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South London's Bookshop on the Heath and Castle Hill Bookshop in Richmond, North Yorkshire, are among six independents currently up for sale.
The Bookshop on the Heath—price tag £100,000—has been trading from the same site in London’s Blackheath since 1949. Owners Richard and Jasmine Platt are now poised to move to Leicestershire. Richard Platt said the shop had developed a steady annual turnover of £200k-250k with a consistent 40% net margin. He said: “It would be lovely to think that the long tradition of bookselling could be continued by someone who shares our passion for offering fine books, maps and posters with friendly, personal service. The buying here is exceptionally good and there is also the opportunity to develop web sales and new books—areas which we have barely touched upon.”
Castle Hill Bookshop owner Anne Wicks plans to retire after 35 years of running the Richmond shop. Her outlet, on sale for £95,000, is described as "thriving", with a "loyal" customer base, with an annual turnover of £173,000 and a net profit of nearly £22,000 a year.
Meanwhile in Dorset’s Bridport The Book Shop is up for sale along with its website featuring a ‘click and collect’ service (asking price £29,500). The Book Shop has a turnover of £101,000 according to website businessesforsale.com. The shop’s owners are also retiring.
The Bookshelf in Saltash, Cornwall, is for sale alongside its café (£55,000) and records an annual turnover of £160,000 through both its business strands.
Also listed on the website are a Surrey independent (£37,000), and a book and card shop (£40,000).