Business Spotlight:

OnlyHelpfulBooks.com has also filled a void in La Crescenta, where it is the only bookstore in town, Pierce said.

The economic slump will be a challenge for Chowdhury, but his offering of self-improvement titles might be appealing to consumers looking for an inexpensive and unique side activity, said Eleanor Wacker, a member of the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors.

“It’s a wonderful form of entertainment, enriching yourself and broadening your horizons,” she said.

Chowdhury’s online store, which is being developed by a contractor in India, is not currently viewable — his website holds a text-heavy “coming soon” description page — but a preview version of the site appeared organized and comparable to online juggernauts Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

The advantage for OnlyHelpfulBooks.com will be its upfront display of standout self-help titles, something that isn’t easily available on other websites, Chowdhury said.

If Web surfers don’t decide to search for self-help books, they will never know how many opportunities for personal improvement they can take advantage of, he said.

“If they come here, they know directly what is available,” he said.