Meet the Bibliomaniac: Kara Griswold

As you can imagine, all kinds of things go into setting up a new Half Price Books store.  With the grand reopening of our new Plano, Texas location coming up this Thursday (hooray!), we thought it would be fun to chat with one of the people responsible for getting the store into tip-top shape.  Meet Kara!

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Name: Kara Griswold

Job Title: DIM (District Inventory Merchandiser), Dallas North District

When did you join the HPB team? December 2005

What is your favorite part about working at HPB?

My favorite part is the people. In my position, I get to travel to the different stores in my district so I get to interact with a variety of different personalities, both customers and employees. People are fascinating!

What is your all-time favorite book?

I have a hard time picking a favorite of anything and my favorite things can depend on the mood I’m in.  Currently, I would say my favorite author is Janet Evanovich.

What are you reading right now? Right now, I’m on Lean Mean Thirteen of the Janet Evanovich series.

As a DIM, what’s an average day like for you?

Being a DIM means I never have an average day, but that is one of the things I love about my job! I am constantly at the different stores representing Dallas North. I try to help the SIMs (Store Inventory Managers) with displays and different merchandising challenges that they face.

If you were to ask an employee at one of the stores what an average day is like for me, I'm sure they would say they see me talking on the phone by holding it up with my shoulder, pushing a dolly full of boxes, and running around like a chicken with my head cut off. (Of course not actually running while pushing a dolly full of boxes. Safety first! J)

What is your role in getting the Plano store moved?

Where to begin?!  I did whatever needed to be done. I helped with the design of the new sections, packed up the books and put them on skids, built the displays, slept on a cot in the backroom, made and directed the labeling of the entire store, made sure we had all the supplies needed, drank a TON of coffee, and put the books onto the new shelves.   I laughed, I cried, I ate too much, I didn’t eat enough, and all the while had a great experience moving the Plano location. (P.S. I didn’t actually sleep in the backroom, I slept in the office.)

Anything else to add?

Yes, please come visit us at our new and improved Plano location where the air smells like flowers and the employees are ever-ready to serve you. So type 2440 Preston Rd. into your GPS and join the FUN!

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I don’t know about you all, but this made me tired just reading it.  The things our bibliomaniacs do to provide you with a new, beautiful Half Price Books store! -- Emily

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Emily is Public Relations Manager at Half Price Books Corporate.

You can follow her on Twitter at @emilytbruce.