Leeds

We're in Leeds again on half-term. We paid a visit into the centre. I went looking for Wesley Owen only to find it had moved. No longer did it have its upstairs section with doctrine and theology or its downstairs bargain basement. No Wesley Owen Leeds is now only stocking that which is guarranteed to sell.

What's happening to Christian bookshops more and more is that only sell a small selection of books written by 4 or 5 authors with a particular thoelogical slant. So unless you want to be purpose-driven or left behind you won't find much.

I used to love spending 30 minutes browsing the bargain section, picking up some great books for next to nothing. Oh well, there's still Galloway & Porter in Cambridge.

Comments

[ash]

I did some research lately into bookshops. It appears that, statistically, bookshops are a dying breed. They just cannot compete with Amazon et al.

This is okay for giants like Blackwells, because they have their own fully-fledged online stores and can afford to run highstreet shops at a wee loss or a break-even (they may, however, choose not to do so).

But your little second-hand bookshop, or the small christian bookshop can't always survive in a market like this.

The exception, of course, are "booktowns" or places where there are a number of renowned book shops close together (Charing Cross Road, or Hay on Wye come to mind). It is a sad end to be sure. Personally, I'd like to come up with a way of reviving the old discount bookshops...

suggestions on a postcard...

[brodie]

I guess I'm part of the problem - i buy most books now from amazon or abebooks. This does however mean that I miss finding that gem of a book that jumps off the book shelf and grabs you.

[RobertB]

If you're visiting Galloway & Porter, then the basement of SPCK round the corner on Sussex St is probably still worth a visit too.

As an online alternative for G&P's remaindered books, psbooks.co.uk is useful to know about, even if not quite the real thing. ;-)

(Even some of the highstreet giants seem to have struggled on the online market. Waterstones launched their own site, installed instore terminals, then got cold feet and cut a deal with Amazon.)