“It’s been an amazing ride but we’re here to tell you that we’re not sure where the next year will take us” says co-owner Erica Merrell.  “We just received a massive increase in the rent and we can’t absorb the new costs without making some major changes. On our current path – we will not be able to support the space through 2013”.

Wild Iris is reaching out and asking you–us–indiegainesville–or fantastic local community for direction. At indiegainesville, we’ve pooled together our thoughts and have realized that over the past 20 years, Wild Iris has been a go-to place for hard to find books, calendars, planners/organizers, a place to find local authors, locally made soaps, a fantastic collection of pins, cards, bumper stickers, hard-to-find magazines, and t-shirts…a safe meeting place for non-profit groups…

You get the point.

And as always, rather than buying a book online at some nameless internet big-box Amazon, you can order any book online HERE and have it delivered to Wild Iris.

This treasured bookstore is asking for members of the community to step forward to give them a fighting chance. “With a donation of $20, from each member of our community we would have the cash flow needed to re-fashion Wild Iris into a financially stable space.” says co-owner Cheryl Calhoun.

Where indie-bookstore Wild Iris goes from here will be dependent upon how the community responds. This is your chance to chime in, offer suggestions, support, and ensure Wild Iris will be our trusted local bookseller.

Wild Iris has always been about more than books.  It is a community center where like-minded people gather to question anything that feels wrong to their soul and to connect with other trouble makers who aren’t okay with the status quo.   Is there anything more independent Gainesville than that?

Not everything is gloom and doom for Wild Iris! There are exciting new initiatives coming their way.

Wild Iris Books now have a full-service online bookstore under an agreement with the American Booksellers Association and Indiebound.org.  In October they will begin selling Kobo e-book readers through this same agreement. “This is an incredible opportunity to come fully on board with one of the largest libraries of e-books in the world.” says Cheryl.   They have a wonderful team of interns, volunteers, and board members working hard to keep their event calendar filled.  Just some upcoming events include October’s Feminist Open Mic celebrating Banned Books Week and a presidential debate party co-hosted with Gainesville NOW.

For more information or to donate online CLICK HERE.
You can also send donation to:

Or just stop by the store to give your support.

“We’d like to hear from our community, share your vision with us – when you close your eyes – what does Florida’s Only Feminist Bookstore look like to you”? says Erica.

See also:

• Wild Iris Books Celebrates 20th Anniversary, May Close Before 21st
• “Hamazon” (cool infographic)
• Inside Amazon’s Warehouse: Lehigh Valley workers tell of brutal heat, dizzying pace at online retailer

The supply of temporary workers keeps Amazon’s warehouse fully staffed without the expense of a permanent workforce that expects raises and good benefits. Using temporary employees in general also helps reduce the prospect that employees will organize a union that pushes for better treatment because the employees are in constant flux, labor experts  say. And Amazon limits its liability for workers’ compensation and  unemployment insurance because most of the workers don’t work for Amazon, they work for the temp agency.