there is a story behind every book
I am Frank O'Mahony, the current owner and managing director of O'Mahony's Booksellers in Limerick. My journey into bookselling began as a continuation of our family legacy; I am the third generation to manage the store, following in the footsteps of my grandfather, J.P. O'Mahony, who founded the business in 1902, and my father, F.E. O'Mahony. This deep-rooted family involvement has instilled in me a profound passion for books and a commitment to serving our community.
O'Mahony's Booksellers was established in 1902 by my grandfather, J.P. O'Mahony, at 120 O'Connell Street, Limerick, where we continue to operate today. The original store measured just 450 square feet. Over the years, we have expanded significantly, now encompassing 25,000 square feet of retail space across multiple floors. Our growth includes branches at the University of Limerick, University of Galway, Tralee, and Ennis.
Our online shop offers an extensive selection of over 100,000 titles across various categories, including local, national, international, educational, and academic books. In addition to books, we provide stationery, gifts, board games, jigsaw puzzles, and more. The online platform is designed to mirror the diversity and quality of our physical stores, ensuring customers nationwide can access our offerings.
We launched the DISCOVERY online sample service in October 2023.
Our primary motivation was to enhance the online shopping experience by allowing customers to preview books before purchasing. This feature aims to replicate the in-store experience of browsing through a book, thereby building customer confidence in their selections and encouraging informed purchasing decisions.
Our experience with book previews has been overwhelmingly positive. They have enhanced the online shopping experience by allowing customers to engage with a book before making a purchase. This feature has been easy to integrate into our existing systems and has proven to be an effective tool in increasing user engagement.
Customers appreciate the ability to preview content, which builds confidence in their choices and ultimately leads to higher satisfaction and improved sales. The previews add value to our website without creating significant changes to our workflow, making it a seamless addition to our services. Integrating the DISCOVERY online sample service was straightforward, thanks to the user-friendly interface and responsive support team. The process was seamless, causing minimal disruption to our existing operations.
I recommend that booksellers integrate online book previews into their platforms. These previews replicate the in-store experience by allowing customers to browse a book’s content before purchasing, building trust and confidence in their choices. This feature often helps customers make more informed decisions, reducing hesitation and increasing the likelihood of completing a sale.
For independent bookshops, previews offer a way to stand out in a competitive market. They add a personalized and interactive element to the online shopping experience, reflecting the unique, thoughtful atmosphere that indie stores are known for. Previews can also attract new customers by offering a feature that bridges the gap between the physical and online shopping experience.
In terms of impact, book previews boost user engagement by encouraging customers to spend more time exploring titles. This increased interaction leads to higher conversion rates, as customers feel more confident in their selections. Over time, this can result in stronger customer loyalty, more repeat visits, and a meaningful boost in sales, making book previews a practical and effective tool for booksellers.