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Stocking non-book products helped boost sales for many independent booksellers over the Christmas period.
Of the 52 booksellers who took part in The Bookseller's independent booksellers' Christmas trading survey, 28 (53%) reported that they sold items other than books, with toys, stationery and greetings cards among the products added to the retail mix.
Patrick Booth (pictured), of Plackitt & Booth in Lytham, Lancashire, said his stock of toys—“everything from 80p bouncy eggs to £100 scooters”—sold “really well”.
Ginny Walters of the Wivenhoe Bookshop, Colchester, had success with toys, but her bestseller was an exclusive product with local appeal. “We’ve produced a tea towel of the town designed by a friend who is a caricaturist,” she said. “Everyone wants one for Christmas. It’s unique to us and we’ve done really well.” Paul Sweetman of City Books in Hove also found that a local board game, BN1, fared well among customers: “It cost £40 and we sold out.”
Some indies found that the extra products helped make up for disappointing book sales. Bev Tankard, of the Bargain Bookshop in Chingford, said: “Jigsaws have been our saving grace.” Many planned to expand their range of non-book items, with Sheila O’Reilly of Dulwich Books said: “Our non-book product was very successful and we are planning to continue our growth in this area.”
In contrast, Peter Donaldson of Red Lion Books in Colchester reduced his range of non-book products. He said he wanted the shop to be “a celebration of the very best of printed books”. But Matthew Clarke, of the Torbay Bookshop in Paignton, was sceptical about the future of the traditional bookshop. Clarke said: “Over a period of time, there’s been a complete sea change. The day of the bookshop has gone, the day of the shop that sells books and other things will continue.”