An independent bookshop is fighting to stay open as it struggles to compete with online retailers like Amazon. Jasmine Dellimore, manager of Moon Lane Books, in Catford, has reminded people that shopping locally is important to help support independent bookshops.
“You see these really big name books come out and you look on Amazon and they can charge half price for a £20 book so obviously people are going to go there – it just makes it difficult for us because we aren’t in a position to offer those kinds of deals,” she told MyLondon.
“After lock down there was a push to shop locally and support local business and that mentality should be encouraged again.”
Inside Moon Lane Books children will find books about Jollof Rice, Caribbean myths and legends and stories about children with disabilities. It aims to address the inequality in children’s books, both through representation in stories and authors, as well as access to literature.
“It’s sweet to see children getting excited about their culture, family and themselves represented in books,” she said.
“We’ve got books about children who live in poverty and it makes them feel less alone in their experience when someone sees who they are and their story is recognised, it helps them understand that their story is worth being told.”
The store also puts on events at schools, as well as hosting book signings and workshops. But the last few years have proved difficult, as people are increasingly turning to online shopping.
“It’s the cost of overheads, rent and things like that and then less footfall in the area, generally speaking over the last couple of years less people are shopping with us,” Jasmine told MyLondon.
Moon Lane is fundraising £40,000 to help get the store back on a “stable footing” and to cover the cost of community events. The shop would also like to start being able to pay authors for the events they host at the store.
While the fundraiser will help the store with its overheads for the short-term, Jasmine acknowledges that there needs to be more of a significant change in the way people are buying books.
“There’s no imminent threat of closure, but this isn’t a long-term strategy we can continue, it’s not paying for itself. We need more people to know who we are, where we are. We also stock books for adults which could help people and motivate them to shop with us as well. We don’t only offer books, we offer experiences,” she said.
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