"Where the books go."
Project Description
THE MISSION
For a time, independent bookstores succumbed to electronic reading devices and online services. Readers, like you, have refueled the desire for community focused bookstores. Due to these renewed interests, indie bookstores like ours are regaining popularity. Our mission is to encourage this energy by creating an all-inclusive space that serves as a home away from home for the community of Newark, New Jersey. As proud residents of Newark, our company's goal is to instill pride into our neighborhood by making everyone proud to call the place they work in, study in, and live in, their home.
While our primary focus is to encourage reading, The Shelf is more of a communal hub where visitors are given the chance to take part in something positive in their community. Every day that we're open we will be playing host to events like amateur nights, poetry readings, yoga cooldowns, and so much more! We want everyone to feel welcomed, feel seen, and most importantly, feel like family!
SO, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
While there are several other bookstores within Newark, these stores are discipline-specific and cater to niche markets of consumers within the community. Most of these stores are hybrid stores or are hard to access by the general public. Similarly, franchises like Barnes & Noble are not generally community-focused spaces, and the one in Newark is primarily for Rutgers students in need of college textbooks.
So where does that leave the rest of Newark? Our great city is in need of a serious overhaul! To give you some perspective on the magnitude of this problem, here are the demographics of Newark that are missing out on that #booklife:
*Information obtained from https://datausa.io/profile/geo/newark-nj/ and all affiliated academic institutions aforementioned*
HOW WILL THE SHELF ADDRESS THESE ISSUES?
At The Shelf, there is something for everyone. We want our neighbors to come together and engage in events that are tailored to the community as a whole. There's something exciting happening every day of the week, so why not join us for:
- The Art Walk - We're hoping to get artists from the Newark and New Jersey area together to showcase their art in our store! Join us for deep talks about color schemes and be the first to take part in our silent auction where artists can sell their art to you!
- College Night - There are several major academic institutions in our area and we want to represent them all! Students and Faculty will be given their own designated appreciation day at the beginning and end of the school semester where they get 10% off of their purchases!
- Indie book Author Appreciation Days - We want to give props where props are due and Independent Authors deserve to be recognized for all of their hard work! We intend to showcase their novels by providing them with the space to read a brief excerpt and sign copies of their books at our store.
- Poetry Readings - Our weekly Poetry Slam will give space to writers from Newark and abroad to come to share their work. Not a "writer" but still want to participate? Awesome! Everyone is welcome to join us. Our Poetry Slam Winner gets a prize at the end of the event.
- Seasonal Faves - Join us for signature delights every season as we create cool new shakes and treats for all to enjoy in our cafe.
- Yoga - Need to unwind after a stressful day? Join us for our bi-monthly yoga wind down and deep breathe your problems away. We will be hosting Mommy and Me sessions, Morning Time Stretches, Evening Wind Downs and Stress Relief for students during the **Sunday of finals week.
**Yoga is a Sunday event only, space will be limited so be sure to grab your spot while they're available!
These events are only a little TASTE of all of the fun we're going to be having! If you're interested in learning more we encourage you to join our newsletter!
We are also proud to say that our store is designed specifically to cater to your needs. Here are just a few examples of how we intend to carry out our mission of making your time with us as amazing as possible:
- Broad Range of Selections: Our primary focus is to provide a multi-faceted selection of books for our customers. Unlike our more established chain competitors, we desire to cater to book lovers vs. the mass market and will provide a personalized, meaningful shopping experience.
- Giving Back To Our Roots: We will offer local discounts to 'Friends of the Shelf' as an incentive to purchase books and merchandise.
- Management: Our management team has years of retail experience that allows us to sell to and serve customers in a much more sophisticated manner than our competitors. We are the readers, the writers, and the community who want a brick and mortar store that caters to our love of books and we intend to cultivate a communal space that feels like a home away from home.
WHY ARE YOUR SEEKING FUNDING?
So, by now you're probably wondering what exactly all of these funds are going to be used for. The funds we obtain from your donations will be used to do the following:
1. FIND OUR SPACE! Once our crowdfunding period ends, a large chunk of our accumulated funds will be going to signing a lease for our location and building out our space.
2. INVENTORY! We're going to need to keep our shelves stocked so that everyone can come in and check out all of the cool things we have to offer.
3. BRANDING & MERCH PRODUCTION! If you look to your right you'll see all of the cool rewards and incentives we have on offer for potential funders. We're proud to have collaborated with so many amazing artists, graphic designers, and editors to create all of the cool t-shirts, totes, and merch items! In order to continue working with our neighbors, and to continue supporting the arts, some of our funds will be allocated to help pay back all of the amazing people that have made our business come to life!
4. HIRING STAFF! Our employees deserve the best for their continued support and assistance, a portion of the funding will go toward paying them for their time.
5. TAXES & FEES! We're incredibly grateful to IFundWomen for giving women, especially women of color, a platform to promote their businesses. IFundWomen takes a small percentage of all funds we obtain as does PayPal.
6. SOCIAL MEDIA & ONLINE MARKETING! Our company is all about keeping up to date with posts online and maintaining a presence on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. We're going to need to use some of our funds in order to keep up appearances!
Want to see a visual breakdown of how we're using the funds we obtain? Check out the infographic down below!
Here is what we will need to get started!
MEET THE CEO!
Zianne Cuff, CEO & Founder is a recent college graduate, an avid book reader, and author. She has lived in the community for several years and has established relationships with Rutgers alumni, some of the local community members, and suppliers who share in her desire to give back to Newark. For a long time, she has longed for a public space where she could go and feel comfortable enough to stay and work in peace. She has created The Shelf with the intent of providing her community with a place where they can feel at home.
Updates
The Project FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions:
- How Do I Contact You?
For all business and press related inquiries, please feel free to reach out to us at theshelfnj@gmail.com. If you have any questions or concerns about your items upon ordering/receiving them, you can also reach out to us at the same email address!
- When Do You Expect To Open?
We are aiming to open our doors to the public by the spring of 2020!
- When Do We Get Our Cool Merch?
First and foremost, our team wants to say thank you for contributing to a worthy cause! Your donations are invaluable! Because our shirts and totes are being made on-demand, in order to accommodate for the influx of different sizing orders, we are going to be relying on our vendor to have them completed by the end of October so that they can get to you by the end of November.
PLEASE NOTE: Virtual products like our "The Shelf Appreciation" will be confirmed automatically (you will get an email thanking you for joining our Newsletter) and you will be subscribed to our Bi-Monthly Newsletter upon receiving payment.
Virtual products like "The Shelf Pre-Opening Extravaganza Invitation", and our "Independent Author Appreciation" will be sent at the end of our crowdfunding campaign period. However, you will receive an email thanking you for your donation automatically after receiving payment.
- Do You Accept Returns / Exchanges?
Unfortunately, we are not accepting returns or exchanges on reward items at this time. If you feel as if the product you have received is not what you expected, please do feel free to reach out and we will try our best to accommodate you.
PLEASE NOTE: Please also read the descriptions of these items very carefully so that there are no surprises prior to purchase.
NO REWARD PLEASE | JUST BEING KIND
Only have $1 to spare? That's perfectly fine!
A little can go a long way in supporting our mission to bring a bookstore to our charming city of Newark, New Jersey. All contributions are invaluable! They will help us serve Newark's residents and foster a sense of communal spirit in a place that we know and love!
PLUS you get to bask in the warm glow of beneficence that comes with your generosity! There's truly no better feeling than that.
THANK YOU!
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. For your donation you get:
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
📙 FABULOUS! 📙
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. For your kindness get ready to receive:
A randomly selected, limited edition and personalized bookmark! These bookmarks are also a part of our bundle option but, if you just want something to hold your place in that juicy thriller you're reading, feel free to purchase a bookmark on its own! All bookmarks have been created and made in partnership with several New York based artists, who we are incredibly thankful for. Find their social media here:
- Farzanah Siddique instagram:
2. Maliheh Rahrovan instagram:
@maliheh_rahrovan and their website
3. Ellia Koroma instagram:
4. Zahira Chhibber instagram:
AND
5. Naomi Shibata
NOTE: There are only five of these bookmarks available to be sold separately. In order to prevent multiple people requesting one piece over another, we are randomly selecting a bookmark to send off to you as a surprise! Don't fret! Each bookmark has been made with care and has been designed to be a tasteful add on to whatever book you fancy! You can't lose with designs like these.
Want to see these designs up close? Check them out on our insta here!
📘 GREAT! 📘
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. At this level you get:
- Love in a box! Boxed Love is a newly formed nonprofit organization whose mission is to give care packages to low-income families that are moving from shelters in the New York CIty area into permanent housing and to students from these families that are going off to college. A portion of the proceeds from this reward will go toward this organizations cause.
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
NOTE: PLEASE SPECIFY YOUR SIZE IN THE NOTES WHEN PLACING YOUR ORDER!
📗 SWEET! 📗
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. At this level you get:
- A super cute (and multi-functional) tote! Whether you're at The Shelf shopping for something good to read or you're out on the town, these totes are designed to carry all of your essentials! They're made of earth friendly canvas that can be used and reused for years to come.
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
📕 ALRIGHT! 📕
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. At this level you get:
- The Shelf's T-Shirt which is a super fly way of showing your support for our business and is a sweet piece to have in your closet. All of our t-shirts are made of 100% cotton and they're truly haute couture, designer, high-end, you get our drift.
- These t-shirts were made with you in mind and as such, our t-shirts are unisex and we carry sizes up to a 3x!
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
NOTE: PLEASE SPECIFY YOUR SIZE IN THE NOTES WHEN PLACING YOUR ORDER!
📚 WE DID IT! TIME TO PARTY! 📚
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. At this level you get:
An invitation to our Pre-Opening Party! This invitation will grant you with the chance to be one of our very first guests in our space! By taking part in this event you will also be given the opportunity to mingle with the Founder and The Shelf's Team, indulge in food, non-alcoholic beverages, and music. Unwind and come spend some time with us!
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
📙 ATTENTION ALL INDEPENDENTLY PUBLISHED AUTHORS! 📙
Have a story to tell and want an audience to share it with? Why not take part in our Independent Author Appreciation Reward and showcase your work at The Shelf? Authors that invest in this unique opportunity will be granted with the chance to have their books showcased in our store window for the month of our opening. They will also have an exclusive confirmed book signing date at our location where they can read an excerpt from their book!
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
*We reserve the right to deny any offensive pieces of literature and will review all submitted work for quality assurance with a refund of money given.*
📘 HECK YEAH! 📘
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. For your kindness get ready to receive:
- The Shelf T-Shirt for all your fashion needs.
- The Shelf Tote Bag to flaunt as a contributor to a worthy cause.
- A cute mug warmer that's designed to keep your coffees and teas warm and your mugs looking cool. These mug warmers were created and made in partnership with Acasia Coleman who can be found on instagram @acasiacole.
- A personalized bookmark! These bookmarks have been created and made in partnership with several New York based artists, who we are incredibly thankful for. Find their social media here:
- Farzanah Siddique instagram:
2. Maliheh Rahrovan instagram:
@maliheh_rahrovan and their website
3. Ellia Koroma instagram:
4. Zahira Chhibber instagram:
AND
5. Naomi Shibata
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
NOTE: There are currently select amounts bookmarks and mug knits available. In order to prevent multiple people requesting one piece over another, we are randomly selecting a bookmark and mug knit combination to send off to you as a surprise! Don't fret! Each of these items has been made with care! You can't lose with designs like these.
Want to see these designs up close? Check them out on our insta here!
📗 WE SEE YOU, BOO! 📗
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. At this level you will receive:
- A super cute laminated The Shelf Library Card that will serve as a membership card to our store! With this card you get 5% off of all book purchases FOR LIFE! Crazy, I know.
Please note that this offer is currently only valid for in store purchases.
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
📕 AMAZING! 📕
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution.
- By donating a shelf you'll be playing a crucial part in our namesake and your name will be forever a part of our community! How cool is that?
- If you prefer not to have your name engraved, you will be given the opportunity to engrave one word into your plaque that can be used to inspire others. Examples are as follows, "live, dream, create, etc."
- Be sure to stop by on our opening day to see if you can find your name or word engraved on a shelf!
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
*We reserve the right to deny any offensive names / pseudonyms and or words that are submitted with a refund of money given.*
📚 NICE! 📚
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution.
- By donating a bookcase you'll be playing a crucial part in our namesake and your name will be forever a part of our community! How cool is that?
- As with donating a shelf, if you prefer not to have your name engraved onto your bookcase, you will be given the opportunity to engrave one word into your plaque that can be used to inspire others. Examples are as follows, "live, dream, create, etc."
- Be sure to stop by on our opening day to see if you can find your name or word engraved on a bookcase that's all yours!
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
*We reserve the right to deny any offensive names / pseudonyms and or words that are submitted with a refund of money given.*
📙 YAAAAAS! 📙
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. At this level you will receive:
Ever wanted to be a part of a secret society and have special access to cool events? Now's your chance! As a Secret Society Member you'll be granted with the opportunity to take part in exclusive events that will be held at The Shelf like writing workshops, an afternoon cool down yoga session, and so much more. These events are just for you (and our other Secret Society Members) as a way to say thank you for your incredible generosity!
Live far away and want to give your card to someone else? That's fine too! Send your card as a gift to 1 person that you care about so they can get in on these sweet deals.
Please note that while there is no true dress code you're more than welcome to break out that dramatic (yet tasteful) velvet cape that you've been saving for a moment just like this.
We convene at midnight.
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
Rewards
NO REWARD PLEASE | JUST BEING KIND
Only have $1 to spare? That's perfectly fine!
A little can go a long way in supporting our mission to bring a bookstore to our charming city of Newark, New Jersey. All contributions are invaluable! They will help us serve Newark's residents and foster a sense of communal spirit in a place that we know and love!
PLUS you get to bask in the warm glow of beneficence that comes with your generosity! There's truly no better feeling than that.
THANK YOU!
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. For your donation you get:
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
📙 FABULOUS! 📙
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. For your kindness get ready to receive:
A randomly selected, limited edition and personalized bookmark! These bookmarks are also a part of our bundle option but, if you just want something to hold your place in that juicy thriller you're reading, feel free to purchase a bookmark on its own! All bookmarks have been created and made in partnership with several New York based artists, who we are incredibly thankful for. Find their social media here:
- Farzanah Siddique instagram:
2. Maliheh Rahrovan instagram:
@maliheh_rahrovan and their website
3. Ellia Koroma instagram:
4. Zahira Chhibber instagram:
AND
5. Naomi Shibata
NOTE: There are only five of these bookmarks available to be sold separately. In order to prevent multiple people requesting one piece over another, we are randomly selecting a bookmark to send off to you as a surprise! Don't fret! Each bookmark has been made with care and has been designed to be a tasteful add on to whatever book you fancy! You can't lose with designs like these.
Want to see these designs up close? Check them out on our insta here!
📘 GREAT! 📘
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. At this level you get:
- Love in a box! Boxed Love is a newly formed nonprofit organization whose mission is to give care packages to low-income families that are moving from shelters in the New York CIty area into permanent housing and to students from these families that are going off to college. A portion of the proceeds from this reward will go toward this organizations cause.
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
NOTE: PLEASE SPECIFY YOUR SIZE IN THE NOTES WHEN PLACING YOUR ORDER!
📗 SWEET! 📗
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. At this level you get:
- A super cute (and multi-functional) tote! Whether you're at The Shelf shopping for something good to read or you're out on the town, these totes are designed to carry all of your essentials! They're made of earth friendly canvas that can be used and reused for years to come.
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
📕 ALRIGHT! 📕
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. At this level you get:
- The Shelf's T-Shirt which is a super fly way of showing your support for our business and is a sweet piece to have in your closet. All of our t-shirts are made of 100% cotton and they're truly haute couture, designer, high-end, you get our drift.
- These t-shirts were made with you in mind and as such, our t-shirts are unisex and we carry sizes up to a 3x!
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
NOTE: PLEASE SPECIFY YOUR SIZE IN THE NOTES WHEN PLACING YOUR ORDER!
📚 WE DID IT! TIME TO PARTY! 📚
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. At this level you get:
An invitation to our Pre-Opening Party! This invitation will grant you with the chance to be one of our very first guests in our space! By taking part in this event you will also be given the opportunity to mingle with the Founder and The Shelf's Team, indulge in food, non-alcoholic beverages, and music. Unwind and come spend some time with us!
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
📙 ATTENTION ALL INDEPENDENTLY PUBLISHED AUTHORS! 📙
Have a story to tell and want an audience to share it with? Why not take part in our Independent Author Appreciation Reward and showcase your work at The Shelf? Authors that invest in this unique opportunity will be granted with the chance to have their books showcased in our store window for the month of our opening. They will also have an exclusive confirmed book signing date at our location where they can read an excerpt from their book!
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
*We reserve the right to deny any offensive pieces of literature and will review all submitted work for quality assurance with a refund of money given.*
📘 HECK YEAH! 📘
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. For your kindness get ready to receive:
- The Shelf T-Shirt for all your fashion needs.
- The Shelf Tote Bag to flaunt as a contributor to a worthy cause.
- A cute mug warmer that's designed to keep your coffees and teas warm and your mugs looking cool. These mug warmers were created and made in partnership with Acasia Coleman who can be found on instagram @acasiacole.
- A personalized bookmark! These bookmarks have been created and made in partnership with several New York based artists, who we are incredibly thankful for. Find their social media here:
- Farzanah Siddique instagram:
2. Maliheh Rahrovan instagram:
@maliheh_rahrovan and their website
3. Ellia Koroma instagram:
4. Zahira Chhibber instagram:
AND
5. Naomi Shibata
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
NOTE: There are currently select amounts bookmarks and mug knits available. In order to prevent multiple people requesting one piece over another, we are randomly selecting a bookmark and mug knit combination to send off to you as a surprise! Don't fret! Each of these items has been made with care! You can't lose with designs like these.
Want to see these designs up close? Check them out on our insta here!
📗 WE SEE YOU, BOO! 📗
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. At this level you will receive:
- A super cute laminated The Shelf Library Card that will serve as a membership card to our store! With this card you get 5% off of all book purchases FOR LIFE! Crazy, I know.
Please note that this offer is currently only valid for in store purchases.
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
📕 AMAZING! 📕
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution.
- By donating a shelf you'll be playing a crucial part in our namesake and your name will be forever a part of our community! How cool is that?
- If you prefer not to have your name engraved, you will be given the opportunity to engrave one word into your plaque that can be used to inspire others. Examples are as follows, "live, dream, create, etc."
- Be sure to stop by on our opening day to see if you can find your name or word engraved on a shelf!
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
*We reserve the right to deny any offensive names / pseudonyms and or words that are submitted with a refund of money given.*
📚 NICE! 📚
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution.
- By donating a bookcase you'll be playing a crucial part in our namesake and your name will be forever a part of our community! How cool is that?
- As with donating a shelf, if you prefer not to have your name engraved onto your bookcase, you will be given the opportunity to engrave one word into your plaque that can be used to inspire others. Examples are as follows, "live, dream, create, etc."
- Be sure to stop by on our opening day to see if you can find your name or word engraved on a bookcase that's all yours!
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!
*We reserve the right to deny any offensive names / pseudonyms and or words that are submitted with a refund of money given.*
📙 YAAAAAS! 📙
We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to make a contribution. At this level you will receive:
Ever wanted to be a part of a secret society and have special access to cool events? Now's your chance! As a Secret Society Member you'll be granted with the opportunity to take part in exclusive events that will be held at The Shelf like writing workshops, an afternoon cool down yoga session, and so much more. These events are just for you (and our other Secret Society Members) as a way to say thank you for your incredible generosity!
Live far away and want to give your card to someone else? That's fine too! Send your card as a gift to 1 person that you care about so they can get in on these sweet deals.
Please note that while there is no true dress code you're more than welcome to break out that dramatic (yet tasteful) velvet cape that you've been saving for a moment just like this.
We convene at midnight.
PLUS
- The warm feelings that come from helping out a company in need.
- Added to our newsletter so that you can keep up with all future events like karaoke nights, author book signings, merchandise sales, and so much more!