Jun 13, 2010

Thinking and shopping outside the big boxBy Michelle TurcotteHTRNews.com

Manitowoc — On an unseasonably warm Monday afternoon in May, five friends read and chatted while seated on a comfy couch and chairs, surrounded by bright and inviting decor and books in every corner. The setting is LaDeDa Books & Beans, and one of the five friends is owner Bev Denor, who’s visiting with some of her frequent patrons.

“We provide a comfortable atmosphere for people to meet, relax, and shop,” said Denor, who cultivated her love for books at an early age growing up around the corner from Carnegie Library in Manitowoc. Denor opened LaDeDa Books & Beans in 1996 after spending years as a high school English and theatre instructor, directing her passion into a new career.

Owners of specialty and niche-product stores with a passion for what they do offer welcome alternatives to homogenized shopping experiences at ubiquitous big-box stores. Their enthusiasm means deeper product knowledge. And shoppers often deal directly with the store’s owner, translating into personalized customer service and meaningful relationships.

“We don’t have space to stock the inventory that online and big-box stores do,” Denor said, “but we offer customers fast, special-order access to the same titles, along with the benefit of friendly, knowledgeable, hometown service.”

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