Meet Bethany Vargas | Owner + Book Queen

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bethany Vargas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bethany, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It really stems back to when I was 4 years old, already an avid reader. I also had a mind for owning a store. My mom says I wanted to touch every single cash registers for sale at Staples and other stores. Then when I was 7, I made my own pretend store in my bedroom with a toy register and pretend customers that I filed away on a self-created index card catalog. At the time I had no idea what I was preparing myself for, but it was this.

Fast forward to 2021. I had been a middle school English teacher for 11 years. I left teaching because my season of life became more about time for my own kid and not my lovely 180 students I taught day in and day out. But being at home all day I realized I missed certain things about being in the classroom. I used to love choosing the books we read as a class, focusing on what would challenge my students while also keeping them engaged. I also loved helping students pick books on library days, matching them to things beyond what they saw someone else reading, and finding stories that resonated with their own life and likes. When I closed my eyes and imagined what I could do from home that was similar, I dreamed of this. A book personal shopper or concierge, not tied to an algorithm. And it grew from there.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started Island Belle Books around my love of books and helping others find their next favorite read. My brand was easy, because it is me. I am the face of my business. No really, I put it on everything. But also, I am a child of three islands (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Trinidad). My husband is a child of an island too (Hawaii). Incorporating the places we love made it even easier to choose colors and craft a personality for my business.

What I do though, is create magic. I make book boxes and subscriptions, but not like other similar businesses. Where others send out the same book to everyone on the same date every month, I find books for people to match their wants and send within 2-5 days. Customers can choose any genre, any age group, and I fill it based on that plus any other notes they may give me. In book boxes I include bookish gifts from other small businesses, but also based on what category the customer chooses. In the subscription they just get books (ok and maybe a bookmark or sticker I created). I curate my on-hand inventory and buy from local artists anything else I need.

Now, while choosing the books and the gifts is easy, the other business stuff I had to learn.

I had zero clue how to register a business. I had never created a website before. I had to read, A LOT. I had to watch videos, sometimes TWICE. I invested in a course to help women like me, who had dreams and didn’t know how to take action. I spent hours upon hours figuring out what would work for what I wanted to do and where I was in life at the time. It was not easy. But it was worth it. I have grown so much and so has my business.

I think what I am most proud of so far is that I started using money I earned and I haven’t had to borrow any yet to keep going. I bought my supplies in small batches. I used multiple online resources that were free. I didn’t make or keep a bunch of inventory ahead of time. Does that mean I won’t ever take out a loan? I probably will, just because sometimes expansion takes investment. But I started small and wanted to stay within my means until I knew the next direction I wanted to go in.

The biggest lessons I’ve learned have been:
START + DO IT MESSY

Seriously. The rest will figure itself out. The rest can be learned. You can hire a CPA. You can join a co-working collective. You can sign up for all the markets and ask questions of all the vendors. But taking action on that idea, that’s the hardest part. And taking action is what sets you apart.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love so many places in and around Goldsboro! Where to start? Monday, we start at Cafe Le Deux for a flat white and a croissant. We would also stop at Heritage Farms General store right around the corner for some local foods and gifts to take home. Tuesday, we would drive out to Farmer and the Dail. I’m note sure which time is better, breakfast or lunch. So maybe eat breakfast (everyone always needs a biscuit bomb), head to Greenville for some shopping at their antique stores and walk on the greenway, then back to Farmer and the Dail for lunch (my favorite is the fried chicken biscuit with the sauce and chips). Wednesday would be for cozy reading and talking at Gypsy Bean coffee downtown, because the Penny Lane hot or iced is delicious. Thursday we would head back downtown for coffee from Labrar (they have new things weekly and my favorite people work there) and shopping at Cry Freedom Missions, RYE, and Mimi’s Boutique. Friday we would get food at Brick’s Woodfired Pizza and drinks at Well Traveled Beer. Gosh. That sounds like the best week. Let’s go now.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to give a huge shout out to Suzy Holman and her brain child SuzySchool. Her online course really helped me shift into the mindset of a business owner and guided me to the platforms I use. Her program was exactly what I needed to gain confidence and have liftoff with where my ideas needed to go.

A thank you (repeatedly) to Becky Launder for her ongoing support, brainstorming, and the best community of others who help hold me accountable in the most positive of ways.

I am also so grateful to my husband who encourages me to stay up late/wake up early, brings me lunch to my office, brings me all the coffee at other times, sets up all my equipment on market days, and is genuinely excited about everything I do with this business.

And to my kid, who is happy. Happy to have me home, happy to see me work hard, happy to see me chasing my passions.

Website: www.islandbellebooks.com

Instagram: www.intagram.com/islandbellebooks

Facebook: www.facebook.com/islandbellebooks

Other: Insider group on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/islandbellebooksinsiders