Award-winning independent Shropshire retailer Booka Bookshop is preparing to celebrate Bookshop Day with a host of unmissable activities and offers this month.
The annual national event is organised by the Booksellers Association and this year takes place on Saturday 12 October, with the theme for 2024 being Bookshops Making a Difference.
Booka Bookshop, which is recognised as one of the leading independent booksellers in the UK, is promising a busy programme at its stores in both Oswestry and Bridgnorth.
Customers at the bookshop in Bridgnorth’s historic High Street will be invited to enjoy a birthday cupcake to help staff celebrate the store’s first birthday,while those at the Oswestry bookshop and café will be able to mark its 15th anniversary. Both adults and youngsters can help colour a Happy Birthday Booka poster and add their own messages or book recommendations to share their ‘Passion for Books’
Meanwhile book lovers at both venues will be able to enjoy a 10 percent discount on all purchases made in store, excluding the Oswestry café.
All book purchases will come with a free exclusive ‘Passion for Books’ bookmark, while special limited edition ‘Bookshop Day’ tote bags, designed by artist, author and illustrator Angela Harding, will be available to buy in store.
There will also be the chance to win a kids’ bag of books, and everyone who signs up to the Booka Bookshop newsletter will be entered into a prize draw to be in with a chance of winning £50 of Booka vouchers – with one prize up for grabs at each location.
Booka’s Christmas catalogues, bursting with brilliant ideas for books and book-related gifts, will also be available to pick up at both sites.
Booka Bookshop was founded by husband-and-wife team Tim and Carrie Morris and opened its doors in Church Street, Oswestry in 2009. Twelve months ago, it added a second branch in the popular Severnside market town of Bridgnorth.
It has won UK & Ireland ‘independent bookshop of the year’ in the Bookseller Industry Awards, in 2015, and has been shortlisted as among the UK Best Small Shops.
Renowned for the quality of its book stock and its strong community focus, it provides an inspirational setting in its two bookshops, hosts a wide and varied range of book clubs in store and author events at various locations, and works closely with schools, libraries and other organisations to promote a passion for books and reading through author visits, workshops and book fairs.
Booka also has a successful online shop which sells to customers locally, nationally and internationally.
Bookshop Day, originally launched in 2013, takes place on the second Saturday of October each year and aims to remind book lovers of the value of their local bookshop. Around 1,000 bookshops are signed up to take part nationwide from branches of major chains to independent retailers.
Carrie Morris of Booka Bookshop says: “The Booksellers Association describes bookshops as ‘the lifeblood of our high street and communities’ and says their presence in towns and cities has ‘a tangible impact’ on society.
“Bookshop Day is a celebration of this on a national stage, but it’s also a chance for Booka Bookshop to shout about everything we ourselves do, whether it’s in our two lovely bricks and mortar stores, online – where we have customers right across the world including nearly every American state, via our social media platforms, our exciting year-round events programme featuring major literary names, rising stars and local talent, or through our work in and with the communities of Oswestry, Bridgnorth and beyond.
“We’re really passionate about what we do. At the heart of it all, we aim to provide a memorable and pleasurable book-buying experience, and we want everyone leaving the bookshop feeling more connected with booksellers and books as a result.
“Our talented and enthusiastic team will be on hand on 12 October at both Booka branches and will be pleased to make recommendations or simply to have ‘bookie’ conversations. So, whether you’re a regular customer or discovering us for the first time, I hope you’ll have a fantastic experience and enjoy celebrating a very special day with us.”
Further information about Bookshop Day is available from https://www.booksellers.org.uk/
For more information on Booka Bookshop
Website: www.bookabookshop.co.uk
Facebook: bookabookshop
X: @BookaBookshop
Instagram: @bookabookshop
TikTok: @bookabookshop
LISTINGS INFORMATION FOR BOOKSHOP DAY AT BOOKA BOOKSHOP
Booka Bookshop in Church Street Oswestry and High Street Bridgnorth
DATE: Saturday 12 October
TIME: 9.30am – 5pm