Innisfree Bookshop - Meredith — Local services in Meredith

I came up from the Boston area to Moultonborough this past weekend so my boyfriend could work on his vacation home. Before I start, please not: I'm a former Barnes & Noble Public Relations Manager and I held that job for 7 years, hosting HUGE author events and also supporting schools. In my years with the company I never saw the deplorable customer service that I received Saturday, September 17th at this book store in Meredith. Maybe I could understand if the place was busy, but there were only 4 other people in the store with me. I never once got asked if help was needed and I can overlook that. But when I went to check out, that's where the breakdown began. I had my basket full, 6 hardcovers, a box of note-cards, and a bunch more cards. Because of the weight of the basket I slid it behind the counter to help the cashier. She was quick to point out that my choice didn't help her. I immediately apologized for any inconvenience I had caused her. Well I got the look of death. Next I asked to split the order so I could pull out my 2 books, because the rest was for my elderly mom who no longer drives. That request managed to infuriate her and i got snapped at repeatedly. I was just about to tell her to keep the order when another women stepped up to assist and clearly saw what was happening. She was quick to tell the lady ringing that she'd bag the order. Again I'm taken back by how rudely the this lady ringing spoke to the this bookseller and pretty much told her how to bag. The lady bagging struck a conversation with me and we shared about how she and my mother are avid readers and can juggle 3 books at a time. I finished paying for both orders and went to take my bag to depart. I was stopped while the ringer questioned if the bag was strong enough and if the bookseller should double bag my order. She tested it and said it was just fine and again this women felt a need to question it. I finally took my bag and told them both it was fine so i could get out of there. I bet a lot of you are questioning why I just don't do my shopping at B&N. I'm the type of person that believes in the small business owners and the independent book stores. I try very hard to avoid chain stores and malls and give my business to the independents and family ran businesses. I come from that myself and saw what the opening of big box stores did to my parents business. With that said, I wish I had just gone over to Center Harbor where the staff in that smaller book store are exceptional. When I got back to Moultonborough and chatted it up with some neighbors, they all said they wished I had told them where I was heading because they would have warned me against it. They are all very familiar with this rude service at this book store and all use the Center Harbor one. How sad when store business is repeatedly being lost to online shopping, that you'd be treated with such disrespect. And let me add, I spent almost $200.00 between those 2 orders. Be assured I won't make this...

This place is like a smaller version of Barnes & Noble minus the cafe. It's an independent business, but has a great selection of gifts, cards, games, books, and even some accessories.

While about 50-60% of it's stock is books, they have a nice variety of other quality products for visitors to choose from. And the greeting card selection is diverse in emotions as well as themes, but all the cards are great quality--specialty cards that you won't find in Target, Walmart or any of the larger chains. And that helps set them apart.

The location of the shop is very near a heavy tourist area, it being part of a few buildings that a large mill used to operate out of. It's on the shores of the lake and as you can see from the photos, the fall foliage in the area is breathtaking.

There are many small businesses in this area, and were it not during a pandemic, the place would have been full of young and old, from locals to travelors (it was busy, but it would have been much busier).

The staff there was professional, helpful, and genuinely caring. My wife loves books, so when we're up this way again,...

The books here are slightly more (like, $2 maximum in general on trade paperbacks) than at a chain bookstore (understandably), but this is a GORGEOUS local bookshop and I can't recommend it enough. They have really interesting recommendations, and their displays are full of lovely things from assorted awards. The sections have a wide variety of books that you maybe haven't heard of. I have a book from here about the secret lives of trees, and a book about a moon goddess's daughter based in Chinese mythology, The staff is also incredibly nice and helpful. My one and only quibble is that the Sci-fi/Fantasy and Mythology sections are a little bit small. But the variety here can't be beat, and who knows what kind of treasures you might find? Give it a look if you're around...