Book retail margins explained
“We buy it from the publisher like this one in particular, have bought from the publisher. We get a 50% markup, and it retails for $19”
Founder conversationBuilder <$5m
How Blush Bookstore Built $780K in Sales and Took a $30K Loan Deal
Jaclyn Wooten explains how her romance bookstores and online merch shop reached $780K in 2025 sales, and why she accepted a $30K loan at 16% to expand in Dallas.
Jaclyn Wooten · Blush Bookstore
Published May 13, 2026About this resource
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What you’ll learn
Jaclyn Wooten, founder of the Blush romance bookstores and the online merch shop House of Jupiter, explains how her Wichita and Dallas stores plus e-commerce reached about $780K in 2025 sales. She covers book margins, events and the case for a bigger space, then agrees to a $30,000 loan from Nathan Latka repaid over two years at 16% interest.
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2025 sales across both stores
“For 2025, we did the about 400 and I know we're five eighty across both stores.”
Romance bookstores are no longer rare
“Since 2023, there are... Where we're sitting right now, there are almost 300 in The US alone.”
Biggest cost of the new space
“I imagine it's gonna at least cost 30 k. The biggest cost is gonna be the build out”
Final offer: $30K at 16%
“My offer will be a $30,000 check today, paid back over two years at a 16% interest rate.”
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Video
Jaclyn Wooten
Founder · Blush Bookstore
- Company revenue
- $780K
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