Thursday, March 2, 2017

Bookshops in the News.

I've been a bit quiet here, mostly because when I've not been at work or asleep I've been preparing book reviews for other places. I'm sure there used to be more hours in the day...

Meanwhile it's been a week with a couple of interesting stories about bookshops in the news, both of which have got me thinking. There's Susan Hill's odd spat with The Book Hive in Norwich (her Spectator article is Here, a Guardian article about it Here, and the bookshops response is Here). If you've missed this, it seems like Susan Hill pulled out of a bookshop event, her PR people saying it was for undisclosed personal reasons, meanwhile she wrote an article about it saying her decision was based on what she perceived as censorship, and anti Trump politics, on the part of the bookshop (they've been handing out copies of 1984 and The Handmaids Tale which had been provided by a local book group). In turn The Book Hive came forward to basically say that's us, and what the hell?

I find it interesting not so much for Hill's accusations, though I do think they're odd, but for her idea of what a bookshop, and especially an independent bookshops should be. In this case, "To my mind, a bookshop is like a library — the only difference is that you buy the books, you don’t borrow them. But both have a duty to provide books (space and budgets allowing) reflecting a wide range — as wide as possible — of interests, reading tastes, subjects and points of view. Walk into one of either and there are the thoughts and feelings, beliefs and dreams and creations and discoveries of many men and women, and that is part of their never-ending excitement." 

Assuming she actually means that, you have to ask why she thinks a bookshop should be like a library. Bookshops exist to sell books, if they don't sell enough books they won't exist for very long, but what do they really have a duty to provide? If it's anything at all I'd be inclined to say it's enthusiasm for the stock they choose to sell, and that's about it. 

The other story floating around concerns Waterstones and their 'secret' shops; three branches that have been opened in picturesque small towns that look and behave like independents (more Here.) I haven't visited one any of them, though if I get the chance I will. The one in Southwold is called Southwold books, there is a sign in the window that indicates they are part of the Waterstones chain, but it's not clear to me if they run the same offers or if it works rather more like Hatchards with different offers and no loyalty card cross over (I do love my Waterstones loyalty card, which has been extremely effective in keeping me loyal). 

Essentially this is another storm in a tea cup. Waterstones staff may view this differently (retail jobs are hard work and not generally as well paid as they probably should be) but I'm not aware of them being a big corporate monster. Talk of them having an unfair advantage when it gives to the imminent rise in business rates sounds like nonsense to me as well. Yes, they might have the money behind them to pay the higher bills, but my experience of bigger companies is that they can afford to, and will, walk away if the profit margin isn't there. Independent's tread a finer line and don't always have the luxury of doing that. But again it does raise the question of what a bookshop, and a high street, should look like.

If Waterstones are finding that small shops in small towns are working for them that's interesting. I'm assuming that these 3 branches are moving even further away from discounting than the branded stores are, and I think that's good news too. We're lucky in this country that books are relatively cheap, but they also represent a lot of work by a number of people all of who need to make a living, deep discounting doesn't really do anybody any favours, not even the customer if it means that all we get are the sure bets that can be relied on to shift a massive number of units at rock bottom price. 

My local Waterstones is quite small, it's something that often frustrates me when I want to browse - Nottingham is the closest really big branch - so this has made me wonder how I'd feel about it if it wasn't branded. The answer is probably more positive, rather than thinking wistfully of what other branches have I'd probably be more focused on the really excellent staff and the very good service they provide. It's something to remember next time I go in. 

12 comments:

  1. I have a Waterstone's loyalty card somewhere from when I could walk properly but I haven't seen it for some time. I like the idea of secret bookshops though - take your own specially embroidered silk cushion.

    I lived in Sweden in 1970 and had not taken any books with me [fool that I was] and had to save up enough Kroner to buy the only English book in the shop - D H Lawrence, Sons and Lovers. What a boring read for a twenty year old female motorcycling art student!

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    1. I've never liked D H Lawrence, so can imagine how bad that must have been. A friend found herself in Russia in the '90's with nothing but the Forsyte Saga to read - I think she enjoyed it rather more than you did Sons and Lovers!

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  2. I hadn't heard anything about this, so thanks for posting it.

    A quote from Hill from the article: “Of all places, a bookshop (like a library) should never ever indulge in that. There are exceptions, of course. I would be most unhappy to see a shelf devoted to books promoting paedophilia as A Good Thing, nor anything erotic beyond the legally acceptable. There may be other exceptions but, essentially, censorship is unacceptable,” she wrote..."

    So, I guess censorship is unacceptable unless it's the kind she approves of? Can't say I think much of that particular reasoning. She really sounds foolish there.

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    1. It's an odd article in all sorts of ways, im not sure why books that were already classics are being described as anti Trump either. Censorship is a word that's definitely thrown around to casually as well, especially in an age when so very many books are available with a click.

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  3. I am lucky enough to live in a small town with 2 indie bookshops that survive through choosing their stock carefully and having that enthusiasm. I saw Hill at an author event at one of them and didn't warm to her much. I've only heard good things about the Book Hive, wish it had been there when I lived in Norwich many yrs ago.

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    1. I don't know much about the Book Hive beyond what their website tells me, but they're clearly an active part of both the book, and their own, community which is all to the good. I'm not much of a Hill fan, so don't know if this is out of character for her or not, I'm guessing that she wanted to stir the pot for a bit of publicity and simply misjudged it.

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  4. I'm slightly bemused by the secret Waterstone's thing. Would anybody refuse to enter one of them if it actually had Waterstone's written on the front? And in Southwold at least there is no existing bookshop, so it's not directly competing with anyone.

    I was disappointed by the whole Book Hive row. If indeed what the shop claims is true then Susan Hill hasn't behaved terribly wisely or well this time, though it doesn't detract from her skill as a writer.

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    1. As far as I can tell the Waterstones branches weren't particularly meant to be secret, just not branded - everybody locally seemed to know who they were. It sounds like they wanted the freedom to try something different whilst fitting into their surroundings which I guess is fair enough. As someone who occasionally daydreams about opening a gin shop I actually find the whole thing really encouraging.

      As for the Hill article and ensuing row - I don't want to take much of what she said particularly seriously especially as she's keen to distance herself from it now, but as a retailer I do find people's expectations of what shops are, or should provide, really interesting. In this case she wouldn't be the first (or last) customer to believe that a shop is there to provide a public service, and not primarily to provide the retailer and their suppliers with a way to make a living.

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  5. I thought the Susan Hill spat was most odd, but it can't be good for the sales of her new book! I think the whole independent=good, corporate=bad has got a bit out of hand now. If a small unbranded branch works that's fine!

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  6. I guess all publicity is good publicity as long as they get the name right?

    In the wine trade I've worked for medium sized specialist chains, very small independents, and big multiple grocers. The best experience by a mile was working for Oddbins (the medium sized specialist chain). It wasn't all great but there was room for individual personalities in each shop, so each shop had an individual feel. One of the most miserable years of my life was working for one particular independent, which was very individual but entirely in the mould of the owner. It turned out to be even more rigid and stifling than working for a big chain, and ended badly.

    From where I stand I like bricks and mortar shops, if they pay their taxes and treat their staff with respect I'm basically good with it. theres room for chains and independents and I think what Waterstones are trying out here really demonstrates that albeit in a slightly roundabout way.

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  7. I didn't realize that George Orwell's 1984 was anti-Trump or that people in the UK cared one way or the other about our President!

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    1. Our newspapers are full of Trump, there's no escape! He's been quite controversial (more controversial?) here ever since he built a golf course in Aberdeenshire, which wasn't universally popular or scandal free. As for George Orwell - I couldn't agree more.

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