SCIBSW: Main St. Books

April 27, 2024 — Brand Spotlight, Personal Branding

What’s better than a small indie bookstore with a store cat?

Not much.

Main St. Books not only sells used books, hosts events, but it also has a store cat named Miranda wandering around. How cool is that?

Books? Check. Comfy chair? Check. Cat wandering around? Check! I would have to say the highlight of Main St. Books is their store cat, Miranda. It was the highlight for my kids - they didn’t want to leave the cat!

Branding Color Palette

The logo has three main colors (besides black and white) - Red, Blue, and a yellow-orange. Their website matches their logo perfectly! The background is made up of the beautiful red color, the logo is right at the top, and the text is white.

Blue door in yellow wall covered with posters and notices next to wooden bookshelf.

A cozy bookstore corner with wooden bookshelves and a decorative patterned blanket draped over a chair.

Branding typography

There are two main fonts on their website - serif and sans serif. Interestingly, neither font matches the one in their logo. I would love to see their logo font integrated a bit more to create a fully cohesive experience.

Children's books displayed on a wooden shelf including 'Eyes that Weave the World's Wonders' and other titles.

Long rows of bookshelves in a bookstore with carpeted floors and wooden shelving units.

Cohesive branding

I will say the cohesiveness is fantastic! From one platform to another, I really feel like there is one brand and they all go together. I immediately recognize the brand and colors and know what I am looking at. My only critique would be a more recognizable photo for the Facebook cover photo. While the sunset is absolutely GORGEOUS - it’s not immediately recognizable that it’s Main St. Books. But I admit that is being really picky. I do also LOVE that across all platforms, “st.” is used consistently - there isn’t a mix of “street” and “st.” which many businesses do. Yay!

Independent bookstore interior showing counter area stocked with books and merchandise.

Decorative shelf display with cat figurines and artwork among potted plants.

Personal Branding

There are so many amazing little features of Main St. Books which bring in the personality of the owner. Small little trinkets EVERYWHERE - on the little wall ledge, on the walls themselves, on the shelves and tables, hanging from the ceiling, etc. I love it!! To top off all the bits of the store, is the beloved store cat named Miranda. I absolutely LOVE that there is a store cat….in a bookstore! I am not sure you can get more cliche than that (in the very best way!) What I did notice about their online presence is once again, a lack of information about the owner. There was a lack of WHO really owns the store, what she stands for, what her likes vs dislikes are, or anything else. I did notice some posts on social media that she is in, but other than that, not much at all.

I would love to really feel connected with the WHO behind the store! I would love to see photos, introductions, etc.

A bookstore display table featuring children's books and a sign among scattered merchandise.

Bookstore shelves with a sign reading 'Is It Muggy In Here? $10 Sale' among stacked books.

Decorated bookshelf with hanging lights and a green tablecloth in a cozy reading nook.

Final Thoughts

Main St. Books has the cute small town charm to match where it is - Monroe, Washington. It has a TON of personality inside and I am so excited to watch this business grow!