bookshop owner and bookseller

Many of the people featured in this booklet started out in bookselling, and credit it as being formative for the rest of their careers. It’s a job which teaches you many skills you’ll use in whatever profession you’ll eventually settle in – from customer management to basic accounting skills through to stock management and communications skills. You’ll also get to work with what you love already: books and writers!

Jenny Mccann Bear Books

Jenny started out as a teacher, and trained straight from University. She taught English in secondary schools for 15 years, but after having her own children, developed a fascination for how young children can interact with books and how transformative that experience can be.

During the maternity leave for her 3rd child, Jenny set about founding Bear Bookshop in Bearwood, Smethwick, an independent children’s bookshop which is also at the heart of the community and offers events, workshops and play spaces for local families as well as introducing children to books they’ll love.

Mog Giacomelliharris Warwick Books

After a career in Theatre Design and retail, Mog and her partner Pauline spotted an opportunity when the beautiful Warwick Books was being sold as a going concern some years ago. Situated on the historic Market Place in Warwick, Warwick Books was at the heart of the town and very much loved by locals, but needed some rejuvenation.

Mog and Pauline brought together their combined experience of retail and administration, and were delighted to find that, although there was a lot to learn, the publishing and bookselling communities embraced and supported them. They were able to access training through various organisations including the Booksellers’ Association (see back page for resources), and learnt the job whilst on the job. Warwick Books is now a thriving business with events, community meetings and much more, as well as showcasing some beautiful and captivating books which Mog and Pauline select based on intimate knowledge of their customers.

“Everyone wishes you well in this industry – writers, publishers, festival and events organisers, even fellow booksellers. There’s plenty of resources available to help you with specific skills, and people in the industry support and look out for one another. You can absolutely go into bookselling even if you’ve not worked in a related industry before.”