We were lucky to catch up with Melanie Moore recently and have shared our conversation below.
Melanie, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
For twenty-five years I taught in low income area inner city schools in Los Angeles, St Louis and Cincinnati, I worked closely with the families that I now serve through The Book Bus. I have a passion for fueling children’s literacy by getting new books that are diverse and relevant to all children. I realized I could use my business, not take a salary and use all profits to buy new books to donate to schools and local organizations.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
After 25 years of teaching in various inner-city schools across the country, I rerouted my career to focus on inspiring a passion for reading by delivering the joy of owning books. My bookstore on wheels sells books from the bed of a vintage 1962 Volkswagen pickup truck. Every title that gets placed on the truck is hand selected by me and there’s something for everyone. One of my favorite things about owning The Book Bus is meeting fellow booklovers and talking books. I also have a passion for getting books into the hands of kids who need them most. I take all my profits from The Book Bus and buy new children’s books for low income area schools and organizations to give all children the opportunity to experience the joy of reading. Recently, I have opened a brick and mortar called The Book Bus Depot where the truck is pulled right inside. Folks can enjoy shopping from The Book Bus no matter the weather! The new store includes new and used books.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Actually many of the qualities and skills teachers require for the classroom are vey useful when starting your own business. Teachers must be flexible, creative and organized. The best advice I give others who are interested in starting their own venture is “to move”. You can do all the planning you want but at some point you have to take a deep breath and just move forward. You will never be prepared for everything that comes your way. I could never have predicted that I would have to maneuver my business through a global pandemic. That’s when my flexible and creative skills came to the rescue.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
Funny enough, the inspiration for The Book Bus came from a book. I was thinking about opening a bookstore but I wanted to do something that was fun and unique. I finished reading Parnassus on Wheels, a book by Christopher Morley that was published in 1917 about a traveling, mobile bookstore. I was sitting at my kitchen table, looked out and saw my husband’s 1962 VW transporter truck parked in the driveway. In that moment everything clicked into place in my mind and The Book Bus was born!
Contact Info:
- Website: cincybookbus.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cincybookbus/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cincybookbus/
