Catalog - Bookshop on Wheels Hoping to Expand!

STRETCH TARGET

At Catalog, we are so grateful for the initial support we received which enabled us to purchase and fit-out our mobile bookstore. A huge thanks to all of you wonderful people!

Our initial crowdfunding campaign was the kick start we needed to get Catalog out onto the streets of Manchester, but we always knew there were more possibilities for a business like ours, in this unique location, to connect with creatives in Manchester and beyond.

So, moving forward, we are looking to expand our initial business idea, and to develop from being solely on the bike to also running out of a shipping container.

WHY WE ARE SEEKING THIS INVESTMENT?

Our ambition is to build an escape hatch into the universe of the magazine world in the city of Manchester. 

Our vision is to develop a bookshop that brings the recent renaissance in independent print alive for the people of Manchester, a place that helps to maintain the relationship between people and the printed word. 

Our mission is to nurture creativity and promote diversity by stocking a contemporary selection of periodicals, very much tailored towards the demands of our customers, run events, offer a diverse range of volunteering opportunities, become a venue for community activities and a cultural hub for the local area. 

In order to achieve all these, we will need, a) the space to exhibit more titles and, b) solid days of operation, which won’t be disrupted by adverse weather conditions.

THE CONTAINER

The basic idea for our interior is to naturally put in focus on what it’s all about: the magazines and books. The shop itself should fade into the background to give the product as much space as possible. 

Even though the space will be relatively small compared to a traditional brick and mortar shop, it is important for us that our shop also becomes a creative fixture in its location, where fixtures and fittings will be adjustable, offering ample opportunities to display interesting, varied, independent publications, stationery, and artworks.

At Catalog, we aim to work closely with local educational institutions, providing a channel to all students of the arts and humanities faculties to portrait their projects and promote their work. We also plan to work on a project with these students to design and decorate the exterior of the container.

Finally, we are hoping to partner with regional cultural institutions including, HOME, The Whitworth, and Manchester Art Gallery, in order to support Manchester’s diverse creative sector.

THE PROPOSED VISION OF THE NEW CATALOG BOOKSHOP

WHAT WILL YOUR ADDITIONAL PLEDGES BE USED FOR?

We don't expect to fund the whole venture through this crowdfunding, but we hope to reduce expensive bank borrowing costs.

Raising funds through crowdfunding will provide the capital needed to bring to purchase, install, and fit out the shipping container.

Hence, we are seeking to raise an additional £3500. This amount will allow us to bring our project to life and run it sustainably.

Thank you all,

Peter  

WHAT DO WE BELIEVE?

We believe in a thriving community; one where people are engaged, involved, and actively playing their part. We want to be part of a greater movement across the city of Manchester, of people doing a great little thing, and thus becoming part of an encouraging movement towards a better place for everyone to live.

WHAT WE WILL DO?

We want to promote diversity throughout our stock, give opportunities to independent authors and makers, help you discover new periodicals and books, new ideas, and encourage interdisciplinary thinking. We are aiming to select the most interesting, beautiful, obscure, and inspiring publications. 

SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL

Today, a spell has been cast on humanity that the purpose of business is to solely make profits above all else, and it is this notion which causes businesses to churn through people and the planet which is destroying us all. So, we need to change, we need to treat the environment with respect, we need to prove that businesses can work for the benefit of society, for all of us.

Catalog aims to carry out its activities in a way that minimizes environmental impact on a whole lifecycle analysis basis. Additionally, our approach extends to the use of materials within the business, packaging, transport, etc. 

Our business model is designed to do good. It’s circular and sustainable and we believe in making a positive impact in the world and in building a better business that helps us to do more good. Hence why within our first year in operation we will apply to become a certified B Corp.

Certified B Corporations (B Corps ™) are for-profit companies that use the power of business to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. They are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. In short, we care about people and the planet.

Catalog will work hard and take bold actions in order to lead on sustainability, reduce our environmental impacts, and protect the low-carbon economy. Therefore:

• The relationship with our suppliers will be based on a commitment to communities and our planet: clean materials from low-impact or recycled resources, and companies that invest in their people and communities. 
• We will engage with local networks, collaborating with our waste and packaging suppliers. 
• We will nurture diversity and inclusion throughout our stock.
• We will ensure that we take action on a daily basis to reduce our carbon footprint.
• We will work to reduce and remove all plastic, introducing more paper-based alternatives.

VALUES

Catalog operates within the following values:

Inclusive – We are committed to helping create a strong and prosperous community in which individuals from all cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs are able to develop mutual understanding and respect.

Environmentally Sustainable – We realize the publishing industry is very resource-intensive hence why we will try to minimize waste by a) stocking products that are FSC-certified, b) using 100% recycled paper stocks for our own use. Additionally, our approach extends to the use of materials within the shop, packaging, transport, energy, etc.

Curious – We are committed to satisfying the needs of our open-minded readers by offering curious publications. Other than the ones we will select to stock, we want to encourage people to come and present their self-published work to us. 

VISION

Our vision is to develop a bookshop that brings the recent renaissance in independent print alive for the people of Manchester, a place that helps to maintain the relationship between people and the printed word.

MISSION

Our mission is to nurture creativity and promote diversity by stocking a contemporary selection of periodicals, very much tailored towards the demands of our customers.

LOCATION

Catalog will be located on Oxford Road Corridor near the All Saint Campus (see Exhibit). Just minutes from downtown and close to the student end of Manchester.

The location is very favorable, providing high visibility, high traffic, and a high flow of customers. Other advantages of the chosen location include - High flow of pedestrians – Located at the student end of Manchester university traffic, between MMU, RNCM, and the UoM. – Short commute to Manchester Oxford Road train station.

Exhibit 

The Oxford Road Corridor is economically the most important area within Greater Manchester. Populated with a unique and eclectic mix of education providers, museums, and galleries, the area is home to nearly 80,000 jobs (17% of City’s workforce), generating over   3.6 billion GVA per annum, consistently accounting for 20% of Manchester’s economic output. The area is also one of UK’s largest concentration of higher education students with nearly 70,000 undergraduates and postgraduates, a population that underpins a large residential market and a vibrant social and cultural scene.

The committed and planned investment (undergoing a £3 billion investment programme) in Oxford Road Corridor will deliver over £4 million sq. ft. of commercial, leisure, retail and residential space by 2025. Given the important economic advantages and agglomeration opportunities associated with the Oxford Road Corridor, available land is fully utilized. 

One of the most prominent developments is Circle Square. The metrics associated with the plan, highlight that more than 1 million sq. ft. of commercial floor space will accommodate 8827 FTE jobs in priority sectors such as professionals and business services, digital and creative, and health and higher education, as well as retail. Overall, it is anticipated that Circle Square will make an exceptional contribution to Manchester’s economy; when fully developed, companies are expected to generate more than £0.5bn of GVA per annum.

In addition to Circle Square grand development, the soon to arrive School of Digital Arts (SODA) will support the ever-growing demand in the digital art sector. 

The project will be located on Higher Chatham Street within the All Saint Campus of Manchester Metropolitan University; an interdisciplinary school that will bring together art and design with technology and computing under one roof. 

TIMELINE

Our Crowdfunding campaign will be running until November  See below for a detailed breakdown of our schedule: 

• October / November — Crowdfunding campaign
• December — Apply for the license 
• January  — Purchase of the container & fit-out
• February — Opening of Catalog 

RISKS & CHALLENGES

We understand that every start-up business is always going to be risky, (simply because it is uncharted territory. We need to find our tribe and develop a customer base, so keeping the project going while building that following up could be challenging. 

For that reason, we have carried out the following risk assessment, (see table below) in order to identify the key risks to our business, their probability and likelihood, and the mitigating activities that we will need to put in place before they occur. 

Risk Analysis

IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT MONEY

If you cannot donate, you can still help us. You can share our story and this campaign on your social media, with your friends, family, colleagues, and whoever might be interested. Connect with us and show love on social media, phone a friend, or send a smoke signal. We need and appreciate it all. We hope you help us spread the word out in any possible way!

No matter how you choose to help us, you will have our sincere gratitude (and a cup of coffee).

Thank you all!

P.