Indie hunt for Christmas hits begins

The Bookseller - 15.11.10 - Victoria Gallagher

An Essex chef and a 90-year-old duchess are proving to be festive favourites alongside quirky books and local titles as Christmas shoppers start heading into independent bookshops.


Ian Nicholson, owner of Alison’s of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, singled out I Could Go On . . . Unpublished Letters to the Daily Telegraph by Iain Hollingshead (Aurum Press) as a good festive seller, as well as cookery tomes by Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson.
He said: “We’re beginning to see some movement as far as Christmas is concerned—I have a feeling some people are trying to spread their spending out instead of leaving it all until the last minute.”

Sarah Rees, of Cover to Cover in Swansea, said History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor (Allen Lane) is a strong seller. She said: “It’s the type of book that is great for indies. It is Radio Four, it’s middle ground. It’s perfect for us.” Rees said Oliver had been a big seller, selling more copies on Mondays after the “30-Minute Meals” programmes are repeated on Sundays.

According to Nielsen Bookscan data, Wait For Me by Deborah Devonshire (John Murray) is a bestseller for indies and has spent nine weeks in the Indie Top 20 since 4th September.

Christine Bridger, manager of Old Hall Bookshop in Brackley, said: “The Duchess of Devonshire is selling unbelievably. We’re not even making a big song and dance about it.”

Elaine Silverwood, co-owner of Silverdell Books in Kirkham, Lancashire, said having signed copies makes a big difference to sales with autographed titles by Michael Caine and Michael Parkinson flying out. Silverwood also flagged up A Simples Life: The Life and Times of Aleksandr Orlov as a bestseller: “It’s daft, but I think [Ebury Press] has done some really good PR and we’re benefiting from it.”

As usual with independents in the run-up to Christmas, local books are continuing to sell well. Vivian Archer, owner of east London’s Newham Bookshop, said local history titles are going “phenomenally well” and singled out London Labour and the London Poor by Henry Mayhew (OUP).