Book2Book
Richard Kemp is setting up his fourth bookshop in less than three years as part of a project to prove that bookshops have a new lease of life on the High Street. His first shop proved that books can mix well with hats to bring more occasional book buyers into a shop they might otherwise have ignored. His second shop proved that an indie can thrive right opposite a chain book store and stimulate new book buying for both as a result. His third proved that a new bookshop can thrive in an invisible location where the cost of High Street rents and rates caused a highly visible and much loved indie to fail. His fourth aims to prove that a new bookshop can make its mark in a town that has never had a bookshop before. The key to each is seeing the role of the bookshop as serving the needs of the local communities of reading and creating real and vibrant relationships with each.
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James Patterson is offering £250k to support independent bookshops in the UK. He is doing this because he believes that bookshops help children in particular develop the literacy and reading skills that will equip them for success in later life. I agree with Patterson that bookshops support literacy in a way that is crucial to children, schools and community alike. I have direct experience of opening three indie bookshops in three very different High Streets over the last three years with the aim of bringing bookshops back to the 1000 towns in the UK that have no bookselling presence of any kind. I am just about to open my fourth in Pontyclun in Wales. I have done this because I do not believe we can wait for Mary Portas, David Cameron, a reality TV crew or government initiative to regenerate our high streets. However, Patterson's offer of a donation up to £5k does give impetus to bringing about this sort of change for bookshops now. If you want to open a bookshop, there's never been a better time. People will still think you are mad. Most people think bookshops are doomed to die. My experience over the last three years challenges this and shows you can succeed in a hostile trading environment. But be warned. It takes a lot of hard work. You will not be rich. But you will have a sustainable business along with just about the best job of any on the high street. So, here goes.
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James Patterson is offering £250k to support independent bookshops in the UK. He is doing this because he believes that bookshops help children in particular develop the literacy and reading skills that will equip them for success in later life. I agree with Patterson that bookshops support literacy in a way that is crucial to children, schools and community alike. I have direct experience of opening three indie bookshops in three very different High Streets over the last three years with the aim of bringing bookshops back to the 1000 towns in the UK that have no bookselling presence of any kind. I am just about to open my fourth in Pontyclun in Wales. I have done this because I do not believe we can wait for Mary Portas, David Cameron, a reality TV crew or government initiative to regenerate our high streets. However, Patterson's offer of a donation up to £5k does give impetus to bringing about this sort of change for bookshops now. If you want to open a bookshop, there's never been a better time. People will still think you are mad. Most people think bookshops are doomed to die. My experience over the last three years challenges this and shows you can succeed in a hostile trading environment. But be warned. It takes a lot of hard work. You will not be rich. But you will have a sustainable business along with just about the best job of any on the high street. So, here goes.
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