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Bookshops and publishers are gearing up for the influx of thousands of sports lovers for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, running from 27th July to 9th September. But some booksellers are already reporting problems with road closures, parking restrictions and delivery delays.
More than £100,000 was spent on Olympic-themed books at UK shops in the weekend ending 30th June, with volume sales topping 15,000, according to Nielsen BookScan data. The Booksellers Association has designed Olympic-themed POS for independents [pictured], while Salvatore Rubbino, author of A Walk in London (Walker), has designed a series of Reading London posters for Foyles to display during the Games.
Waterstones will take advantage of extended Sunday trading hours in selected shops, such as its Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square branches, as will Foyles and W H Smith. Farah Taylor, manager of Watermark at Kings Cross Station, said she expected a sales boost from travelling customers.
Some London shops, however, are reporting a negative impact from parking restrictions and road closures. Joanna de Guia, owner of Victoria Park Books, said parking notices put up outside her shop in May telling customers that the road is “business visitor parking only” had caused her to lose 20% of sales year on year. De Guia said: “We pay our business rates and expected Hackney Council to fight our corner and help us protect our business, but they haven’t: 20% is a significant amount to lose. We’re being told the Olympics will increase footfall, but I’m not sure it will.”
David Dawkins, manager of Pages of Hackney, said deliveries from Bertrams via courier Yodel had been “at least a day late for two weeks”, and booksellers have been told to expect more delays. An email sent to booksellers from Bertrams said Yodel deliveries in the areas serviced by their Enfield and Vauxhall depots would experience the most disruption, including up to three days delivery time and “ad hoc collections” until 15th September. Dawkins said: “We are constantly being told the Olympics is going to be great for us, but it won’t be if we don’t get our books in on time.”
The Westfield shopping centre in Stratford closed its carpark on 18th June and remains shut until 10th September, but Foyles head of marketing Miriam Robinson said she was “not concerned” because the centre will be packed anyway.
Hachette Distribution said it had been communicating with its client publishers for months, putting in place plans to deal with the restrictions and disruptions the games will cause. Mark Williams, m.d. for Random House Distribution, said customers should endeavour to order early.
Publishers are also advising staff to be prepared for travel disruption. Guidance from Hachette states: “For some people that might mean working different hours from normal, perhaps starting earlier or ending later to meet the needs of the business.” Random House Group human resources director Neil Morrison said staff had been advised to allow more travel time for meetings and author tours.