News: retail

Bookseller Covid-19 crowdfunder backed by PRH and BA

A crowdfunder set up by the trade to raise money for booksellers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic has increased its target to £100,000 after Penguin... Read more

Charlie Mackesy designs 2020 BAMB bag

Author and illustrator Charlie Mackesy is this year’s collaborator on the Books Are My Bag limited edition bag, which will be available exclusively in bookshops... Read more

Innovative indies find online silver lining as coronavirus closes stores

Indie bookshops are focusing on online sales and coming up with innovative ideas for business after the coronavirus crisis forced physical stores to close.... Read more

Bookspeed and Baker & Taylor close warehouses but Gardners stays open

Edinburgh-based wholsesaler Bookspeed has closed its business during the coronavirus pandemic while Baker & Taylor has closed its Bicester facility for everything other than “urgent... Read more

W H Smith closes 60% of stores as Johnson shuts shops and libraries

W H Smith has closed around 60% of its shops after the Prime Minister ordered non-essential stores to shut owing to the coronavirus outbreak. Read more

Trade trio launches £10,000 crowdfunder for booksellers hit by Covid-19 crisis

Three members of the trade have launched a £10,000 crowdfunder raising money for hardship grants to help booksellers hit by the coronavirus crisis. Read more

Coronavirus live updates: W H Smith closes 60% of shops, Bookspeed closes

W H Smith has closed 60% of its shops today (Tuesday 24th March), following new government advice shutting libraries and all "non-essential" shops. Wholesaler Bookspeed... Read more

Amazon suspends third-party seller book shipments to warehouses

Amazon has temporarily paused accepting shipments from third-party sellers to its warehouses for products including books owing to the coronavirus outbreak. Read more

Booksellers call for clarity from Johnson as coronavirus hits business

Booksellers have called for clarity from Boris Johnson’s government as measures to tackle the coronavirus outbreak hit the high street. Read more

'It's time to pull together', BA urges trade to support high street bookselling

The Booksellers Association is calling on customers and the trade to rally behind retailers and support bookshops, as the coronavirus outbreak hits the high street. ... Read more

Foyles launches first library in retirement home

Foyles has launched its first specially curated library in a retirement home, as part of its partnership with property developer Elysian. Read more

OUP over the Moon for Muncaster's new series

Oxford University Press (OUP) has snapped up another series by bestselling Isadora Moon creator Harriet Muncaster. Read more

Walker bags sleep guide for teens from Nicola Morgan

Walker Books has signed a sleep guide for teenagers by wellbeing author Nicola Morgan. Read more

W H Smith issues £40m profit warning as coronavirus hits travel business

W H Smith has warned the impact of the coronavirus outbreak could cut its profit by up to £40m as the pandemic hits its Travel... Read more

Budget 2020: reading tax axed and business rates abolished for year

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has abolished VAT on e-books, dubbed the “reading tax”, alongside halting business rates on small businesses for a year. Read more