Christmas sales up for UK indie booksellers

The majority of independent booksellers in the UK have reported a boost in Christmas sales this year, according to separate surveys by the Booksellers Association and the Bookseller. The Booksellers Association’s survey of 80 bookshops found that 55% of stores saw an increase in sales in the lead-up to Christmas, compared to 43% last year, with 69% reporting an increase in footfall. The Bookseller’s survey of 57 indie bookshops found that 79% saw an increase in sales, up from 46% in 2013 and 48% in 2012. Just 7% of indies said Christmas sales had fallen this year. Among the factors attributed to the strong Christmas were an extra day of sales in the week before Christmas, mild weather, a wide range of books and a willingness from regular customers to shop local. Popular titles with independent booksellers were The Churchill Factor (Boris Johnson, Hodder & Stoughton), H is for Hawk (Helen Macdonald, Vintage), The Miniaturist (Jessie Burton, Picador) and You Are Here (Chris Hadfield, Pan Macmillan), as well as ‘surprise hit’ The Guest Cat (Takashi Hiraide, Picador).

Category: International news