Laura Lamarre, Anderson Owner & Manager, Lala Books
In an interview with Invest:, Laura Lamarre Anderson, owner and manager of Lala Books, emphasized how she made the bookstore accessible and diverse to reflect the community. She also highlighted partnerships with local schools and organizations, which helped expand their offerings and strengthen the store’s role as a community hub.
How do you ensure the bookstore stays accessible and inclusive to everyone in the community?
We worked hard to make the space physically accessible. Part of our initial funding went toward expanding the store by renting two spaces and breaking down a wall so there’s a door without steps. This makes the space much more accessible. As we’ve grown, we’ve maintained that accessibility even as we’ve added more shelving and fixtures.
But physical accessibility is just one part of it. We want people to feel welcome in every way. When you walk by our windows, we hope the books you see reflect our community. We carry books in different languages and work hard to offer titles and items where people can see themselves. You’ll find characters who are like you, and you’ll also find characters who are nothing like you — offering windows into other worlds.
Our staff is fantastic at welcoming everyone who comes in. Almost without fail, you’ll be greeted with a smile and a hello. We’ve found a good balance between engaging with people when they need help and letting them browse when they want to. It’s important to us that everyone feels welcome.
How have your partnerships with local organizations shaped the bookstore’s role in the community?
We do a lot of work with local public schools, from small orders for individual schools to larger ones, like professional development books for district administration. It’s been great — since I was a teacher, I know a lot about children’s books, but talking with educators who are with students right now helps us stay current with what students need and want. It’s a two-way street: we let them know about upcoming books, and they help guide us.
We also collaborate with the local Community Health Center to source books for their youngest patients. For example, when a child has a wellness visit, they receive a book. They needed books in many languages, including Haitian Creole, which we didn’t carry at the time. So we searched until we found some. Every time they introduce a new language or request, it pushes us to expand our offerings, which we love.
The same goes for Community Teamwork, Inc., which is based here in town. They ask for books in different languages and with themes that fit their early childhood curriculum. This introduces us to new titles we might not have brought into the store otherwise, and then those titles become available for our regular customers. It’s a great symbiotic relationship.
What advice would you give to others looking to start a small business?
When we started, it was my husband, our daughter, and me. None of us had experience in running a business, so we knew there was a lot we didn’t know. That’s something every new business owner needs to recognize — there’s so much to learn. We reached out to resources like Community Teamworks Entrepreneurship Center and the city’s Economic Development Office, and they connected us with mentors and support that was invaluable. My advice is to never try to go it alone. There are people who have already made the mistakes you’re going to make, and they can help you avoid them. Stay open to learning — whether it’s through industry-specific education or staying connected to your local business community.
What role do you see the bookstore playing in supporting Lowell’s creative and literary communities in the future?
Supporting writers is important to us. We have three writing groups that meet here regularly, and we host a spoken word open mic. When local writers, especially those self-publishing or working with small presses, have new books, we help them with launches. We’re also starting a quarterly “Local Writers Day,” where we’ll bring several writers in at a time, highlight their work, and help them connect with new readers.
We’re also using part of our store to display local artists’ work. There’s no fee or obligation — we’re just giving them the opportunity to showcase their art for a month, and they can sell it if they want to. We also host arts and crafts vendors, especially around the holidays, to help them expand their customer base. It’s all about supporting our creative community in any way we can.
Additionally, we have a very young staff, and I’m thrilled that we’re able to offer them opportunities to grow. They’re finding their own specialties, and whether they stay in bookselling or move on to other careers, they’re gaining leadership experience and making decisions that really impact the store. It’s rewarding to see them develop their skills and feel like full-fledged contributors to the company.
