The HarperCollins Independent Bookshop Initiative 2017

by Startacus Admin

The HarperCollins Independent Bookshop Initiative 2017

HarperCollins launches the Independent Bookshop Initiative 2017, a ‘novel idea’ which aims to support new and existing independent bookshops in the UK and Ireland.

Here at Startacus we understand the value and importance of the good ol’ fashioned high-street and the opportunity that online & e-commerce platforms offer to independent makers and crafters to sell their wares.  Businesses generally need to embrace both online and online to survive and thrive. From initiatives such as Small Business Saturday and Test Town from the Carnegie Trust, there have been a number of social schemes and programmes to try and help the High-Street evolve and prosper. 

So we are delighted to spread word on HarperCollins Independent Bookshop Initiative 2017 “a three-pronged campaign to support new and existing independent bookshops in the UK and Ireland.”

So if you are a bookshop owner, or fancy taking a punt at opening an independent bookshop, read on…

Created by the team at Indie Thinking (a HarperCollins platform for all things ‘independent booksellers’) the Independent Bookshop Initiative 2017 comprises of three initiatives which we have highlighted, in their own words below:

The Indie Start-Up Grant

“This will provide incremental support at launch to new and growing independent bookshops in the UK and Ireland, offering an additional 10% discount on all store opening orders, and 90 days payment terms on all qualifying orders. A ‘growing’ bookshop, in this case, is defined as one which is increasing its bookselling space by at least 25%. The opening order period is defined as orders placed directly with HarperCollins in the first 8 weeks.”

The Indie Development Fund

“The Indie Development Fund offers independent bookshops the chance to receive funding for projects that grow community access to books and reading. Ten individual awards of £2,000 each will be available in 2017. Independent bookshops are the lifeblood of books and reading for many local communities, and we’d particularly like to encourage applications from those with ambitions to help bring more readers into their bookshop (or to help take the bookshop to more readers) and forge and enhance relationships with reading in the community. HarperCollins authors Jon McGregor and Joanna Cannon, alongside Oliver Wright and Michael Jones from the HarperCollins sales team, will judge the entries.”

The Booksellers Network

“HarperCollins’ announcement of the Independent Bookshop Initiative 2017 comes after the launch in September 2016 of The Booksellers Network, a Booksellers Association-led initiative, co-founded by HarperCollins and The Bookseller, designed to bring together shop-floor booksellers for mutual support, social events, networking, mentoring and personal development. HarperCollins have proudly sponsored the British Book Industry Young Retailer of the Year award for nearly ten years, and as a founding partner of The Booksellers Network, we’re delighted to offer a new opportunity to the UK and Ireland’s bookselling talent in 2017.”

Applications are now open for the Indie Start-Up Grant and Indie Development Fund and you can also email  the team directly to find out more about The Booksellers Network. To find out more, and for application forms, and Ts & Cs go directly to http://www.indiethinking.co.uk/4889/the-harpercollins-independent-bookshop-initiative-2017/.

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Published on: 9th November 2016