For Local Blog in MinneapolisGreat Gifts for the Holiday Season, Bur Bur and Friends Children’s Products Now Available in Eden Prairie Mall
December 8th, 2009
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Eden Prairie) – The outlook may not be so rosy for retailers – the National Retail Federation is projecting 2009 holiday sales to be one percent lower than 2008 – but some local entrepreneurs have high hopes for the holiday season.
An estimated 8.4 million people are expected to shop at Eden Prairie Center during the six-weeks between Thanksgiving and New Years. After hearing that, six local authors decided to open a shop in the mall and start selling books. Kelly Lucente of Plymouth, author of Bye Bye Monster; Joey’s Adventure on Monster Street, spearheaded the effort with fellow Minnesota authors Susie Bazil (“The Sick Bug“), JoAnne
Pastel and Kakie Fitzsimmons (“Bur Bur and Friends” series) , Patrick Mader (“Oma and Opa” series)and Gordon Frederickson (“A Farm Country Christmas” series).
“I had approached several local bookstores about carrying my book for the holidays and was told they already had their inventory in place and wouldn’t be buying any more books until after the first of the year. I didn’t want to lose the opportunity to sell books over the holidays, so I decided to open my own shop,” said Lucente.
Bye Bye Shop, which opened the Friday after Thanksgiving on the second floor of the mall, isn’t your average bookstore. In addition to offering customers to browse through a wide selection of children’s books written by Minnesota authors, there are also plenty of games and activities
- including story times throughout the day – to keep the kids busy while their parents shop in the store.
Most of the books for sale at the Bye Bye Shop were published by Beaver’s Pond Press of Edina. “We are very excited about this venture because it offers our authors an opportunity to share their wonderful stories with people who may not have come across them otherwise,” said Dara Beevas, Beaver’s Ponds Press’ Executive Editor.
The Bye Bye Shop will be open during mall hours from now until Christmas Day. For more information, or to schedule a time to stop by and interview the authors about their unique holiday-season venture, contact Beaver’s Pond Press publicist Rachel Anderson at 952-240-2513 or via e-mail: randerson72@earthlink.net
Book Covers and other products from the award winning Bur Bur and Friend’s children’s book series: Bur Bur and Friends is a cast of multicultural characters who help kids cultivate their self-esteem and talents by teaching them about sports, outdoor exploration and active play though their experiences. Bur Bur and Friends characters are based off of real life kids like yours!
