Pictured left: Lois K. Hanson

Lois received her BA in English and social studies from West Virginia University (1968) and taught 12th grade English in Petersburg, West Virginia for two years. After that she received her Masters’ degree in English Education from the Ohio State University and completed three years’ work toward her EdD but never wrote a dissertation. She taught at Centerburg High School for two years as a English and history teacher before teaching at Mount Vernon Middle School as a Language Arts, social studies, and reading teacher until her retirement in 2002.

Lois walked into Paragraphs Bookstore looking for a book in 2003 but walked out with a part-time job. She served Paragraphs as a bookseller and assistant manager until she reached the position of manager, which she worked as until retiring in 2021.

Q: What inspired you to get into running your business?

• What almost stopped you, if anything?

A: It was not so much inspiration as just dumb luck. As I said above, I went to the bookstore to buy a book, and the owner, Anne Storan, asked me if I wanted a part-time job. I knew her because I had taught both of her children in seventh grade. It was such a casual agreement that I didn't even tell my husband about it for days. I thought I would just work a few days or so. I've been a reader my entire life, I taught English, and I figured I could talk about books to customers.

Q: What has been some challenges you’ve faced in running your business?

A: For me the greatest challenge has been my total lack of interest ( I choose to blame it on my parietal cortex) and marked inability with numbers. (Thank goodness, your father [Kurt Schisler] was there to hold my hand.) Another personal challenge was my trying to do everything myself. It took me awhile to learn to delegate jobs.

Q: What has been the most rewarding part?

A: No doubt about the rewards – getting the right book into the right hands and the right time. A corollary of this is talking to people about books and their becoming friends.

Q: How has being a woman impacted the way you are seen in the world or seen as a business owner?

• How have you used it to your advantage? How have you overcome obstacles pertaining to it?

A: For many years only women worked in the store so there was never any confusion about who (gender wise ) was in charge. Several time after Maxwell was hired, we both noticed that if we were at the counter, some customers would speak to him and look to him for answers. Even though I was always clear that I did not own the bookstore, many people just assumed I did.

• Used to my advantage I don't think I've ever batted my eyelashes, clutched my pearls, or feigned a swoon. I've always been honest when I don't understand something and was comfortable asking for help.

Q: How has COVID impacted your business?

• How have you overcome these challenges?

A: Yes, Covid. Does closing the business for months present a challenge? Because years ago, Anne the owner, had set up an online website for Paragraphs where people could order books online, we did not have to start from scratch as some bookstores did. We already had a system, although it was rarely used – perhaps 20 or so a year. When we closed in March, we were very active in letting people know that they could order books through us and have them shipped directly to their homes. (A little later we also provided curb-side pickup.) So our online orders really increased – and I mean really increased. (I'm not at the store today, but when I'm there tomorrow, I 'll try to get you some numbers.) Of course there were cleaning protocols we instituted which meant new costs. And at first some of the staff were reluctant to ask people to wear masks so I was the designated one. (Now, everyone does it.)

Q: Knowing what you know now about COVID, what would you change in the future the way your business is run to help combat future problems, if anything?

A: This happened but it might fit your question. Before Covid, I was the only one who handled the online orders because there were so few and (see above) my reluctance to designate responsibilites. From March until May, two others learned how to process those book orders.

• I think we’ve always been good about letting all the staff know what’s going on either by word of mouth, e-mails, or notes.

Q: Who supported you throughout your journey?

A: Support on the journey – I'm not sure if you mean Covid journey or all of it, so here goes:

Anne taught me when I was first hired/ Ted Kolter was there for me when Anne moved the store from near Sips to where it is now. I remember crying on his shoulder during moving day because Anne was no where to be found/ When Karen bought the store, I told anyone who would listen that I did not want to do payroll or taxes (numbers) so there was your father [Kurt Schisler] for support/ Of course, Karen’s buying of the store was huge. And I think that she rarely was in the store-she trusted my judgement-showed incredible support/ I always learned new things and got support from the staff/ My friends who listened to my concerns and fears the first year or so when Karen bought the store and I became manager/ My husband, my daughter, and my sisters and, of course, customers. Some would come in the printouts from Amazon of a book they wanted (obviously, they could have bought the books there ) but wanted to support a local business/ the school library aides, librarians, teachers, and principals/ other local businessmen and women.

Q: What is it like to be a woman is such a high position?

• Do you wish to help support or inspire other women to do the same?

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

A: Being a woman and a bookstore manager does not seem strange or unusual to the community. Perhaps being the CEO of a huge business or bank might be but not this position. I certainly tried to encourage young women who asked about working.

Q: How do you run your business?

• What is everyday life like?

A: Here's what a day was like – get to the store about 8:30 ( it opened at 9:30 but I always like that hour alone to do all the opening tasks – run reports, sweep outside, water plants, pick up, do stock replenishment). Sell books once customers come in. Check e-mails and voice mail for special orders. Order books from publishers. Price out any school orders. Receive books. Solve problems or at least know who to call to get help. Run in-store book club if it was scheduled. Order sidelines. Set up displays. Read shelves. And more stuff you really don't need or want to know.

Q: What advice would you give you young girls who see people like them being powerful businesswomen?

A: Advice to young girls - Don't be afraid or ashamed to say “ I don't know.” You aren't expected to know everything all the time.  Ask questions. Learn from everyone. Accept advice. Thank people.

Q: What advice would you give you young girls who see people like them being powerful businesswomen?

A: Almost the same advice as above – If there is a business someone is interested in, talk to someone at the business. Shadow someone. See if there are business classes you can take. Volunteer.

Q: Do you ever feel discouraged? Scared?

• When and how did you overcome it?

A: The first year that I managed the store, I think I was nervous all 365 days. Not scared but there were so many things I had to learn that Anne had never taught me because she hadn't done. I was scared to spend too much money. But a wise man, your father [Kurt Schisler] , said that one sometimes has to spend money to make money, and that helped. Never discouraged. I think that there were probably a handful of days when I did not want to go to work. Everyday was fun and challenging. And getting up every morning and walking 2-3 miles was always good for my mental health.

Q: How do you handle failure in the work place?

A: Handle mistakes (I'll get to failure in a second). One of the things I always told new hires was that there wasn't one mistake they could make that hadn't been made by someone else. Just fix it and move on. I can't think of anything that was a FAILURE. I know there were author events that fell flat (once when the author didn't show up). In the beginning, I didn't return books to our wholesaler in a timely fashion and lost some money. What did I learn? Fix it and move on. It does no good to stew of the mistakes.

Q: How do you know what the right move for your business is?

A: How know the right move? See what other bookstores were doing. Gut instinct. Do we have the money? Are we getting our money's worth?

Q: When did you know your business was a success?

A: Customers kept coming into the store. Profit and Loss statement. Lost less money every year. Owner continued to support the store. Winning awards from the community.

Q: How do you hire the right people?

A: I loved hiring! If someone was interested in being hired, the first step was to ask for a resume. I would get phone calls asking if we were hiring. I would say to send a resume. If they didn't do that, the person was obviously not serious. Then I would peruse the resumes. If I was interested, the next step was an interview. Basic questions but also 1) What are your favorite books? 2) What are you reading now? 3) Do you know who wrote. . . ? and then I would ask about classics 4) Can you write and read cursive? 5) Can you spell – just a quick spelling test.

Q: Why should women want to start or run a business?

A: Women must feel and believe that they can do anything. But it also seems that women handle things differently than a male. Two anecdotes – I was explaining to a man about how I set up a work schedule. He seemed impressed or surprised that the first step was asking staff if there had to be any changes to their regular work schedule because of trips or appointments. Perhaps that's not how it's done, but it's how I did it. Another time my husband was in the store as I held a staff meeting. There was some issue (can't remember what it is) but before I made a decision, I asked everyone what she/he thought. I certainly didn't think it was remarkable but my husband did.