Sep. 28--Netflix, meet Austin George . He's taken your idea and made it literary.

George is the founder of Greensboro-based Excite Books, a company that aspires to become the Netflix of children's books.

George, 28 , had been stewing on the idea for the business for a few years, inspired by a girlfriend who had difficulties finding and funding books for her classroom library.

When the former Skybus pilot was grounded by the airline's bankruptcy, he decided it was time for his business idea to take flight.

Based online at www.excitebooks.com , the company will offer a subscription-based children's book service. But instead of picking individual titles, subscribers will have the option of choosing books at various elementary grade levels or in categories such as teen, puzzle or cookbooks.

George buys the books -- which include numerous Disney titles -- thousands at a time from wholesale companies.

Subscribers will receive three books and an educational activity each month for $14.99. If three is too many, they can also opt to receive two books for $9.99 or one book for $4.99 .

And while the neighborhood library may be free, George believes his company offers something that may be enticing to busy parents -- convenience.

Besides, he added, "the fact is, kids love to get mail."

But in a change from the Netflix model, subscribers don't send the books back. The tomes are theirs to keep and do with them what they please. If that's stowing them on the bookcase, fine.

But if they want to find them a new home, Excite Books will provide a pre-addressed, postage-paid mailer to send the books to an underprivileged school. The book donations are tax-deductible.

"We're teaching the kids to donate," George said, "if you don't want to clutter up the house with books after you've read them five times."

The Web site is scheduled to go live in early November.

Daisy closed, but jewelry sales still at Super Flea

As reported in Tuesday's paper, Greensboro's Quaker Village has seen an exodus of stores, which has contributed to the decline in foot traffic to the center.

One of the stores caught in the downturn was Laura Siedenburg's gift store Daisy, which closed a few days ago.

But fans of one of Daisy's most popular items -- the fashion jewelry -- won't have to go without. Siedenburg plans to continue selling her pieces at least through the end of the year at Super Flea at the Greensboro Coliseum Pavilion. The next event will be Oct. 4-5 .

WineStyles opens in Friendly Center shops

WineStyles, one of the newest merchants at the Shops at Friendly Center, is marking its grand opening this weekend with a series of wine tastings.

Today's tasting, featuring an array of global wines, will run from 3 to 5 p.m.

WineStyles' niche is to make wine buying easier, categorizing vino by color and style rather than the more traditional retail configuration of varietals and region.

The Greensboro store is the chain's fifth in the state. Other locations include stores in Wilmington, Apex and Raleigh and one opening this summer in Asheville.

Savvy Shoppers unite at the Bargain Blog at news-record.com. Do you have retail news or shopping tips for Savvy Shopper? Contact Lanita Withers at 373-7071 or lanita.withers@news-record.com.

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