Dog Eared Books • Georgetown

Dog Eared Books • Georgetown

By Christi Covington Friday, 10 April 2009

The economy is not going to stall Paul and Marrika Crown. Instead, they are still intent on fulfilling their mission “to breathe life into the local mom and pop shops,” as Marrika describes it.

“In a recession era, we’re expanding, doubling in size and tripling in staff,” Paul said.

Their bookstore, Dog Eared Books, currently across from the Ninth Grade Center in Georgetown, will soon move to the Square in quest of more foot traffic.

The first floor will have 40,000 titles, while the second floor will be dedicated to children with a theater that will feature story time and live music.

“That’s what I am really excited about,” Marrika said. “That’s my love.”

Marrika was a school teacher for 15 years, a profession she thought she would continue forever, but a lifelong appreciation for books drew her to try online book sales with sites such as Amazon.com so she could work from home. Paul and Marrika have seven children.

That initial endeavor led the couple to buy Dog Eared Books in 2007 in partnership with the existing owner. Within three months they tripled sales by rearranging the store, selling online and increasing their advertising. Then they realized the next step was to find a new location.

“People didn’t even know the store was there [on Austin Avenue],” Marrika said. “One of the teachers who worked at the [ninth grade center] for years didn’t even know, although she can see it from her class window. That was when the light bulb went off. People don’t know we exist.”

The new store at 109 W. Seventh St., Ste. 115 will more than double the retail space when it opens April 24.

Paul and Marrika specialize in selling used books, along with local special interest books. Although they do not stock many new books, they will order them for customers and look for any title upon request.

Dog Eared Books has more customers than ever.

“I can handle smaller sales if there are a bunch of them,” Paul said.

Once the new store is in place, the Crowns plan to grow into other communities such as Manor, Hutto, Leander and Pflugerville.

A large part of their plan for expansion is developing technology, Paul’s forte.

He said software to maintain a used bookstore’s stock does not exist. That is why when going to many used bookstores employees never know what titles are on the shelves. The Crowns decided to hire a software programmer to create the technology for them. The couple has stopped selling books online through Amazon.com, but is building a new website for the store.

As they continue to open new shops, they will be able to see if any other locations have a book a customer wants. Paul plans to retain the programmer so they can make changes rapidly.

“We have ideas faster than we can implement them,” Marrika said.

Good deals at Dog Eared

Owners of Dog Eared Books, Paul and Marrika Crown use store credit to give their customers a chance to update their library. Bring used books and receive a percentage of the retail amount on a credit account. Customers can use accumulated credits to pay for half of a purchase.

Dog Eared Books (new location), 109 W. Seventh St., Ste. 115, 868-3363