independent publishers guild

There are over 4000 bookshops in the UK, made up from ‘independents’ and branches of the ‘chains’, such as W.H. Smith, Waterstone’s, Blackwells, Borders and Ottakar’s. Even large bookshops only stock a small proportion of all the books that are in print at any one time.

There are also an increasing number of online booksellers. These range from major global internet players, such as amazon.co.uk to successful UK based internet bookshops, such as the Peak District-based countrybookshop.co.uk. Many small independent bookshops now have on-line bookshops, invisibly serviced by wholesalers such as Gardners. The IPG has recently joined forces with the Booksellers Association to strengthen ties between independent publishers and independent booksellers. The first ‘Independent Trade Forum’ took place in September 2005 in Eastbourne which has generated several initiatives. The next Independent Trade Forum will take place in June 2006.

Traditional bookshops are increasingly referred to as terrestrial or bricks and mortar booksellers, to distinguish them from internet bookshops. This of course leads to the hybrid of “clicks and mortar” to refer to the internet offering of the major high-street chains!

The Booksellers Association (BA) is the UK trade association for booksellers. They sell a number of useful mailing lists and run events at regional and national level.