Wilfrid M. de Freitas - Bookseller

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Book Fairs 101
A How-to Handbook for Book Fair Exhibitors

By Susan Ravdin

Part 5
Using Tools Creatively

This may sound obvious, but when you need to do something, you just have to find a way to do it! In this, your supplies, boxes, and even the junk in your pocket or purse may become your best friend. Need a small hook? Untwist a paperclip. Want an extra no-slip bookstand? Use a book end with a rubber band twisted around its foot. My motto is "where there's a need, there's a way ..." Just remember -- if you see me walking around my booth repeatedly muttering "there has to be away ... there just has to" -- I'm not crazy, I'm just trying to figure out how to do something excessively complicated to my display!

So, to make my point, and to get you thinking about the items you carry with you to every fair, let me introduce you to one of my supply box must-haves: Demco (one of my favourite library suppliers) calls them "Large Economical Folding Wire Easels". I call then my all-in-one book stand/cradle, plus so much more.

       

As stands you can use them

Folded down for small items

Opened up for taller pieces that need more support

For fatter volumes that need to be supported
across the lower edge, folded around

For a smaller-angled lean, take it lower;
for light items make sure there's enough support and a flat surface ...

... but for heavier, stronger ones it's better to have a large footprint,
though the support bar sometimes needs a little extra help if the book is really heavy


Or you can even, with the help of some heavy tape, display two light items at one time!

As cradles they can

Hold small items (just be sure to put the weight over the extended leg)

Using two, large books with thin spines can be opened,
just keep the feet tucked under the spine itself


On fat spines keep the angle small so the feet, turned out,
can handle the weight of the boards

You can even use them to support standing items that you want to keep open
(with the help of a couple mylar strips), with little stress to a stiff or tight binding

Any other uses? Of course!

How about holding books open when you want to see both cover and contents?
Just balance it carefully and test its stability.

You can hang items that need support from a wall, curtain or display rack

Want to give a rank of books a bit of a raise at the front? Tape them to the underside of a board (I have felt-covered boards with a quarter-rounds at the end that usually slot between bookshelves - turn them around to keep the books from sliding off the back; perfect!) But no photo yet -- keep tuned.

Angle a book up so the spine can be seen on the top shelf of a counter case? Sure!

My most risky, but successful use was two stands, each taped half-way along a pole, each pole taped securely along and above the sides of a bookcase, used to display a large print above the books. Alas, I did not take a picture of the structure, nor the resulting display.

Well, I think you get my point. One tool, designed for one use, can be re-purposed for other applications. Most are not a versatile as these stands, but a little creativity can go a long way to achieving the display you want.

Incidentally, if you come up with any other uses for these stands, take a picture of it ... I'm always looking for new ideas!

Next up "Theft can be a good thing!"

Return to main Special Features page | Return to Book Fairs 101 Intro page

Home | Conditions of sale, and orders

Wilfrid M. de Freitas - Bookseller
P.O. Box 232, Westmount Station
Westmount (Montreal), Quebec, Canada H3Z 2T2
Tel: (514) 935-9581
E-mail: Wilfrid@deFreitasBooks.com

Last updated: 04/02/2017
Site maintained by Susan Ravdin