, 2020 · 35 min
Summary
MahoganyBooks, a Black-owned independent bookstore, shares its journey navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and the surge in demand for Black literature during the racial justice movement. Learn how they adapted operations, managed inventory, and leveraged their online and physical presence to meet unprecedented demand and serve their community during a period of significant social change.
Key takeaways
Implement flexible operational strategies to manage unexpected spikes in demand across online and physical channels.
Curate inventory to reflect current social movements and consumer interest, leveraging niche expertise to become a go-to resource.
Foster strong community ties and leverage your brand's cultural identity to build a loyal customer base and navigate market shifts.
Strategically blend online and physical retail channels to maximize reach and customer engagement, especially during times of disruption.
Ramunda and Derrick Young run MahoganyBooks, an independent bookstore specializing in African American literature that operates online and from its Washington, D.C. location. In this episode, the Youngs share how they’ve navigated the pandemic as a small business and the recent surge in demand for books about the Black experience and racism following global protests against racial inequality. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.
