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The Go-Getter Book Store is located at 840 E. Main Street. A ribbon cutting will be held on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. |
Go-Getter Freeland Brothers to celebrate opening of Go-Getter Books
July 10, 2013
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
The term “go-getter” was coined in 1921 by author Peter Kyne, who created it to describe the main character in his novel, a disabled World War I veteran who must overcome the numerous obstacles facing the handicapped.
But in “The Go-Getter” title character Bill Peck, although repeatedly thwarted by life’s circumstances, carries on, his resolve never shaken and his confidence never dimmed as he tries to land a job with a lumber company - and once he does, watch out! Still in print and still popular, in “The Go-Getter” Kyne created not only a character but a description that continues to summon to mind a person on the move who won’t give up, often finding success in their chosen field because they expect it is their well-deserved do.
People perhaps just like Mitch Freeland and John Freeland, successful entrepreneurs for more than 25 years in businesses ranging from investment banking and mergers and acquisitions to real estate acquisition and development, just to name a few. Not only are the identical twins go-getters, they have a business called Go-Getter Books being readied to open at 840 E. Main St. in the historic Downtown, also home to their GoGetterBooks.com online business.
The store will celebrate it’s Grand Opening July 11 at 1 p.m. with a series of events and sales - proceeds will be split with the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley, which will also garner 100 percent of the Silent Auction - capped with a private reception.
Natives of Long Beach, the Freeland brothers were developing real estate and living in Florida when in 2009 John’s horse threw him into a wall. It broke John’s back leaving him a paraplegic, paralyzed from the waist down. After about three weeks of therapy John was released from the hospital.
John said he and Mitch had always been go-getters: “My brother and I owned many different companies, turn-arounds” the Freelands would take charge of and fine tune operations “to the point where the businesses would be manageable,” as well as profitable. Mitch and John’s business acumen was recognized in numerous media, including John being coined “The Prolific Investor” by the Palm Beach Post.
Admitted workaholics, Mitch had started writing primarily business books in 2007. He and John already had a deep interest in books before the latter’s accident.
“What spurred on” Go-Getter Books, said COO John, was his accident, which came at the same time the national economy was in crisis mode. John said, “I lost some heart,” and that included in pursuing their Florida business ventures; the brothers returned to California
Longtime supporters of nonprofits and advocates of education, CEO Mitch started Go-Getter Books in 2010, originally selling business books from his own vast collection. With arrangements made with various libraries - including the Los Angeles County Public Library system - to receive books that normally would be discarded, the business expanded its offerings that now include CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes.
The brothers note that their book business model - saving books from landfills for recycled enjoyment - is good for the environment and the mind. In addition, Go-Getter Books works with library support groups to maximize their fundraising.
While traveling to Santa Barbara from the brothers’ Santa Clarita home, Mitch started stopping off in Santa Paula. He liked what he saw, especially the vintage building with its approximately 10,000 square feet of combined space that includes the basement and second floor mezzanine.
Although initially not looking to operate retail after the building was leased in September, eventually it was decided to open Go-Getter Books with its revolving inventory of thousands of items. “Ninety percent of everything for sale is for under $2,” with most items priced closer to 50 cents, but Mitch said Go-Getter Books also does offer limited quantities of collectibles.
Every other month there will be a blow out sale to benefit non-profits, and other events are planned. Chris Lawless of Santa Paula is the manager of Go-Getter Books, which will have special space set aside for ongoing sales that benefit and highlight nonprofits.
The brothers are working with the Friends of Blanchard Community Library as well as with the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Paula, where a bin will be placed for book donations. Said John, “The club will keep what they want and we’ll sell the rest online” and split the profits.
Although books are already sold through various online sources, Go-Getter will also offer a website only of free books, CDs, DVDs, etc. The Freelands’ goal is to create the world’s largest inventory of free items; the only cost is shipping and handling, which is adjusted downward for bundling. There is also a special Go-Getter Books program for buying and selling used textbooks.
And, with Mitch doing more and more writing - now including children’s books, a novella and short stories - he plans to create a publishing company with the Go-Getter imprint. His own reading tastes include “lots of fiction, mostly classical fiction and mostly dead Russians,” whose examples of writing Mitch said benefit his own efforts.
John, also interested in writing, reads an occasional biography and business books to give him the knowledge to do the things, he said, “in the past I would hire people to do.” John admitted that now much of his reading is confined to newspapers, The Wall Street Journal, Investors Daily and the Los Angeles Times, publications his dog fetches for him. “The dog will bring them in,” said John, “but he won’t always release.”
