The Guardian carried this article about the number of independent bookshops going out of business in the UK - 40 in the year to date. It draws attention to one success story, " ...books@hoddesdon in Hertfordshire, which has launched a 'Love Your Local Bookshop' campaign. Its co-owner, Stephen Poulter, said he did not blame people for buying supermarket bestsellers at half price, but added: 'The trouble is that, in five years, if we're not here, supermarkets are all you'll have to choose from.' "
Information about the campaign can be found on this page. Interestingly, books@hoddesdon only opened its doors in January 2005. Starting up an independent book shop so recently must have taken immense courage and be the result of detailed local market research. Reading the site's pages, it's obvious that books@ is something of an interactive and dynamic book shop. Firstly, there's the campaign, for which they garnered the support of Melvyn Bragg for the launch. They've also attracted other big names for events: the prolific children's book writer Jacqueline Wilson; Kate Adie; Sheila Hancock and crime fiction writer Martina Cole. Their "Meet the Author" season continues on July 11th with Anna Massey talking about her new autobiography "Telling Some Tales" and a late November sheduling for Alan Titchmarsh talking about his childhood memoir "Nobbut a Lad".
In addition, their site notes that "We are always very keen to collaborate with local clubs, societies and arts organisations as well as educational institutions to arrange joint events and other initiatives. We have already worked very productively with BArts, Broxbourne Leisure Services and the Hoddesdon branch of Hertfordshire County Library Service".
The residents of Hoddesdon must be very pleased to have such a book shop on their doorstep.
All the best to books@hoddesdon !
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