Atherstone booktown moves forward
September 13th, 2006 by Mr Booktown
Atherstone’s booksellers have launched a new initiative to promote the town and region as a destination for booklovers, and also to attract new booksellers to the area.Building on developments over the past 18 months, including the opening of three bookshops in the Market Square and the St Giles Hospice bookshop on Long Street, as well as the stocking of books in the Red Lion and the Chapel House, we are undertaking a range of marketing initiatives to promote Atherstone and the surrounding area as a booklovers’ destination.
In a crucially important step, the new booksellers in Atherstone have forged co-operative Links with longer-established bookshops in the surrounding area, most notably Astley Book Farm, G&J Chesters of Polesworth and Midland Counties Publications on the Hinckley Industrial Estate.
We will shortly be issuing a promotional leaflet to all Tourist Information Centres, visitor locations and other bookshops in the region. Organising literary Events will also figure prominently in our agenda, with a poetry day currently in the planning stages.
Peter Playdon, proprietor of Throckmorton’s Bookshop, said, “The time is right for us to take charge of the Atherstone Booktown initiative. We are all very much committed to building upon our individual successes and working cooperatively for the benefit of the town as a whole, and also for the wider region.”
“We are particularly interested in talking to prospective booksellers, whether they are already established in the trade or interested in opening their first shop. Anyone interested in opening a bookshop in Atherstone is invited to contact us - we can offer practical support and advice for getting started – with no charge or strings attached.”
“Deciding to open your own business is the easy part,” said Lisa Dundas, proprietor of the Sit-A-While. “Getting started is much harder, which is why this new group is so important for would-be booksellers. We can provide valuable help with finding and fitting a shop, obtaining stock, and learning the ins and outs of bookselling. Really, it’s like a professional support group.”
Bookshops participating in the informal group include Throckmorton’s Bookshop, the Sit-A-While Bookshop & Tearoom, the Heritage Centre Bookshop, St Giles Hospice Bookshop, Astley Book Farm, G& J Chesters, Midland Counties Publications and prospective booksellers Evans & Short.
For more information, contact Throckmorton’s Bookshop on 01827 717570, or the Sit-a-While on 01827 722593.