Thank You
The Bluestockings community would like to thank you all for making our campaign such a success, and for helping to fund the renovations our space needs to survive and thrive! As our fundraising campaign has come to a close, we have reached 89% of our $50,000 goal, with $35,970 in Indiegogo contributions and $8,800 in direct donations.
With the holidays around the corner, we invite you to stop in and check out our literature and gifts! We are open 11am-11pm every day of the week, and our top-selling items can also be found online at http://bluestockings.com/books-and-zines/.
To read more about our campaign, check out the overview below and coverage in The Observer, AM New York, Village Voice, Gothamist, Bowery Boogie, and DNA Info.
To another 5 years of Bluestockings!
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The Basics
Bluestockings Bookstore and Activist Center, a vital space for sharing feminist and radical political thought, is asking for your help to make our space more welcoming and comfortable for our community.
Remodeling our storefront and upgrading our equipment are essential for ensuring Bluestockings will stay open for another five years. Who We Are
Bluestockings Bookstore and Activist Center is a 100% volunteer-powered and collectively owned radical bookstore, fair trade cafe, and activist center. Bluestockings seeks to empower all people to challenge oppression and participate in creating a society that is equitable, cooperative, and free. We carry a curated selection of titles on topics such as feminism, queer and gender studies, global capitalism, climate & environment, police and prisons, and radical education. We also host accessible by-donation events almost every night to create a community space for for dialogue and education.
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We have been open for over 16 years, and we are currently one of only 13 remaining feminist-identified bookstores in the United States and Canada. Our survival is a true testament to the support of and love from our community.
New Lease
For the past several years, Bluestockings has only brought in enough money to cover the cost of keeping our doors open. In fact, no one at Bluestockings is even compensated for their work - our team of over 80 people donate their time and energy to make Bluestockings run.
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In June of 2015, Bluestockings signed a new, five-year lease on our storefront at 172 Allen Street. We are thrilled to have secured our space for another five years, but grappling with paying higher rent. As we plan ahead for the next five years, Bluestockings believes that physical renovations to our storefront are vital to meeting demands of an ever-changing publishing industry and expanding our customer base. We are are excited to invest in making much-needed improvements to the space, and are asking for your help to do so.
What We Need
Bluestockings is asking for donations from our community so we can make the space more welcoming, comfortable, and easy to navigate. Your donation will help us to:
Remodel our storefront. This includes remodeling our awning and signage, re-wiring our electrical and lighting system, and refinishing our floor.
Update our computers, software, sound, and café equipment. This will improve our capacity to serve customers quickly and complete behind-the-scenes projects more efficiently.
Continue to expand our inventory and purchase new items.
Our detailed budget is:
- $2,500 - License for new point of sale system
- $3,000 - Transfer to new point of sale system
- $5,400 - 12 months of new point of sale system software
- $3,000 - New computers and monitors
- $4,300 - Basic electrical repair
- $500 - Repair coffee machine
- $300 - Replace broken sound equipment
- $4,000 - Design, production, and installation of a new awning
- $21,000 - Labor and materials to redo flooring
- $6,000 - Loss of revenue when closed for flooring construction
- TOTAL: $50,000
What You'll Get
Check out our perks up top! Our amazing supporter pin and tote designs:
Other Ways You Can Help
There are many ways to support Bluestockings' campaign in addition to donating:
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Get the word out! Forward this page to your friends, family, and any one you think would be interested
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Buy a book (or a coffee, a notecard, or a tote bag)! We are open at 172 Allen Street from 11 am - 11 pm every day, or you can visit our online store here: http://bluestockings.com/books-and-zines/
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Volunteer with us! We are entirely run by over 80 volunteers. Come by to fill out a volunteer application.
Thank You!
With your support, Bluestockings will remain in business and thriving for another five years. Thank you for believing in our mission and supporting our community center!
Note: Bluestockings Bookstore is not a 501c3, and contributions to Bluestockings Bookstore are not tax deductible.
