This was the biggest show we have ever done in volume," said v-p Bill Rinehart of Assorted Books Co./Mazel, summing up this year's CIROBE. "We were pleased by the variety of stores represented, everything from small bookstores and off-price stores to up-price stores and dollar stores. Also, there were a significant number of exporters in attendance." Rinehart's only complaint was that he felt pressed for time and would like to see the show begin on Thursday.
Assorted Books is a division of Mazel Stores, which, according to Rinehart, is the "largest wholesaler of closeout general merchandise in the U.S." Mazel, Rinehart noted, wholesales clothing, health and beauty aids, furniture, luggage and more. "But our book division is the fastest growing part of our company," he added. "We have 30-plus million books in our warehouse in Solon, Ohio, and we are the largest purchaser of books in any given year. All of our books are true remainders. We aren't involved in promotional publishing. We have three categories that are growing particularly fast: children's titles, mass market paperback assortments and cookbook/coffee-table books." The company's showrooms are in New York, Solon and Columbus, Chicago and Boston.
Assorted Books/Mazel also cross-merchandises books with other items in pre-packs, such as marrying a cookbook with an apron as a single SKU. "We create added value," Rinehart explained. "Even though it is labor intensive, we try to accommodate all kinds and sizes of customers' needs. We do some fascinating things processing books, matching them up with other titles, sorting them in special ways. It's what makes us different."
