“After being in a freak bicycling accident in September 2020, I found myself with a huge pile of bills from the hospital, pharmacy, x-ray tech, surgeon, etc. Even after insurance the amount I owed was unmanageable. Then to top things off, my full-time job laid me off the day after my doctor released me to […]
Category Archives: Bookseller Stories
Binc was recently contacted by the owners of a family-run comic book shop. They have been working mightily to keep their business afloat during the pandemic through a combination of in-store safety measures, online sales, and reducing expenses. As with many small shops, the store’s revenue pays both business and household bills. With the addition […]
Divorce is an emotional and difficult situation at any time, but it is doubly hard during a pandemic. One bookseller found this out recently as the stresses of COVID led to the end of their marriage and the need for an immediate move. Having to vacate the family home in a very challenging housing market […]
A bookseller fleeing from a rapidly moving wildfire was able to pack up some clothing, important documents, and medications, but very little else. Fortunately, they found an available hotel room near the bookstore and Binc was able to help pay for their stay. Little did they know that their family of two adults, two kids, […]
Morning is slowly stirring on a hot summer day in downtown Brighton, Michigan – traffic is light and there are still parking spots along the quaint street lined with overflowing petunia baskets. Nestled in the middle of Main Street, located below street level, is the 2 Dandelions Bookshop where owners Jeri Kay (Dandelion #1) and […]
When a loved one passes away, it’s a hard time for a family no matter the circumstances. And when their loved one’s death was unplanned for, it can fall hard on the grieving family when the funeral expenses create hardship. When savings are limited, this unexpected and often large expense creates a further burden on […]
vol.8 // January ’20 In 2019 we received more assistance requests for help paying for medical care than any other category of emergency assistance. According to a recent Gallup survey, a third of U.S. adults say their family couldn’t afford care in the past year. When booksellers and comic retailers delay or forgo required medical treatment, problems escalate […]
A bookseller’s car was destroyed in a flash flood while the bookseller was away from home. Losing their vehicle left them without a way to get to work because, like in many areas of the country, they did not have access to easy, timely, reliable public transportation. Like so many of us, they rely on […]
A bookseller recently suffered a stroke that seemed to unleash an unending string of misfortune and hardship. While recovering from the stroke, their spouse lost their job. A beloved sibling passed away requiring out-of-state travel and weeks off of work. A change in their spouse’s health resulted in the resurfacing of an old illness. The bookseller fell, […]
Bed bugs. Just the thought is enough to make you itch and squirm. They can be picked up while traveling, brought in on-board used furniture, come hidden in purchased goods, or even travel from a neighboring apartment. These critters know no social or economic bounds and can set up residence in any home. However they arrive, the […]