Bookstore Guide

Ark Books, Copenhagen

2017-06-23T16:10:00.002+02:00

Where? Copenhagen, Denmark

Recommended by Franciszek K.

Franciszek said: "We sell exclusively books published in English (we have some second hand German and French texts too, but this is just an addition), mostly fiction from all over the world, but also poetry and a bit of theory. Apart from being a shop, we also run a monthly podcast and an internet Review, where we publish texts on literature twice a week. You can see our efforts on arkbooks.dk, including all the fronts we are active on, together with a section on the history of the shop."

Ark Books is a small and cosy place and function non-profit, where everyone is a volunteers there, of different backgrounds, united by the love of literature. They always have their door open and coffee for anyone who wants to step in, relax on the sofa, browse through the shelves or just have a little chat. The people at Ark Books also run various literary events, depending on the spare time. You can read their full story HERE.

Ark Books is the home of the best stories you've never heard.

ArkBooks
Address: Møllegade 10
2200 København N

Website: arkbooks.dk

Email: info@arkbooks.dk

Working Hours:
Mon-Fri 12-19
Sat 10-18

Eleven Books & Coffee, Bratislava

2016-04-10T20:13:00.003+02:00

Where? Bratislava, Slovakia

[PERMANENTLY CLOSED]

This entry has a special significance for us because in a way it represents the culmination of all our bookish trips, the visited bookstores, all the places and people that inspired us during the time we've spent traveling around Europe and working on this Guide. It's the thing we've always dreamed of and we've finally found the courage to make it happen. We are finally able to add our own brick-and-mortar bookstore (opened in February 2016) to Bookstore Guide.

Eleven Books & Coffee was opened as a continuation of our online secondhand English bookstore (launched in 2011) another step on a journey started way before Bookstore Guide saw the light of day in 2007. The stock comprises of carefully selected English fiction and non-fiction, with the regular categories such as contemporary fiction, classics, historical novels and in the non-fiction realm business, philosophy, history, psychology, biographies, travel, etc.). Recently, we have also added a smaller German language book section, with more international languages to follow in the near future. The cozy bookstore is also a cafe with freshly roasted coffee, a careful selection of teas, lemonades, cakes (mostly vegan) so you could sit down with an interesting book and lose yourself while nurturing all your senses. We are planning to prolong the opening hours in the upcoming months in order to add another temptation to the offer - wine.

The bookstore itself was located in a narrow cobblestone street in the very center of Bratislava, yet sheltered from all the hubbub of Michalska street, which is adjacent. We hope to enjoy this experience as much as possible and try out all the ideas born during our bookstore-hunting trips.

Eleven Books & Coffee
Address:
Baštová 9
811 03 Bratislava

Website: https://www.elevenbooks.sk

Phone and Email:
0948 824 811
info@11th.sk

Ottimomassimo, Rome

2016-03-13T18:32:00.002+01:00

Where? Rome, Italy

Recommended by Deborah Soria

In 2006, Ottimomassimo was solely a traveling bookstore - you know, those cool little bookshops on wheels, traveling around the country reading and telling stories to kids. Throughout the years, they reached out to over 20.000 children, promoting reading and literacy. And they must have left a good impression because in December 2014, Ottimomassimo became a real brick-and-mortar store, a children's bookshop. But not only a bookshop but also a place that promotes creativity through art and activities.

The store stocks a vast range of illustrated quality books, and also maps and guidebooks on Rome for kids in English. They also have a DVD rental service for tourists. The activities are suitable for children 3 do 12, a perfect stop for families.

Ottimomassimo
Address:
Manara 16/17
00153 Roma

Website: http://www.ottimomassimo.eu/

Phone and Email: 06 9021 5070
stabile@ottimomassimo.eu

Working Hours:
Mon 14-15:30
Tue-Sat 10-19:30
Sun 10:30-13 16:19:30

David's Bookshop, Cambridge

2016-02-21T21:12:00.000+01:00

Where? Cambridge, England

Recommended by Brian

Established in the 19th century, yes, that's right, all the way back in 1896 by Gustave David (or GDavid), this bookstore is still an independent business. It specializes in antiquarian, second-hand and remaindered books, maps and prints, as well as engravings in many subjects. They also buy used books.

The store is located in somewhat a 'hidden' passage that goes by the name of St. Eward. It is situated very close to the Market Square and King's College Chapel, so do not despair. Rather ask a local if you cannot find it.

David's Bookshop
16 St. Edward's Passage
Cambridge

Website: http://www.davidsbookshop.co.uk

Phone and Email: +44 1223 354619

Working Hours:
Mon-Sat 9-5

Arkadia International Bookshop, Helsinki

2015-09-22T20:45:00.000+02:00

Where? Helsinki, Finland

Visited in August 2015

The Arkadia International Bookshop was founded in 2008 by Ian and Liisa Bourgeot. We had a chance to visit the bookstore in the summer of 2015 and it was obvious that during its 7 years of existence Arkadia has become a stable and appreciated part of the local neighborhood and community. The word "international" in its name is not there just to impress. The vast majority of the books Arkadia stocks is in English, but there are also well-stocked sections with titles in Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Russian, or Swedish. Considering the costs of living in Helsinki, we were also very pleasantly surprised by the prices of the books.

The premises of the bookstore are a perfect fit. The main room on the ground floor has a spatious and inviting atmosphere. However, as every proper secondhand bookstore, Arkadia also has its mysterious hidden part. After descending downstairs, you can lose yourselves in a bookish den of interconnected rooms all lined with overflowing shelves. We were so enchanted by this bookstore that we also decided to talk to its owners, so don't miss this short interview.

Arkadia also hosts a wide range of other interesting events making full use of its wonderful premises, such as concerts, discussions, readings, exhibitions, and more.

Arkadia International Bookshop
Address:
Nervanderinkatu 11
00100 Helsinki
Finland

Website: www.arkadiabookshop.fi

Phone and Email:
+358 40 5327296
ian.bourgeot@arkadiabookshop.fi
liisa.bourgeot@arkadiabookshop.fi

Working Hours:
Tue–Fri 12–19
Sat 10–18

Curious Fox, Berlin

2015-05-11T21:14:00.002+02:00

Where? Berlin, Germany

Recommended by: David

Curious Fox was founded by Orla and David, both originally from Ireland. Besides their passion for books they also appreciate a decent cup of tea. Curious Fox was opened in November 2013 and it has found its perfect home in the Flughafenstrasse of Berlin Neukölln. In its rather short existence it has already managed to establish itself not just for its literary taste but also as an evening hangout spot for all sorts of literary aficionados. Their most popular evening event is a poetry reading session entitled “Isn't Everything Poetry?” which features readings by guest poets as well as an open mic section open to any aspiring poet who shows up. They also organize regular quiz nights, or a bring-your-own vinyl evening called “Guinness, Books & Records”.

The stock consists of new and used books in English, they also carry stationery and book related accessories. The offer is not specialized in any particular genre or subject and its variety should satisfy avid bestseller readers as well as those looking for hard to get and lesser known bookish gems. And if your browsing takes a while, you can also enjoy a mug of freshly ground coffee or a cup of tea and cookies.

Curious Fox
Address: Flughafenstr. 22
12053 Berlin

Website: www.curiousfox.de

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CuriousFoxBerlin/

Phone and Email:
+49(0)30 52664791
info@curiousfoxbooks.com

Working Hours:
Mon-Fri 10-19
Sat 10-18

Desperate Literature, Madrid

2015-05-03T21:06:00.002+02:00

Where? Madrid, Spain

Recommended by: Craig

Craig said: "Desperate Literature is a new International bookshop in Madrid, Spain and it is located in the space that used to be Petra's Book Store, which I believe had also been listed on your site.

Along with the very best collection of used English books in the city, the shop also carries a large selection of quality books in Spanish, French and a variety of other languages. With a focus on fiction, poetry, noir, sci-fi and belles-lettres, the store also maintains sections (in our three major languages) in philosophy, history, art, science, sociology, film, music and eastern religion. Of course, we also have a children’s section for young readers looking to further explore their mother tongue or learn a new one.

Desperate Literature strives to be a space where good literature serves as a vehicle for dynamic cultural, linguistic and social exchange between Madrilenos, extranjeros and travellers from around the world. In this spirit we look forward to hosting readings, meetings, gallery shows, lectures, and more."

Desperate Literature is a joint project between Craig Walzer of Atlantis Books in Santorini, GRE and Corey Eastwood, the owner of Book Thug Nation and Human Relations in Brooklyn, USA. How cool, right? Make sure you pay a visit if in Madrid. Oh, and they're closed during the siesta :-)

Desperate Literature
C/Campomanes, 13
Madrid

Website: http://desperateliterature.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/desperateliteraturemadrid

Phone and Email:
hello@desperateliterature.com
+34 911 88 80 89.
Working Hours:
Daily 10:30-14:30
and 17:30-22:30

Dekker van de Vegt, Nijmegen

2014-09-29T21:42:00.003+02:00

Where? Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Recommended by Anne

Anne said: "I came across your excellent website today, and naturally I checked out the post on the city I live in, Nijmegen. To my surprise, there was no entry with my favorite bookstore in Nijmegen, namely Dekker van de Vegt. This bookstore has been in Nijmegen for decades, and has been located in the Marikenstraat since 2000. In 2013, the store chains Selexyz (of which this store was a part) and De Slegte (a chain of secondhand bookshops in The Netherlands and Belgium) fused and became Polare. 24 February 2014, Polare went bankrupt, and every separate store in the Netherlands tried to become an independent bookstore again. Some stores have had to close up, others were taken over by other bookstores, and others (among which was the bookstore in Nijmegen) were able to start over through crowdfunding.

In less than a week, they were able to achieve their goal of 150.000 euros. On April 1st 2014 they reopened, this time as the independent Nijmegen bookstore "Dekker van de Vegt", returning to its original name. Although it has had different names because of the fusions in the past, most people in this area have never stopped calling the store by this name. Being free from the pressure of being in a chain of bookstores, they were now able to focus on what they felt was important. The store is large, with an open and modern look, which encourages you to wander slowly through the whole store. The staff is friendly, but not pushy, it looks nice, inviting and open, and has a very wide selection. It has many different sorts of books: Dutch literature, crime, fantasy etc, travel books, English literature, English crime, English fantasy, study books of all kinds (Nijmegen is a university city after all), cook books, crafts books, sports books, books on art and photography, children's books, comic books - you name it, and they have it. Moreover, in the back of the store, they've got secondhand books, in all the aforementioned sections. In the back of the store, there is also a coffee corner.

Also, for a tourist or visitor of Nijmegen, this is definitely the best book store to go to. The section with English-language fiction and non-fiction is relatively large: they are always well stocked on classics as well as the newest books."

Dekker van de Vegt
Address: Marikenstraat 29
6511 PX Nijmegen

Website: http://www.dekkervdvegt.nl

Phone and Email:
+31 24 302 0130
info@dekkervdvegt.nl
Working Hours:
Mon 11-18
Tue-Wed 9:30-18
Thu 9:30-21
Fri-Sat 9:30-18

Offside Books, Madrid

2014-05-06T10:32:00.001+02:00

Where? Madrid, Spain

Recommended by Mark Nessfield

Mark said: "Offside Madrid, a new international bookshop has recently opened in central Madrid near Plaza Santo Domingo. The bookshop's specialisation is in history, crime, football, and politics. So if you're into books on La Liga, or want to find out more on the Spanish civil war, or even pick up books on international crime, then head for Offside Books in Madrid."

Offside Books (a.k.a. Offside Libreria) is a new international bookstore in Madrid, opened six days a week (Mon-Sat). You can find it close to plaza Santo Domingo, a few minutes away from Plaza de Espana, the royal Palace and metro Opera. It's is owned by an Englishman that goes by the name of Mark.
The bookstore specializes in football (yes, you've read it correctly, after all, the owner is British), crime, history and politics. Both new and used (bargains starting with as low as one euro), mostly English but also Spanish and German. Furthermore, there is a wide range in crime/thrillers we have a selection of modern classics (eg Orwell and Hemingway), posters and political-themed books. You can also trade books.

Offside Books
Address: Calle Torija 8
Madrid 28013

Website: http://www.offsidemadrid.com/

Phone and Email:
918051585
email via form on website

Working Hours:
Mon-Sat 11-21

The Albion Beatnik, Oxford

2013-12-18T21:56:00.001+01:00

Where? Oxford, England, UK

Recommeded by Mariela

Mariela said: "The reason I am writing is the my other beloved bookshop, Albion Beatnik from Oxford, one of the few places where you can find such a good selection of books, including European and international writers (all in English). Nice jazz music and a good cup of tea may help people decide what they want to buy. It opens at 11 and I never know when it closes but there are jazz concerts or poetry readings quite often in the evening.

I hope you come and see it for yourself one day. This is a real bookshop. It could serve as a synonym to bookshop in the Oxford dictionary."

Every once in a while, a recommendation like this leaves us with a smile on our faces. It is nice to see how one person can love a bookstore and this feeling is certainly familiar with many of us, who consider ourselves books(tore) fanatics.

The Albion Beatnik is an independent bookshop located in Jericho, Oxford. The bookstore/cafe offers a diverse collection of titles ranging from American pulp, film theory, jazz (which usually accompanies your audio experience in the store) to Beatnik poetry and other counter-culture stuff. It also offers tea, coffee and cake.

The Albion Beatnik also regularly hosts many concerts, poetry readings, talks and debates. Apparently, there's even a basement where bands rehears and reading groups meet. The bookstore also has an anti-wifi policy, so don't expect you laptop to connect to anything.

Albion Beatnik Bookstore
34 Walton Street
OX2 6AU Oxford

Website: http://albionbeatnikbookstore.blogspot.co.uk/

Phone and Email:
07737 876213
albionbeatnik@yahoo.co.uk

Working Hours:
Mon-Tue: 11-20
Wed-Sat: 11-23
Sun: 14-17

View Albion Beartnik in a larger map

Back to the list of bookstores in Oxford

De Dry Coppen, Leuven

2013-11-26T14:00:00.000+01:00

Where? Leuven, Belgium

Recommended by An Wouters

An said: "Can I add one great store in Belgium, Leuven? It is called De Dry Coppen, and is situated in a charming historic building in a narrow, cobbled street of Leuven, the University City of the Flemish part of Belgium. It is quite and cozy there and you can sip a cup of coffee or drink a glass of wine, while reading the newspaper, your newest book or lingering by the bookshelves, full of classics or new books. Check it out for yourself, if one day you will visit Belgium.

Ed and Katlijne are the owners, they seem to have read every book and can give you all the advice you need. We are enthusiastic booklovers, and “de Dry Coppen” is our weekly rendez-vous."

De Dry Coppen is situated in one of the side streets in the center of Leuven, near the main shopping street. It mostly stocks books in Dutch but English language books are not foreign here. The city of Leuven has quite a large number of foreign students who also love to browse here.

Praised not only for books but also their coffee (make sure you try their double Mexican espresso, which seems to be the most popular choice of most of the bookstore's visitors), De Dry Coppen is one of those bookstores where you can just simply relax, sit at a table, browse through books before buying them or simply sit in the relaxed atmosphere of this book heaven. In the summer, tables are put outside so you can enjoy your drink basking in the sun. This perfect fusion that always works for us (i.e. bookstore and coffeshop) has certainly established a firm place within the community of young people and students of Leuven. Their Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/DeDryCoppen

De Dry Coppen
Address
Schrijnmakersstraat 11
3000 Leuven

Website: www.dedrycoppen.be

Phone and Email:
016 23 03 05
info@dedrycoppen.be

Working Hours:
Tue-Sat 10-19
Mon 14-19

View De Dry Coppen in a larger map Back to the list of bookstores in Leuven

Bildband,Berlin

2013-10-28T09:36:00.002+01:00

Where? Berlin, Germany

NB: The Bargain Bookshop is now BILDBAND BERLIN!!!
Recommended by Cheryl Gant

Cheryl said: "You should add this relatively new store to your list of stores in Berlin. Two locations now of Bargain art, design, cookbooks and children's books. The owner Max Erbe has had a very successful career selling art books to buyers around the world before moving back to Berlin to open his bookshop. Now he's open a second location as well."

The Bargain Book Shop started off as a pop-up store (for those who still haven't heard of such a concept, it's simple: a bookstore appears at a place for a while, usually the owner has a lease for a couple of weeks/months, and then it changes location). Luckily, if a location turns out to be a good one, the bookstore just might find its permanent place there. And this is exactly what happened to the Bargain Book Shop. What's more, it now has two locations in the German capital of Berlin (the main one in the neighborhood of Prenzlauer Berg, the other one near Kreuzberg). The store opened its doors in December 2011 and the owner Max Erbe definitely tries his best to offer the artsiest of the books at very affordable prices.

This post was about a bookstore which is no longer called The Bargain Book Shop. The new bookstore focuses solely on PHOTOGRAPHY and is called Bildband.

Bildband Berlin is a bookshop opened by Joe Dilworth and Thomas Gust in January 2015 to stock the best in photo books, and host photographic exhibitions from the books we love. We stock books from small independent publishers and the big publishing houses, everything from reissues of great classics from the past, to new self-published limited edition photo books. We sell prints and special editions, rare and signed books, as well as good quality reduced price books on photography, design, architecture and art.
Bildband

Address: Immanuelkirchstraße 30

10405 Berlin

Website: https://bildbandberlin.com/

Phone and Email:
030-47 377 014
bildbandberlin@gmail.com

Working Hours:
Mon-Fri 12-20
Sat 12-18

View Bargain Bookshop in a larger map

Back to the list of bookstores in Berlin, Germany

Elephant Bookstore, Sofia

2013-10-10T12:18:00.000+02:00

Where? Sofia, Bulgaria

Recommended by Kris from Sofia

Kris said: "Elephant Bookstore (no relation to Barcelona's Elephant Books, apparently - which I sadly never managed to visit) is a newly opened second-hand English bookstore in Sofia. Located in the arty Tea House, this small bookstore is charm itself. You have to go through the actual tea house, past the bar and into a blue corridor. And there it is: a single tiny room, overflowing with books and warmth. Immediately the urge to dive in is irresistible and you are almost always certain to come out with an unexpected treasure in your grasp. What it lacks in floor space it makes up in height, with books climbing and shoring up the ceiling itself. The books are strictly second-hand and strictly in English. This means that prices on offer are very friendly (generally between the 2-4 € range). Despite its humble size, the bookstore has admirable diversity, including some quality non-fiction and modern literature books, which are otherwise nearly impossible to find in Sofia (and even if you do, they would be at least three times the price)."

The services of The Elephant Bookstore are not limited to Sofia. They engage all their fans on their Facebook site and more importantly, also offer the possibility to order books online through their website, which are delivered all over Bulgaria at a very reasonable shipping price. The bookstore is run by two people, Max Breeds, an English expat in Bulgaria since 2005 and Antonia Tosheva, a local enthusiast of the English literature and language, which seems to be just the right combination. They opened The Elephant Bookstore in Sofia in December of 2011, after already having acquired some experience with running the first Elephant Bookstore in the town of Yablanitsa, 80 km east of Sofia. However, beware - they have moved to another location within Sofia in 2013. They are now located in Tsar Shishman street (see map below.)

Although this bookstore is far from huge, the stock of ca. 10 thousand books makes it the undisputed top source of books in English in Bulgaria and perhaps even beyond. The bookstore seems to fit perfectly within the Tea House and will surely make the visitors stay longer. Another advantage of this combination is the long working hours, so you can drop by after work for a cup of tea and some browsing without any rush. Judging by the enthusiastic online reactions a bookstore of this kind is what many people in Sofia have been longing for and the fact that The Elephant Bookstore provides a quality selection of titles in English at accessible prices in a very charming location proves that good things are really worth waiting for.

Address:
Elephant Bookstore
Tsar Shishman 31
Sofia 1000
Bulgaria

Website: http://elephantbookstore.com

Phone and Email:
Max +359 (0)885 902 913
Antonina +359 (0)887 607 471
Matt +359 (0)886 373 851
elephantbookshop@gmail.com

Working Hours:
Tue-Fri 12-21
Sat-Sun 11-20

View Elephant Bookstore in a larger map

Pile of Books, Zurich

2013-09-16T15:52:00.002+02:00

Where? Zurich, Switzerland

Recommended by Marc Vincenz

Pile of Books was opened in the autumn of 2007 by a Swiss native that goes by the name of Daniel Nurfer. Daniel was lucky enough to realize his dream of opening an independent English language bookstore of his own liking, and has been successful, together with the help of his supporting wife. Since then, they have established their place in Zurich's English speaking community.

The bookstore seems inconspicuous at first, tucked away in a lovely neighborhood, and although it appears small in size, it offers more than just a large selection of literary fiction, poetry, crime, classics as well as non-fiction books (music, art, history, travel, etc.). There is even a small section of secondhand books. Pile of Books is also a place to see various authors present their works and attend a small music concert of local and international artists (for the complete list of events, check out the bookstore's website). If you cannot find a book you are looking for, it will gladly be ordered for you. On the last note, please note the store's (irregularly regular) opening hours.

Pile of Books
Address: Zentralstrasse 16
CH-8003 Zürich

Website: http://pileofbooks.ch/

Phone and Email:
+41 (0)43 333 29 45
info@pileofbooks.ch

Working Hours:
Tue-Fri 10-13 and 15-19
Sat 10-17
Mon closed

View Pile of Books in a larger map

Back to the list of bookstores in Zurich.

Quay Books, Limerick

2013-05-31T20:04:00.001+02:00

Where? Limerick, Ireland

Recommended by Kathleen McMahon

Kathleen said: "This bookshop is actually a bookstall situated in the middle of the Arthur's Quay Shopping Centre, very close to the city centre. Expect to find the unusual and the offbeat. You will find some wonderful cheap imports, especially some beautiful American editions of poetry and short classics. You will also find a selection of local publications dealing with the history and the life of Limerick city.

The staff are very friendly. Someone remarked on another site, "the lady who works there is such a dote, you'd want to take her home with you." This is true: as their Facebook page says, this is a "bookstore/stall with a lovingly selected book-stock at great prices for you.""

The book stall is adjacent to the Tesco checkout counters in the shopping center, but even if you are not in Limerick for the purpose of buying groceries, do pay them a visit for you will certainly find some unusual and interesting books. It is one of the smallest independent bookstores to be added to Bookstore Guide and it demonstrates a different approach but underlines the ability of independent booksellers to adapt and use every opportunity to survive and continue doing what they love. In the case of Quay Books this means bringing their books where most eyes can see them, bringing quality literature to Tesco.

Quay Books
Address:

Patrick Street
Arthur's Quay Shopping Center
Limerick

Website: https://www.facebook.com/Quaybookslimerick

Phone:
+353 86 156 3034

Working Hours:
Mon-Sat 10-18

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The Story Behind Books and Records

2013-05-12T18:13:00.002+02:00

In 2009 we started a series of articles (mostly by guest bloggers) entitled "An Insight into the Current State of Independent Bookselling". We've decided to follow up with several interviews with people from different countries involved in various sectors of the bookselling business (booksellers, publishers, authors etc.). It is with great pleasure that we introduce the first of these interviews with Bob Evans, the owner of Books and Records.

---

Could you briefly introduce yourself and your online shop Books and Records?

My name is Bob Evans, based in Wiltshire in the south west of England, and I own and manage an online store specialising in used hardback books and vinyl records.

How did the idea of Books and Records come up and how long did it take you to turn the idea into an actual shop?

Since the late 1990’s I had been trying to get a small business off the ground. I tried selling How-To reports by mail order and had some moderate success but found the niche to be overcrowded with other sellers all promoting similar products so I changed my focus to building web sites for other people, but that again was an area that was a bit swamped and there was only so much I could do – my skills were somewhat limited. I more or less stumbled on the idea to start selling books and then later I added vinyl records to the inventory. Neither niche seemed too crowded, so I made a start. My wife helped with site building and adding products. We launched in April 2008 and it has steadily developed since then.

How did you come up with such a unique combination of products that you offer?

This is an easy one to answer – I love books and I love vinyl records. I wanted to start a business selling tangible products as opposed to digital stuff and as I had a keen interest in both books and records, it seemed an obvious choice to start selling them.

What were your biggest fears when launching this online project? Have any of them materialized?

My biggest fear, I suppose, was that I couldn’t hope to compete with the likes of Amazon, Abebooks and Alibris and that my little online store would be swamped and outranked in the search engines. But I was wrong. I quickly realized that the internet is set up in such a way that the little guy can not only compete with the big guns, but can also outperform them. It is not difficult to rank well in the search engines, no matter what a lot of so-called gurus tell you. It really is all down to content, and how often you update your site.

Have you had any prior experience from the bookselling business?

No, none at all. In fact I did not even know how to identify a first edition, or which authors were collectable, or anything beyond the fact that I could never walk past a bookshop without going in.

How big is the team behind Books and Records?

Technically, it’s just me – I’m a sole trader, but my wife has had a large input in terms of preparing product listings and also had a hand in the design of the site.

How have the site and the whole project developed and changed over the years?

The basic structure of the site has remained unchanged since the beginning. I have added new categories, and of course new products on a regular basis, and most recently I added the Customer Review system, Trust Certificate and Buyer Protection function to bring the site up to full compliance with data protection and other legal requirements. This is great for the buyer, as it offers them a money-back guarantee that is overseen by an independent company – Trusted Shops. I have also added an extension to the main site for other sellers who might be interested in listing their own products. It’s kind of at the development stage, but once I have ironed out a few creases, it’s something I’d like to promote a bit more heavily and see where it leads.

The usual problem with this type of business is the discrepancy between the time and effort invested by the founder(s) and the financial outcome. Many people either give up after some time or focus more on their ‘real’ job while keeping their side-project running as their hobby. Where do you stand in this struggle?

This is an excellent question! I think that in general people either give up too easily or struggle to maintain focus on any one business project. I had the same problem when I first started out. I wanted to be the next internet marketing guru. I soon found out that it wasn’t going to be easy. There were almost as many people promoting their new ebook as there were customers to buy them – and unfortunately, a lot of the material was old-hat. I lost interest and focus, and pulled out of the niche, but still wanted to try and make a go of something. I had a full time job at the time, so any income I earned from the business was invested mainly in new stock. I’m not quite at the stage where I can earn a living from it but perhaps if I concentrated more on advertising in other areas it might lead to a more solid income, who knows?
To date, almost all of the traffic to the site comes through the search engines, predominantly from Google and Bing. I have to say that I’m a bit reluctant to spend money on advertising. It’s so hit and miss. You can have all the traffic you want, but if they’re not interested in your product, they won’t buy.
But to answer the second part of your question – giving up a full time job in pursuit of financial independence through an online (or for that matter offline) business takes a lot of courage. For anyone wanting to take the plunge I would say: do your research first. Identify a niche you are comfortable with. Find a platform from which you can sell your product(s) – after a great deal of research I went with a free shopping cart called Storesprite, which serves my purpose extremely well. I would say give it at least a year before you make any decision to quit regular employment. It may even take five years to get to that stage. It really depends on a number of factors – how much effort you put into it, whether there is enough demand for the products (or services) you are offering and whether there is a vibrant market.

“Competition“ is always an easy-to-use argument and can even be an excuse not to risk it with your own project. In the book business, the question it all melts down to is “What can you do better than Amazon?“. So how can small businesses like yours compete and survive in a market controlled by big players? What specifically has worked for Books and Records?

Another excellent question! Books and Records has survived, I think, mainly because of the effort I put in right at the very beginning of the project, when I made sure that at least one new item was listed every day. I prepared templates and I stuck to the same format for every product listed, so that it showed a kind of uniformity throughout the site. There is a main title, a short description or summary and a full description for every single item. I always post at least one image with alt tags. Every page is a just a click away from the Home Page. There are no broken links. All of this is fodder for the search engines! Consequently, the site is indexed several times a day and features on the first page of Google, Bing, Yahoo and many others because of this approach. It is frequently even in the number one spot, ahead of all the big guns and I have done nothing more nor less than followed the exact same procedure when listing new products.
As to what I do better than Amazon – I don’t think I can do anything better than them. But I do try to match them. I think I have first rate customer service. I think I am open and transparent in my product descriptions – if a book has spinal lean and age spotting then I say so, if a record has a dozen clicks on Track Two then I say so. Some sellers try to get away with skimping over some of the facts regarding the products they sell. I couldn’t do that. Attention to detail and emphasis on customer service are two of the factors, I think, that have enabled the project to keep going for so long.

Do you have any specific goals set for Books and Records? Would you like to keep it as an online shop or is a brick and mortar bookshop also a future possibility?

A brick and mortar establishment is not a conceivable goal for the near future – the stock volume does not warrant it at this time. But who knows what the long term future holds? Having said that, I think it would be too expensive to maintain a shop in the real world.

Based on your experience, what kind of advice would you give to people who are thinking of starting an online bookshop or a small online business in general?

As mentioned above, do your research first. Find a niche that really appeals to you. If possible, build and maintain your own website. Update it on a daily basis with fresh content. Always put the customer first. You can do this by replying to emails in a timely manner. Nothing puts a potential customer off more than an unanswered enquiry. Just in the last couple of weeks I have emailed three different companies more than once and have received no reply from any of them. The result is that I will not be buying their products or services. It is their loss, not mine. Also, I think transparency is paramount.

What are you personally like as a customer when it comes to buying books? Online or offline.

I tend to buy more books offline than online. I am quite fussy when it comes to buying on the internet – I want as much information about the product as possible. Some sellers seem to think they can just put a couple of words together and leave out important details because they know that if they mention that the book is in bad condition no one will buy it. I’ve had a few arguments with sellers over the years because they skim over the facts. Having said that, I have bought a number of books online and been perfectly happy with the purchases.

Do you have any favorite bookshops you visit often?

Yes, there are one or two in my local area, although these are starting to disappear. Most of the ones I used to frequent have either taken their business completely online or they have ceased trading altogether.

How do you see the future of bookselling, both in the traditional brick-and-mortar form and in the virtual online space?

I think the future of bookselling is a healthy one, even though many titles are becoming digitalised. Fortunately, there is a vibrant community of book collectors, so that is very encouraging. I do think that a lot more traditional establishments will disappear from the High Street and take the Amazon route. I have customers who buy all their gifts online – not just books – so it looks very much as though the internet will take over in that respect. Even for those businesses who maintain an offline presence there is one thing they absolutely must have and that is an online store. A lot of companies realise this, but there are still quite a few that have not made the transition, or else have not made a good job of it.

Livraria Centesima Pagina, Braga

2013-04-27T16:51:00.000+02:00

Where? Braga, Portugal

Recommended by Teresa Pêgo

Teresa said: "This wonderful bookshop is situated in the North of Portugal, in a town named Braga, the archbishop’s city, known by its high religious mentality. Walking through the historical center of the city, we just bump into this magnificent and cosy house from the XVIII century, named Casa Rolão, where we can run through some book’s pages, where we can have lunch or just relax in the beautiful interior garden, drinking some coffee or tea and reading the book you just bought!

I can say that my favourite place there is the children’s corner! A very cheerful and comfortable room enlightened by the two big windows that sometimes are open to the exterior garden. A very silent and bright place, indeed!

They always have cultural events like art exhibitions, book’s presentations, workshops and the special days where kids and their parents have the possibility to hear a story in this enchanted place! We can also buy some Portuguese crafts and other creative items."

Livraria Centesima Pagina translates to bookstore of page 100 and it opened to the public in November 1999. It was primarily located near the Faculty of Philosophy only to find its permanent residence in the beautiful 18th century building called Casa Rolão in the heart of the city of Braga in 2005. Livraria Centesima Pagina is an independent bookstore which mostly carries books in Portuguese but also in English, Spanish and French. The English books section contains some 300 books covering everything from art, literature, comics, social sciences, to children books, English learning, or Portuguese authors. It often hosts exhibitions, book presentations, debates, workshops, etc. It is accompanied by a cafe and a garden where you can relax with your favorite book in your hands.

Livraria Centesima Pagina
Address:
Avenida Central 118-120
Braga, Portugal

Website: http://centesima.com

Phone and Email:
+351 253 267 647
livraria@centesima.com

Working Hours:
Mon-Sat 9-19:30
Sun 10-19:30

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Pequod Books, Berlin

2013-03-27T17:15:00.002+01:00

Where? Berlin, Germany

Recommended by Alvaro and Amanda

Amanda said: "Pequod stocks used books in English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Dutch, Swedish, Turkish, Polish, Norwegian, Romanian and Danish, along with a handful of books in other languages. The bright, orderly shop is small-ish, but a second room will be opened in the coming months, nearly doubling the size of the store. The selection leans strongly toward traditional classics, in part because owner Álvaro Sendra González does not speak all of the languages he offers, but also because, an artist by trade, he is still learning about the book business, and is building his stock up from a solid foundation. González is candid about this learning process and the experimentation involved. He’s been disappointed by sales of Turkish books — Czech books sell better — and says that French books haven’t done as well as he expected, even though his selection is good and it’s clearly an under-served population. González wanted to “do something good for Berlin” by setting up Pequod and, in the spirit of our low-cost city, no book in the shop costs more than €6. Pequod will buy used books."

Named after the ship in Melville's Moby Dick, Pequod books opened in the summer of 2012, after Alvaro, the owner, moved to Berlin a couple of years back and realized that it was almost impossible for him to find books in his native, Spanish language. So he decided to do something perhaps a bit unusual but something every large city should have - an international bookstore. And Pequod Books truly is this because Alvaro has books in 25+ languages and it is still expanding. His English language section consists of some 900 books but you should also check out other sections as well. There is also a German section of the store.

Pequod Books
Address: Selchower Str.33
12049 Berlin-Neukölln

Website: http://www.facebook.com/pequodbooks

Email: info@pequodbooks.de

Working Hours:
Mon-Sat 13-19

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Beerwolf Books Freehouse, Falmouth

2013-03-05T22:08:00.002+01:00

Where? Falmouth, Cornwall, UK

Recommended by Joan Smith

Joan said: "There is a new bookshop in Falmouth, Cornwall, specializing in good literature and non-fiction. What’s really special about it, though, is that it’s in the middle of the owners’ pub, Beerwolf Books Free House, with excellent real ales, coffee and a warm atmosphere in which to browse.

They sell good quality 2nd hand and remaindered books. The fiction tends to the literary and they have graphic novels, kids’ stuff and non-fiction specialisms include, law, politics, history, art, music, sociology, psychology, philosophy, literature.

They were also featured on a local news item dealing mainly with the closing and opening of pubs, but it gives a flavour of the place, if you can access it."

Beer and books - sounds like heaven to many, right? Well, this is probably the favorite combination of the people behind Beerwolf Books Freehouse. The store started out in a garage in the Suffolk countryside only to move to Cornwall recently. The store is, according to many, almost something of a secret, tucked away in a small alley between the shops on Market Street. Inside, on one side, you have the pub, on the other, the bookstore.

Beerwolf Books Freehouse opened just recently on December 13th 2012 but they've already managed to build a respectable fan base not only in Falmouth but also beyond. They also organize various literary events - check out their Facebook page for more info.

Beerwolf Books Freehouse
3 Bells Court
TR11 3AZ Falmouth
Cornwall, UK

Website: http://www.beerwolfbooks.com/

Phone and Email:
01326-618474
books@beerwolfbooks.com

Working Hours:
Mon-Sat 10:30-00
Sun 12-23

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My 5 Favorite Bookstores in Salzburg, Austria

2013-03-02T11:50:00.000+01:00

By guest blogger Elisabeth Crane

What are the first things that come to mind when you hear Salzburg? The obvious answer is Mozart, closely followed by the famous sweet treat Mozart Kugeln, which can now be found all over Europe and beyond. The historical city of Salzburg is also home to one world's fastest growing brands with a very original marketing strategy - Red Bull. The city attracts many tourists thanks to its charming steep streets with nice coffee shops and pastry shops. Thanks to Elisabeth, you can now also read about the local bookstore scene, which is also reacting to the growing number of tourists by enlarging the English section of their stock.

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Elisabeth loves world travel, and is a frequent visitor to Austria. When not traveling, Elisabeth enjoys writing for The First to Know. And here's her report from Salzburg:

Upon a visit to Salzburg, Austria, you may be interested in checking out some of the city's finest bookstores. Whether you happen to be looking for interesting material pertaining to the history of Salzburg, are interested in old newspaper clippings or are simply looking for a good book to read during your journey, there are a few spots that you will not want to miss. These 5 book stores within Salzburg, Austria have easily made the list of my favorite shops to find everything from historic books to classics and newer literature. They have become some of my favorites while visiting Austria, and I hope that you will fall in love as well!

Höllrigl Eduard vorm Hermann Kerber

Höllrigl Eduard vorm Hermann Kerber can be found at Sigmund-Haffner-Gasse 10 in Salzburg. This is the perfect place to check out where you will find books on musical instruments, historic and new newspapers, as well as books of all kinds. Make your way around the store, conveniently located near the University of Salzburg Church to find everything that you may be looking for. Foreign language books are also kept in stock for those interested in broadening their literary horizons. During my first summer in Salzburg, I frequently visited this bookstore to find English books.

Xenex Verlags-und

Located at Festungsgasse 4 is Xenex Verlags-und. This small, but fully stocked bookstore is the ideal spot to browse for that book that you've been searching for. You never know what you may find around every corner. Xenex Verlags-und is a favorite among locals and city visitors. If you are looking for a bookstore that is less "tourist-heavy" during the summer months, this is your best bet. Situated near the famous Mozarteum, it is a popular hangout for students from all over the world. The bookstore accommodates books in many different languages, offering a wide variety for people of various language backgrounds.

Hintermayer

Hintermayer carries books, CDs, minerals and calenders for all shoppers' interests. This art store offers parking garages just minutes away for a quick and convenient walk to the shop. Open Monday through Saturday, visitors will find bestsellers as well as books in a variety of genres such as travel, nature, entertainment, children, guides and history. Special sales up to 50% off are held at Hintermayer on a regular basis, providing you with some of the best deals on books in the city. If you are studying music in Salzburg, this store can be a one-stop shop for you because of its wide variety and selection of items. Check out the basement for some harder to find items. Books are available in multiple languages with the primary being German.

Heimold D. Koppitsch

Make your way to Bergstr. 16 to find one of my favorite shops in Salzburg, Heimold D. Koppitsch. Cards, stationary and books are hiding around every turn within this modern shop. Whether you're looking for the perfect birthday card or a new book, here you will find it all. Their book selection is slightly limited and tends to only have German-language books. I loved this shop, but frequented it more for the stationary.

Müry Salzmann Verlags

For fine literary selections, there's no better place to browse than Müry Salzmann Verlags. In addition to popular literature, this store also carries fine architectural pieces, art work, photography and is home to
theater performances. The vast majority of selections sold here will be in German. For me, visiting this store was a great way to improve my conversational German. Müry Salzmann Verlags is truly one of a kind.

source: http://luxuryplaces.blogspot.sk/2012/12/salzburg-largest-city-in-austria.html

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Bookstores in New York City

2013-02-01T20:15:00.002+01:00

(Report from New York)

Bookstore Guide still remains “a guide to European bookstores” but upon returning from our recent US trip we were inspired to write a report about our impressions of the bookstore scene in New York City and Boston, the two cities we had a chance to visit. This is its first part, which describes our bookstore discoveries from NYC.

We have tried to visit many bookstores during our stay - this is just a selection of the ones we found the most interesting. We know we have missed many great ones but perhaps we’ll get to visit those some other time. In general, we were a little disappointed by the small number of secondhand bookstores. Also, the used books were quite expensive for our liking, usually around half of the cover price, except for the occasional selection in a thrift store. We really liked the fact that independent bookstores and independent local businesses in general are something that defines the neighborhoods, something that the local people are proud of.

We loved reading on the subway. It was a great experience to see firsthand the atmosphere we have known only from the great pictures posted at Underground New York Public Library. The energy, the atmosphere of the city, the people, all that and much more make NYC a place that can’t be compared to any other city we have visited so far. But instead of getting sentimental let’s just move on to the bookstores:

The Strand

Our bookstore tour started at The Strand, located at 828 Broadway, at the corner of E 12th St., New York’s biggest bookstore which famously carries 18 miles of books. The Strand is a true legend in NYC and it has been in business since 1927. The bookstore is huge and was full of people browsing even way past 8PM. We liked the discounted bookshelves which lined the store’s walls outside where browsers were not discouraged neither by the darkness nor the chilly weather. The overall impression from The Strand was that of a huge library, which doesn’t really need to care about the looks so much, as its reputation speaks for itself. It’s one of those rare bookstores where you can go for a stroll and realize that you’ve just spent 2 hours browsing and have a whole new to-read-list in your head. That is probably the only “disadvantage” of The Strand, as its sheer size and the number of books can make you feel a little overwhelmed as well.

828 Broadway (at the corner of East 12th St.)
http://www.strandbooks.com

Shakespeare and Co.

Another bookstore bearing the name of the famous English playwright (very popular among European English-language bookstores). This is a local chain of independent stores with 4 locations throughout the City. The location we visited is at 716 Broadway.
http://shop.shakeandco.com/
It is a truly beautiful bookstore, decorated and set up in the traditional fashion (tall wooden shelves with ladders), the books are spread over the ground floor and basement. They only carry new books, and have an exceptionally good selection of dramas and plays, movie scripts and literary non-fiction.

716 Broadway (212) 529-1330
http://shop.shakeandco.com/

Housing Works

The third bookstore we visited turned out to be our favorite of the whole trip. Housing Works is a healing community of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. They have a bookstore/café and about a dozen thrift shops throughout the city (in which you can also find a small selection of books – usually cheaper than in the bookstore itself). Their bookstore in SoHo has a great location, atmosphere and selection of titles. It’s very spacey and there are tables set up right among the shelves, so you can enjoy a cake or coffee from the café. The selection was just the right size, not too huge and not too small and for some reason, we’ve enjoyed this place the most. Many people were just sitting and sipping coffee, leafing through the books they’ve picked, before deciding whether they’ll purchase them or not. We also really liked their idea of pre-made book packages as Christmas gifts (two to four books which had something in common, with a short funny note explaining the connection).

126 Crosby St.
http://www.housingworks.org/bookstore/

Mercer Street Books

You can't miss Mercer Street Books because of the large neon sign "BOOKS" which lures you in. We were more than glad to enter as the bookstore offered a great shelter from the pouring rain.It is a large, solely secondhand store, but our expectations of low prices in New York weren’t met even here, with the prices of books mostly around half the cover price (ranging from 6 to 9 dollars). It was in Mercer Street Books that we finally accepted that the pricing of secondhand books in NYC is what it is. This bookstore fulfills everything you expect from a neighborhood secondhand bookstore. A mish mash, greatly stocked sections and some poorly stocked ones, rather random, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing – sometimes best things can be found when not looking for them.

206 Mercer Street, NY
http://mercerstreetbooks.com/

Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Books

It was the name of this bookstore that caught our attention and made us enter although we were hungry and in search of some place to eat. This peculiar specialist bookstore is certainly a place you should drop in if in West Village (Greenwich Village). The owner not only stocks ‘unopressive non-imperialist and bargain books’ but also a huge selection of books on Bob Dylan. The Dylan books are displayed in the very center of the store and we have no reason to doubt that it is the biggest selection of Dylan books in NYC. Of course, Bob Dylan's tunes were also playing in the background. The whole selection of the store was very interesting with lots of books by the Beat Generation authors, a shelf full of Noam Chomsky, many titles on Eastern philosophy and especially Buddhism. What’s more, most of the books were bargain priced. The store doesn’t even have a proper website, but a blogspot blog, which hasn’t been updated in over 2 years – that’s how nonconformist the owner of this store is.

34 Carmine Street, NY
http://unoppressivebooks.blogspot.sk/

Word

Located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, this is the best example of a local independent bookstore, greatly appreciated by the whole neighborhood. The sense of community and the friendly atmosphere is really obvious in this place. Word is a small bookstore which carries a carefully selected stock – it’s one of those places where you can safely ask the bookseller for a recommendation and you can also be sure that they’ll be able to tell you something about each of the titles they stock.

126 Franklin St., Brooklyn, NYC
http://www.wordbrooklyn.com/

Spoonbill & Sugartown Books

Another Brooklyn store, in the hip part of Williamsburg – the “hip” word seems to define this store, perhaps it even accentuates (or exaggerates) its appearance. Both new and used books find their place in this tad overpriced store beaming with coolness. Don’t get us wrong, it’s a really nice bookstore with a quality selection of titles, but it just seemed to us that some of coolness is a bit calculated. This creates an atmosphere where you feel that even the customers are doing their best the look the right way, act the right way and even pick the right books... But the same thing can be said about any other store in Williamsburg, so maybe it’s just the initial impression that wears out with time.

218 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
http://www.spoonbillbooks.com/

We also visited some other bookstores which we haven't mentioned in this short report. In case you've been to a New York bookstore and you feel it deserves a mention, please feel free to leave a comment below. We are definitely planning on going back to the Big Apple some day and checking out many other things which we missed during our first visit.

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Cami-Li Books & Tea, Avignon

2012-11-26T12:25:00.000+01:00

Where? Avignon, France

Recommended by Florence Merlenghi

Florence said: "This place is a heaven for all book lovers and anglophiles. There, you can find all kinds of used books, not only literature and novels, but there are well-stocked shelves dedicated to travels, history, science, language learning courses, arts, architecture, psychology or anthropology. Students will find all the books on the syllabus. And as far as the literature shelves are concerned, we’re not talking here only about the latest fads or best sellers but quality literature and classics, something that unfortunately tends to disappear from the shelves of more fashionable bookshops. The main bulk of the stock is composed of paperbacks, but there is also vast choice of hardbacks, sometimes first editions and vintage collections, such as the delightful orange Penguin classics or the colourful Everyman collection! Camille will buy or trade the books you want to get rid of. Of course she will order any new book you may not find in the shop (highly unlikely!)

The children’s corner is lovely, with colourful rugs and stools, and children will have a lot of fun browsing the many picture books. This is a charming place, the atmosphere made hushed thanks to the presence of so many old books, the beamed ceiling, the stone walls and the vintage tile floor; and to the silence! It is also a wonderful tearoom with several tables in the bookshop or the outdoor patio where you’ll be able to leaf through your purchase while sipping a cup of tea or coffee and tasting the delicious muffins and cookies made by Camille herself. And Camille is a dynamic young woman with many interests. As soon as the bookshop reopened, she started her Thursday evenings, beginning with “Stitch 'n Bitch” (7-10pm), for all those fond of wool and knitting! And she started a book club and English / French conversation evenings as well (on Thursdays too), together with various workshops (such as children storytelling, Japanese cooking, calligraphy...)"

Cami-Li Books & Tea seems like a truly special place and certainly inhabitants and visitors to Avignon must appreciate having such a wonderful store. Around 80% of the stock (some 20.000 books) comprises of secondhand books, while the rest are new.

Cami-Li Books & Tea
Address: 155 rue Carreterie
84000 Avignon

Website: www.camili-booksandtea.com

Phone and Email:
+33 (0)4.90.27.38.50
camili.avignon@gmail.com

Working Hours:
Tue-Sat 12-19

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Panta Rhei, Madrid

2012-10-17T22:34:00.001+02:00

Where? Madrid, Spain

Recommended by Ingrid

Panta Rhei is a specialized bookstore dedicated to the visual arts with emphasis on contemporary culture, graphic design, digital advertising, latest exhibition catalogs, fashion books, special editions, and illustrated children's books along with a gallery specializing in drawing and illustration.

This bookstore is owned by two sisters, Lilo and Ingrid, and their two little four-legged companions, their dogs Frola and Gruby. It started off as a dream of Lilo and Ingrid - for quite some time they had been toying with the idea of opening a bookstore. Not many people are lucky or bold enough to realize their dreams but to these two sisters, the dream came true when in the year 2000 they opened their bookstore (located in Pelayo Street at the time). As it usually happens with small spaces and books, the latter outgrow the former and thus Panta Rhei needed to move to new premises in 2005. And that is their current location, in Calle Hernan Cortes at the very heart of Madrid (in Chueca neighborhood).

So, over the span of just a little over a decade, Panta Rhei has managed to establish itself in Madrid (and the whole of Spain) and it should certainly be the spot when in need of an artsy book. Lilo and Ingrid take very good care of their books and they make sure you find what you are looking for. After all, in today's conditions, with huge chains taking over, independent bookselling is exactly about this - taking care of your customers and going the extra mile for them.

Panta Rhei

Address:
c/ Hernán Cortés 7
28004 Madrid,

Spain

Website: www.panta-rhei.es/

Phone and Email:
+34 91 319 8902
info@panta-rhei.es

Working Hours:
Mon-Fri 10:30-20:30
Sat 11-20:30

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Bookstore Guide Turns 5...

2012-09-30T22:40:00.001+02:00

Bookstore Guide has been around for exactly five years... When we started the blog back in 2007 we had little idea if there were more people out there who enjoyed visiting local bookstores when traveling and who were eager to refill their backpacks with some fresh reading material. During the past five years you've made it perfectly clear that Bookstore Guide has found its own audience and thanks to you, we have discovered many great bookstores all over Europe.

We've also gotten in touch with many interesting people and started several online friendships with fellow booklovers. Working on Bookstore Guide also helped us find the inspiration and courage to start our own bookstore in Bratislava, 11th Floor Books.

This period has been quite difficult for independent bookstores and we also hope that a mention in the Guide has helped some of them spread the word about their existence and has brought in new customers. Initially, many of the bookstores didn't even have their own website and the post on Bookstore Guide was pretty much their only online presence.

Here's a quick test if you belong to newer visitors or if you're familiar with the Guide for some time. If you remember this picture (it was on the site up to September 2008) than you're a part of the old gang...

Over the years the Guide has grown from post number one (The American Book Center in Amsterdam) to include 243 bookstores in 103 European cities. According to data from Google Analytics, the site has attracted almost half a million visitors who logged in from all the countries in the world except for five countries in central Africa and North Korea. Besides regular posts about bookstores, we've also added some new sections. We started off with writing Reports from our bookstore hunting trips to bigger European cities and followed with Top 5s, our personal compilations of the best bookstores from the Guide in selected categories. Later on we also added the Articles section, which holds a series of articles on the current state of independent bookselling, several of them were written by guest bloggers. We also send out a monthly newsletter to which you can subscribe by filling your email address in the box in the left sidebar.

Five years is a long period of time and a lot has changed in our personal lives as well. When we started the blog, we were both students living in two different countries, while today we live together and we both have full-time jobs and also several other projects. As some of you have probably noticed, we used to add bookstores much more often in the past. Yes, this is partly due to the fact that our database has grown in size, but we know best that this situation is mostly caused by our lack of time...

Writing this post made us think not only about the past but also about the future of Bookstore Guide and although we are not happy about the present state of the site, it is a good opportunity for us to realistically evaluate where we'd like to see Bookstore Guide in the upcoming years and how to achieve it. We have several scenarios in our minds but before implementing any major changes we simply need to focus on some maintenance work - updating information about the existing bookstores and patching some errors on the website. The main goal would be to dedicate more time to the Guide, which will not be easy. As this Guide only serves some purpose if it has its audience, we'd also like to turn to you. If you have any comments, questions, recommendations or ideas about where you'd like to see this project heading in the near future, we would love to read them.

Thanks for sticking with us for so long,

Yours, Sonja and Ivan

Tackle and Books, Tobermory

2012-09-28T21:11:00.000+02:00

Where? Tobermory, Scotland, UK

Recommended by Cristina Cona

"Are you going to spend some time on the island of Mull, and wondering whether you’ll have to bring books from the mainland for those long summer nights when you can read by natural light until ten o’clock? Don’t worry: you can get your reading matter from Tackle and Books, in the gorgeous village of Tobermory. The shop is located on the seafront (its red and dark-grey façade appears on a number of postcards) and caters to all kinds of needs. There is first of all the book section, which has a very satisfying choice of both fiction and various aspects of nonfiction (nature guides, local and Scottish interest, children’s books, language – both Scots and Gaelic); there is a stationery and business services section; some CDs and DVDs; an area where you can buy fishing and outdoor tackle, and last but not least, a really invaluable stock of midge machines. At least some BSG readers will regard this as a surprising item for a bookstore, but you must know that midges are a real plague in most parts of Scotland and can make life impossible to walkers, fishermen, nature lovers, and generally anybody who likes to venture out in soft, moist weather. No reading under a tree when the little so-and-so’s are around! So it makes perfect sense to sell these machines alongside the books.”

If choosing a specific area of interest you feel passionate about and specializing in it is the way to go for a bookstore in a competitive metropolitan market, it's most likely not so when your business is located in a small village on an island... So what to do then? Judging by the example of Tackle and Books, if you wish to succeed in an environment like this, you should select the widest range of topics and things you feel passionate about and then get them all under one roof. The common link is clear, as long as there's passion behind it, you have a good chance of surviving.

Besides the incredibly wide offer of this shop it is also quite famous for its location. Tackle and Books was established some 30 years ago in premises which previously housed a butcher, a baker, a chemist and a grocer and they kept some of the original furniture. As the shop is among the colorful houses lining the harbor, it can be spotted on most photographs of the town of Tobermory.

Tackle and Books
Address:
7 Main Street
Tobermory
Isle of Mull
Scotland

United Kingdom

Website: http://www.tackleandbooks.co.uk

Phone and Email:
01688 302 336.
info@tackleandbooks.co.uk

Working Hours: unknown

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