What does it take to save, and then sustain, a struggling, community-based small business?

Two different business lawyers.

One crew of five UNM Anderson School of Management graduate students and a tenured associate business professor.

Meetings with the City of Santa Fe mayor. Business Development representatives. Guadalupe District small business owners. Historical Board. City Council.

Countless conversations persuading landlord, business loan representatives, credit card companies, suppliers….to, please… just…hold on…

A GoFundMe Campaign
(That literally kept the store running for much of this year. Thank you again and again to everyone who so generously supported Bee Hive with monetary and moral support ❤️)

Except…

Both lawyers – vanished.
(Pro bono, so certainly under no obligation to stick around)

Crew of business students – graduated. Bee Hive was their final thesis project. They crunched numbers and produced statistics – and then…the project was over.

City of Santa Fe: Here’s a meeting room. You figure it out.

Everyone who is looking to be paid – still talking to them.

Superman did not swoop in.

At the end of the day. Saving the Bee Hive was no one’s problem…but my own.

And so…

It made sense that what needed to happen had to be outside of the little white house on Montezuma Avenue. Outside of the transitioning – parking challenged – construction zone – very, very quiet – Guadalupe District.

“Superman did not swoop in.

At the end of the day. Saving the Bee Hive was no one’s problem…but my own.”

I realized that who I needed to turn to were other booksellers. People who are killing it in the industry.

And somehow…

I found those people.

They’re in Canada.

I was checking out websites of bookstores I think are particularly awesome, and I came across one that seemed kind of perfect. I called the number of the company that designed the site – thinking they were just webdesign.

Instead, I stumbled upon this network of incredibly experienced, very, very smart, and hugely supportive booksellers who designed the software that, I feel, will help Bee Hive reach out past the white house on Montezuma Avenue.

After many, many weeks of number crunching, strategizing, mulling – and then – inventory transferring, learning, training, designing – Bee Hive has, literally, been transformed.

What is now the presence of Bee Hive on the internet – is not just a pretty face – although, I believe, it is quite pretty. It is a resource in which any book at all (not just kids’ books) – as long as Bee Hive can get it – and our distributors are far and wide – can be ordered. If we don’t have it in store – then you can order it online and have it either shipped, or it can be picked up at Bee Hive. And, of course, you are able to see all the inventory that is in stock, and hold a book via the website to be picked up later. You can also sign up for an independent audio book service; schools can order any and all of their books through the Bee Hive website – always tax exempt and 15% off. Book subscription services are available; as well as purchasing gift certificates, and signing up for writing workshops.

This is what shook out of many sleepless nights, explored avenues, and knowing – that there was an answer.

I am hopeful that Bee Hive will be able to contribute to our community in a broader way by offering easy, discounted book ordering for schools; and super accessible information about our free community-focused events, as well as simple sign-up for writing workshops. And outside of our community, we will be able to reach people by offering awesome subscription services – curated books by genre that are sent out each month. And for everyone – book ordering made super easy. You can shop online at midnight – and still support your local bookstore.

Bee Hive is, and always has been, here for you — but we’ve needed to meet you half-way, so now, we’re even coming to you.

The idea is to turn it around so to be at a Beginning, of sorts. Rather, than facing the End.

I hope this website becomes your go-to when you’re in search of a book. That’s exactly what its made for.

Please check out and explore Bee Hive’s beautiful new site:

http://www.beehivekidsbooks.com

May it become a bookmark on your toolbar….

xox