There are few things more satisfying than giving someone a well-chosen book which they come to love. Buying from an independently-run bookseller like Mostly Books in Abingdon can make your choice that bit more personal. We chatted to the current owner, Sarah Dennis.
Tell us about what you sell
We are an independent bookshop selling a wide range of new books. We have a large children's section which is extremely popular, and also have a great range of both fiction and non-fiction titles. In addition to selling books, we stock greetings cards, wrapping paper, children's toys and small gifts for adults.
How long has your business been going, and why was it started?
The shop opened in 2006 - it was started as a labour of love by the previous owners and I took it on in May 2017 after a career change. I had spent over a decade working in the finance industry but wanted to do a job that I loved in an industry that interested me. Books were the obvious answer!
What do you like best about being based in Oxfordshire?
It's a brilliant county with a lot of really interesting people who are keen to support local businesses.
The demographic in Abingdon is really varied so we have a great, well-read customer base which makes our job a lot of fun.
The fact that we are so centrally located, geographically, is really helpful in terms of the wider industry: there are a lot of publisher events in London which are easy to get to from Oxfordshire and there are some other brilliant booksellers and publishers nearby which is great.
Do you think Oxfordshire is a good place to run a small business?
Yes, I think that Oxford and the surrounding areas are extremely supportive of small businesses, which is vital when you are trying to set up and develop a business.
What's the best thing about running a small business?
It's fantastic to be able to define the strategy of my business and to work with my team, friends and family to bring those visions to life. The fact that my business is small and independent means that I get to try things out in fairly short timeframes.
One of the frustrations I had whilst working for a large corporation is that change took a long time. That is definitely not the case with my own business!
What’s the biggest challenge?
It's often tricky to juggle the different parts of the business on an ongoing basis. Time can easily be swallowed up by the fun, customer-facing element, which is what I love but is often not where I should be spending my time. Hitting deadlines and ensuring that I am spending my time working on the most important things is a constant battle!
What's the most interesting little-known fact about what you do, and what's the funniest thing that's happened in the shop?
I made the decision to buy a bookshop whilst on an island off the coast of Chile. It was during a year off after I left my previous job and
a random conversation with a couple I had just met made me decide that it was OK to give the world of books a go.
The funniest thing that's happened in the shop... wow, there are so many. We are constantly laughing with our customers, which is one of the reasons why I love my job.
What’s your favourite product?
All of the books are brilliant - my top recommendation at the moment is The End of the Ocean by Maja Lunde. My favourite non-book products are some gorgeous long matches in glass bottles, which are a great gift and also super practical!
Is there anything else you’d like to highlight?
We have a loyalty card scheme where customers collect stamps to get a discount off a future purchase.
We have a great reputation for running and hosting a diverse range of book-related events.
Over the last twelve months, we have hosted author talks, panel discussions, book signings, children’s illustration workshops, quizzes, live cookery demonstrations, school book fairs and pop-up bookshops.
The event schedule is busy and it's one of the best parts of the job.
Welcome to Daily Info’s 2023 Advent Calendar – 24 days of festive tips, free activities & local shopping suggestions!
This year's calendar offers a mix of Christmas suggestions, taking in traditions in Oxford and the wider area, and free activities & events in the build up to the big day.
