Where possible or feasible we always attempt to complete sets of books or to sell our orphans to other booksellers. We were once contacted here on the Cape by a bookseller who had the second volume of one of our advertised rare books. After I purchased it I discovered it not only completed the set, but was the actual mate of the book we owned, right down to the matching marble endpapers and unique binding design.

A completely different way to think about packaging is to consider selling books that contain additional information. I have some customers who do not use the Internet. They really appreciate the fact that I enclose material about information related to their purchases -- an author's biography or bibliography, for example, or information about the history of the book's publication, or contemporary history. That "value-added" service takes me only a couple of minutes, but creates happy return customers who do not comparison-shop.

Related materials packaged with the book do not have to be limited to just a vertical file. For example, I once purchased a copy of the Playbill for "Death of a Salesman" that was signed by Dustin Hoffman on eBay. Later, we included it with a second printing before publication of Death of a Salesman at a package price higher than the value of either item separately. Books made into films can include signed photographs of principals from that film, posters of the film, collectibles, and any other items that would add value and interest to the book. Put them all together and you have a unique item to sell that cannot be compared to any competitor. Think outside the box! There is no reason to just sell plain vanilla books that can be undercut by any competitor walking in off the street from a local library sale. If you do not have a signed first edition you can still create an attractive high-priced package with related signed and specialized materials.

Sometimes the actual packaging is done after making customer contact. If I have some idea why the book is being purchased I can often suggest additional items or services to make the package complete. The idea is to stand out in the crowd, differentiate yourself with intelligent and thoughtful extra touches, add value to your inventory by creating multi-dimensional packaging and increase the level of customer service and satisfaction for repeat sales.