Independent bookshops in decline as buying habits change

Booksellers Association calls in celebrity support for Books Are My Bag campaign after more than 500 closures since 2005The number of independent bookshops gracing British high streets has fallen below 1,000 – a third fewer than nine years ago, amid cut-throat competition from supermarkets, Amazon and ebooks.Booksellers warned that the health of the publishing industry was at risk as new figures revealed more than 500 independent outlets have shut since 2005.With the additional pressures of rising costs and the economic downturn that face all small retailers, 67 local bookshops closed last year, according to the Booksellers Association, while just 26 opened, leaving 987 still trading."Everyone should sit up and take notice of this," said Tim Godfray, chief executive of the association. "The book trade, the government and the general public need to realise that if we don't take action now, the future of our bookshops – and therefore the health of the publishing industry and reading itself – is at risk."Children's specialist the Lion & Unicorn bookshop in Richmond, south-west London, the Dover Bookshop in Covent Garden and Hale Bookshop in Cheshire were among last year's casualties. Meanwhile, independent booksellers said that difficulties in getting finance were putting off new shop owners.The association has called in celebrities including former model Lily Cole, celebrity chef Rachel Khoo and TV presenter Dawn O'Porter, to help muster support for independent... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #growing power #bigger problem #tiny part #major part

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Independent bookshops in decline as buying habits change'


Independent bookshops in decline as buying habits change

Booksellers Association calls in celebrity support for Books Are My Bag campaign after more than 500 closures since 2005The number of independent bookshops gracing British high streets has fallen below 1,000 – a third fewer than nine years ago, amid cut-throat competition from supermarkets,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #growing power #bigger problem #tiny part #major part


Chorleywood Bookshop crowned Vintage Independent Bookshop of the Year 2016

Chorleywood Bookshop has been named the Vintage Independent Bookshop of the Year 2016, making it the first shop to have won the prize twice. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #chorleywood bookshop


B&T’s Aman Kochar Reflects on the Changes He Has Made Since Buying the Company Two Years Ago

Baker & Taylor’s Aman Kochar has embraced the wholesaler’s role as a conduit between libraries and publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-12-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #baker taylor #aman kochar #libraries


Who will buy this little Welsh bookshop, which comes complete with hundreds of books?

Attention book lovers yearning to get out of Dodge: a down-on-its-luck bookstore in the Welsh mining town of Blaenavon (population 6,055) is headed to (online) auction next week, with bidding to open at the low low price of £72,000. Sure, it needs some work. But it comes with all the books, and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-03-01 15:27:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online auction #bookstore


Black bookshop owners urge others to embrace the opportunity for change

Black bookshop owners are finding that their efforts are paying off by sharing stories and bringing communities closer together through their local store. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-12-03 08:27:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sharing stories #bookshop


IPG Buys U.K Distribution Company United Independent Distributors

Independent Publishers Group has acquired U.K.-based United Independent Distributors. IPG CEO Joe Matthews called the deal a “game-changing acquisition,” and one that will make IPG one of the world’s largest book distributors for indie publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-10-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #indie publishers #largest book #independent distributors


Saturday is Love your Bookshop Day. 5 reasons why readers keep coming back to independent book stores

We interviewed booksellers about their experience of the pandemic and their customers. Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2021-10-07 05:14:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookshop day #coming back #bookshop


Dawson, Bennett and Page support Independent Bookshop Week with Hachette

Hachette and its authors, incuding Juno Dawson, Brit Bennett and Libby Page, are championing indie booksellers in a social media campaign to support Independent Bookshop Week. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-19 08:06:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #brit bennett #libby page #hachette #independent bookshop


Bookshop.org urges industry to back indies with links in Independent Bookshop Week

Online indie retailer Bookshop.org is calling for publishers and authors to link to independent bookshops and its own site for the duration of Independent Bookshop Week (IBW). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-10 23:36:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #independent bookshops #independent bookshop


Jürgen Habermas Changes Course, Declines the Sheikh Zayed Award

In a reversal, the German philosopher Jürgen Habermas says he will not accept the Sheikh Zayed Book Award's Cultural Personality of the Year honor. The post Jürgen Habermas Changes Course, Declines the Sheikh Zayed Award appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-05-03 14:44:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cultural personality #year honor #zayed book


Cowell and Bilston join early line-up for Independent Bookshop Week

Initial plans for this year's Independent Bookshop Week have been announced with Cressida Cowell designing a celebratory tote bag, a special Brian Bilston poem and early releases. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-03-01 07:02:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #early releases #independent bookshop


Op-Ed: Buy from your independent bookstore now — or you may never be able to again

Vroman's Bookstore is just one of many independent bookstores in danger of closing as a result of the pandemic. It's not too late to save them. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-10-05 10:00:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #independent bookstores #bookstore #independent bookstore


Little Tiger to publish key worker tribute for Independent Bookshop Week

Little Tiger is to publish a picture book celebrating the work of key workers, to raise money for the NHS during Independent Bookshop week. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-26 01:38:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #key workers #raise money #picture book #independent bookshop


The Pandemic Is Changing Book-Buying Patterns

The Covid-19 outbreak is altering what books consumers buy and where they buy them. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-04-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #covid-19 outbreak


Weldon vows to help bookshops and changes PRH volunteering policy

Penguin Random House UK c.e.o. Tom Weldon says the company is actively seeking ways of helping struggling booksellers during the coronavirus lockdown. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-26 21:42:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tom weldon #coronavirus lockdown #penguin random house


Regional Independent Bookshop of the Year Award winners announced

The winners of the regional and country round of the Independent Bookshop of the Year Award have been announced, with nine shops in contention for an overall prize of £5,000. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-17 14:37:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #country round #independent bookshop


Independent bookshops start to close as coronavirus advice comes in

Independent bookshops across the country are closing their doors to protect staff and customers from the coronavirus outbreak. Many indie shops are encouranging customers to support their businesses and place orders online. Delivery services have also been ramped up across the board, with some... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-16 22:52:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #independent bookshops #coronavirus outbreak


Cowell, Barr and Hannah to take part in Independent Bookshop Week

Authors including Cressida Cowell, Damian Barr and Sophie Hannah will take part in Independent Bookshop Week (IBW).  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-05 23:53:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #damian barr #sophie hannah #independent bookshop


AT&T boosts spending on R&D after four years of declines amid Time Warner buy, investments

AT&T Inc. managed something it hasn’t since 2014: An increase in spending on research and development. The Dallas telecommunications and now media company increased in investment in R&D last year by about $80 million to $1.28 billion, an increase of about 7 percent, it said in its... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2020-02-25 16:16:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #$80 million #exchange commission #time warner


AT&T boosts spending on R&D after four years of declines amid Time Warner buy, investments

AT&T Inc. managed something it hasn’t since 2014: An increase in spending on research and development. The Dallas telecommunications and now media company increased in investment in R&D last year by about $80 million to $1.28 billion, an increase of about 7 percent, it said in its... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2020-02-24 22:58:29 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #time warner