The British high street may be in trouble, but bookshops have managed to weather the storm – even with the impact of Amazon.
Last year book sales saw a year-on-year growth of £22m, while independent bookshops grew for the second year running, after a two-decade decline. At the same time, Britain’s biggest book chain Waterstones made its first profit since the 2008 financial crisis.
But this stability hasn’t always been reflected among the booksellers themselves. Waterstones staff have been campaigning for a real living wage, arguing that the expertise needed to do a good job has gone unrecognised. Some workers say they have had to cut back on food or move back in with parents to pay rent.
We would like to know what it’s like to work in a bookshop in this climate – whether you work at an independent or chain bookstore on the high street, run a bookstall at a market or work for an online retailer.
Do you work in an independent bookshop that’s thriving or struggling in opposition with e-books or online sales? Or are you part of the living wage campaign at Waterstones? Share your experience as a bookseller.
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