Member Article

Making business dreams a reality

After finishing my studies, I worked at Waterstone’s in Durham for nearly 8 years. While there, I would often imagine having my own, independent bookshop. I dismissed the idea pretty quickly, partly because, as a lowly bookseller, I never had the requisite cash. While I was there, however, I developed into a half decent bookseller. After working in a bookshop for that length of time, you get a sense of what local customers want. That comes mainly from listening, but also a little bit of gut instinct.

After leaving Waterstone’s, I began a career in the trade unions, social justice being my other big passion. I eventually became a trade union organiser working for the TUC. In some ways, this was the dream job, but funding was always uncertain and with the change of government, I found myself out of work in February 2011. So what to do? I had a small redundancy settlement. That idea of an independent, quirky, community-based bookshop still gnawed away at me. However, it still didn’t seem like a realistic prospect until I was told of a fantastic little space off Saddler Street in Durham. It had been empty for 2 years.

As soon as I walked in, it felt like a second hand bookshop should – 3 floors up, cosy, without a straight line in sight – and lovely old windows with a view of the castle. Having decided to banish my doubts, the hard work really began. Apart from kitting out the shop, gathering the stock and designing the website, there were decisions to be made. Everyone advised me to specialise – and it made sense to stick to what I knew – politics, local labour history and activism. The local history angle would give me a base in Durham, the radical politics a wider reach – particularly on the internet.

The People’s Bookshop opened in June 2011. In the last 18 months, much of what I hoped would happen, has happened. It has become a real hub of activity, with readings and events being held on a regular basis. It’s not all rosy, of course – and one of the things that I’ve realised over that time is the importance of being realistic. Tucked away in my cosy location, there is a constant struggle to be noticed. I’ve had to live with financial insecurity the like of which I’ve never known before, even as a lowly bookseller. You need to be determined without being blinkered – and be able to take a step back when things don’t work. At the moment, I’m considering whether to revert to shorter opening hours.

Would I change it? Never. The bookshop seems to generate its own atmosphere and people who visit once nearly always come back. It is so much more than a bookshop – it’s a place where conversations take place, where campaigns are born and where people meet likeminded people. I’m proud of the People’s Bookshop. Long may it live.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Peoples Bookshop Durham .