[sudo-discuss] Bookselling outside the omni

[D. Scott Nanos]

PROPOSAL: to let Scott sell books outside/nearby the omni up to 2 days a
week

Dear OOC community,

I am intending to start selling books outdoors and on the street, and I'm
wondering if there's a way that I can somehow do it, two days a week,
nearby or directly outside the omni. I really think this has the potential
to be good for everyone!

First, ways in which the OOC can benefit by this. I will make the finances
of all sales public to the ooc, and would agree to either paying a nominal
monthly fee (remember, this is going to be outside, perhaps between TAC and
lanesplitters on 48th?), which would be sliding scale (ex: if i actually
make any profit at all, the omni gets more $/month) or, preferably, 10% of
(non-consignment) sales, which seems easier to me. This hopefully would
also cover being able to store (2) boxes and my handtruck in the omni. The
boxes would be likely be constant, but the handtruck would only be at the
omni 1-2 nights a week max.

Another way OOC members can benefit from this is through consignment. Both
korl and Jenny have expressed interest in consigning some of their books
for sale, and since my operation is so small, I think I could manage
consigning with just about any core member of the ooc. The small size is a
bit constrictive- I'll probably only have 100 books plus ephemera "on the
shelves", and it will be completely curated, so I'll have to be really
selective with consignment. BUT i'm really into this idea and hope that it
will, in a small way, be able to financially help out members of the OOC
who do so much unpaid labor for the omni. I already have multiple
spreadsheets that i've been using to track consignments of my own books in
local bookshops, as well as for TIL books i've been consigning to owl and
company. It's been a couple months and i haven't let anything slip by, so
i'm confident I could keep track of ooc members' books, should anyone want
to consign!

Also, this will totally help bring more people into the omni (and La
Commune too)! I think, since I'll only have about 100 books at a given
time, a lot of people won't find what they're looking for and will likely
walk inside omni to browse la commune's shelves :)

Being near the omni will help me out greatly. Since a lot of OOC members
will be around, I would be able to go on quick bathroom breaks or grab more
stock from my storage box, and be able to see all of you lovely people
while "at work"! Plus, I'd get to spread the word about the omni to
book-lovers and passersby, and occasionally play acoustic guitar while
tending to the "shop", which would make my set-up even better.

My hope is that, although this project won't really operate *inside* the
building, that it could still serve as a model for other business type
tenants/member collectives in the omni, one that is based on transparency,
gratitude, and mutual aid.

Other closing thoughts/concerns:

should I contact the Temescal Arts Center and see if they'd be okay with me
setting up in between them and lanesplitters a couple days a week? does
anyone have that contact info?

and, if I do sell books on the street and have it be loosely affiliated
with the omni, would it at all pose any legal problems for us?

Thanks and love,

Scott

ps no problem at all if it doesn't work out for this bookselling thing to
be associated with omni- there's plenty of outdoor space all over oakland!
that being said, I think it could be really great. <3

pps i'll be having a small $1-$5 booksale tomorrow night in temescal alley
(49th and telegraph) from 6-9 pm tomorrow night! Come drop by if you're
free!
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