Late Night Shopping

If you can get here on Monday 12th November, we are holding our annual Christmas evening at the shop.  Enjoy a relaxed shopping experience with coffee and cakes while you browse (now you don't get that in many shops in the run up to Christmas!).  We're looking forward to officially unveiling our refurbished secondhand department and as always there will be plenty of extra discounts on both new and secondhand books to help you with your budget!
Lorna

Late night shopping

It's that time of year again... time for our annual 'ladies evening' at the bookshop.  Except that this year I have given up advertising it as a ladies evening because every year at least one chap manages to slip in.  The focus as usual is on the delicious homemade... oh no sorry, the focus is on our 3 for 2 offer on all children's books.  The extra benefits of late night shopping at our shop is the relaxed atmosphere for browsing, the friendly fellowship and advice, the free cuppa and of course the delicious homemade cake.  For anyone local to the shop, it is an experience not to be missed.  And the offer of getting 3 children's books for the price of 2 is certainly not one to be passed over at this time of year.  If any of our mail order customers are feeling aggrieved at not being able to come, don't worry, if you ring us during our late evening opening and make an order, we will be happy to give you the offer too.  Monday 22nd November, anytime from 7pm... put it in your diary, on your calendar, on your fridge, or even on your hand, just be sure not to forget it.
Lorna

Busy Reading...

Yes, I've been reading! I know that shouldn't be too unusual for a bookshop manager, but thanks to a few bugs kindly being passed around the family, I seem to have had a bit more 'down time' than usual and therefore more time to read. I've been working my way through the children's section - not necessarily an indication of my current mental level, but purely to make sure I am well genned-up on this section before November comes. November is our month for offers on children's books, which includes some late night openings and this year it even includes a local Christian school bringing a group of children to the shop for their English Literature trip!

I can't resist a plug here for one of the fiction books I have read this week... Guilty Verdict by Rosalie Battye. Rosalie is a self published author whose books are not well known (but should be). This book is a typical 'Famous Five' type story. A group of children determined to solve a crime get themselves into a spot of bother with the criminals but somehow still solve the mystery! Within the storyline the relativism of postmodernism is contrasted with the absolute truth of christianity (not in those terms - it might put the children off!). There are clear moral guidelines and the religious content is sound. At only £2.50 this book is a must for any children who like a good detective story.

So, put in a note in your diary. November 9th to November 14th is the week to remember. Buy 3 children's books during this week and you will only need to pay for 2 of them. The whole of the children's section will be '3 for 2'. If you are local, we are opening late on the Monday and Thursday (9th and 12th). These are officially 'Ladies nights' but blokes won't be turned away! Past years have proved these evening events to be popular - relax and talk books over a slab of cake and cuppa - we will be open from 7pm 'til late. How late depends on how much we get nattering, but beyond 10pm would not be unusual.

Now then, I must get back to 'Jungle Doctor'...

Lorna

Up and Running

We got the shop back up and running last week and feel like we have finally entered the 20th Century (if not the 21st!) with hot running water on the premises and a heating system that should keep the chilblains at bay this winter. Various workmen are still lurking around doing smaller jobs, but we are planning to ignore them as much as possible and do not anticipate any further interruptions to the shop.
September has got off to a flying start which we hope will continue through to the New Year. Last week we were able to put another face to a name when one of our customers drove up from South London to visit the shop. I'm not sure there are many people out there who will drive 3 hours to go to a bookshop then drive 3 hours straight back home again! Good on you Anne! We enjoyed meeting you (even if the dinner did get burnt because of the unplanned late opening!) In all seriousness it is always great to meet our 'mail-order' customers who call in while on holiday 'up North' or just on a day trip. We are quite happy to open earlier or stay open later if needs be - just phone and let us know your plans.
We look forward to seeing you!
Lorna

'Easter' Books

We've had to hit the ground running for our March promotion, because it's based around an Easter theme. I call it such for convenience' sake only, because the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ are of course central to the faith, and the gospel as a 'word of reconciliation' must be preached week in week out, all year every year. So please forgive the terminology.
We've made a careful, very focused selection of books, with something for every age group. You will see them from off our website homepage, or click
http://www.christianbookshopossett.co.uk/March%20Offers.pdf
These are books which we like and which we can do at prices so low you will still have change left over to buy all your easter eggs for the children (supposing you were going to anyway). In fact, I would go so far as to make a price promise - find them cheaper elsewhere, let me know, and I'll match it! Can't say fairer than that, even though my name's not Asda.
Jeremy
PS. If you live locally, don't miss our late evening opening before Easter on Monday 17th March. Tea and cakes, plus choc egg with every purchase (if I'm at the till) 7pm - 10pm.
PPS. If you wonder how on earth that pile of books in the photo stands up at its Pisa-like angle, remember there are 20 years of civil engineering experience behind me!

Sale Week Jan 21st - 26th

We spent the afternoon today re-arranging the shop for our sale week next week, all I have to do now is some baking - more than one of our customers has said they intend to come along to our late nights (7pm-10pm Monday & Thursday) for the cakes -hum, better not burn the buns or they may never come back! For those who are not yet in the know, these are the deals...
20% off all the books in the shop
Lots of selected books at massive discounts - up to 75%
A free booklet with every purchase (I'll get Jeremy to tell you more about that in a later post)
For those of you who are not local, don't worry, the only thing you will miss out on is the cakes (they don't travel well in jiffy bags). Just browse the site remembering that everything will cost you 20% less than normal and then check our special sale page for all the higher discounts on selected books. There really are some bargains not to be missed.
Lorna