Rozzie Bound in Boston tests bookstore co-op model

• Whyte served on a panel about how to start a co-op bookstore last year. "It was a packed room."

Zoom in: Nestled in Boston's Roslindale neighborhood, Rozzie Bound is a women-owned cooperative bookstore with three worker-owners and some 200 consumer-owners.

• The consumer-owners' contributions go toward the long-term sustainability of the business, Whyte says. They're also encouraged to promote the store online and, in person, to their friends.
• In return, consumer-owners get special sales and can make decisions at shareholder meetings.

Plus: Having three worker-owners means they can play to their respective strengths, whether it's marketing, event planning or book ordering.

Yes, but: The co-op model doesn't mean the bookstore doesn't have to make money to survive, Whyte says.

• Rozzie Bound stays afloat in part because of its consumer-owners, but also because customers get books shipped into the store for pickup; the bookstore hosts events, as well.

What they're saying: "Running a bookstore, no matter what the business model, is hard these days, but we're finding that it's working for us so far," Whyte says.

• "We have a lot of community buy-in."

Go deeper:

• What's behind Boston's bookstore "boomlet"
• The pop-up-to-store pipeline