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Academic and specialist bookseller John Smith & Son is bucking the recessionary trend with the opening of two new campus branches, including taking over a former Waterstone’s premises at the University of Southampton. It will also relocate a current store.
The Southampton shop will be managed by Tony Newson, who also retains his overall responsibilities for online and e-books, and will open on 24th August.
In September, John Smith's will also open a bookshop at the University of Chester on the site of the former Bookland branch, which closed in 2008. The new business will be managed by Nick Price. The bookseller is also relocating its shop at the University of Glasgow, where John Smith's has been the campus bookseller for 40 years. The flagship store will continue to be managed by Ian Merry.
Peter Gray, chairman and chief executive, said he was “delighted” at the expansion. “Like everyone else, our business is clearly operating in a tough economic climate and there is also no doubt that campus bookselling is facing particular challenges,” he said. “Nonetheless, we take the view that these investments are a further demonstration of our ongoing commitment to the sector and, additionally, we are currently engaged in active discussions with a number of other universities and may announce further openings before the start of the new academic year.
“Our campus division is already in full swing preparing for the Back to University campaign in September and we are confident that, working in close partnership with our host institutions, we can continue to develop innovative solutions to improve our offer and grow our campus sales as the student & academic market continues to evolve.”