Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Mitchell.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My mom raised me on Black books—reading Black authors, reciting Black poems, and genuinely thinking Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou were my aunties.
My love for reading and Blackness never waned. In a way, I became my mother as I encouraged anyone who would listen to pick up a Black book. So when she randomly said, “We should start a bookstore” while we eating together, I automatically knew exactly what she meant.
I knew it would be all Black books, and I knew we’d be accessible. We want everyone—bookworms and people who only read occasionally—to experience the magic of Black literature.
From that initial conversation to our first sale was only two months! When I tell you we were motivated to get these Black books into the world…we were not playing around.
To be honest, I was really nervous to make the big announcement that I had started a business with my mom. I thought folks wouldn’t care about books or only people I knew would support us, but I was wrong. From our first sale on Instagram to our recent website launch, Atlanta (and people from all over the country) has really shown us that the work we’re doing is important and needed.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
You know, I joke that I need more haters to make my success story more interesting. Everyone I tell about Good Books is so supportive. A few haters will make my future memoir more dramatic.
But all jokes aside, Good Books comes from our heart. We really care about this work. So we bounceback from setbacks quickly. We don’t have time to wallow. I’m from Atlanta and you know we know how to stick and move.
We choose to focus on the fact that our customers are excited about our products and the work we’re doing.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Good Books – what should we know?
Good Books marries my two loves—books and Black folks. From Toni Morrison to Tupac Shakur, we pay homage to Blackness through literature. New or vintage. Acclaimed or obscure. All Black books are Good Books.
We’re an online + pop-up Black book shop, aiming to make Black books accessible to Atlanta and the surrounding areas.
What sets us apart from other bookstores really is that accessibility piece. Our main goal is to get Black literature in more hands. We do that a couple of ways.
First, there’s our online store. We want our customers to be able to browse a curated selection of books as opposed to searching millions of books on Amazon. Secondly, we participate in pop-ups all over the city. We love getting out and meeting other book lovers. At these pop-ups, we take the time to learn about customers’ interests and recommend books that speak to those interests. And we’re also available on Instagram and via email to answer questions and give recommendations. Our DMs are always open!
We also do bulk orders. All our bulk orders so far have been for people or organizations who donated hundreds of books to kids, either schools or charities. We’re always happy to accommodate special requests.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I’m just grateful. Not everyone gets to do what they want to do. And I get to hold space for Black people and surround myself with Black literature every day. That’s not lost on me. And I think having a grateful heart is really important in this entrepreneurial journey. I don’t take anything for granted. Every small win feels huge, and that keeps me motivated for continued success. Oh, and I listen to Megan Thee Stallion every morning. She keeps me motivated too!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.goodbooksatl.com
- Email: goodbooksatl@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/goodbooksatl
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