U.S. Stores Invited to Apply for London Book Fair’s Bookstore of the Year Award

Independent booksellers are invited to nominate their stores for the London Book Fair’s 2019 Bookstore of the Year Award, which is sponsored by book wholesaler Gardners.

The judges are looking for excellence in a range of areas, including customer service, staff knowledge, events, displays, outreach, atmosphere, innovation, imagination, and incorporation of digital technology, as well as style and flare. Independents or chain branches whose primary business is outside the U.K. are eligible for nomination.

Booksellers will need to provide two reasons of up to 300 words each for why the judges should select their application for the shortlist.

Each shortlisted bookstore will be awarded £500 and a travel stipend to visit the Gardners headquarters in Eastbourne, England.

In addition, the grand prize winner will receive a net credit on an existing Gardners account equating to £1000 of products at retail value or a £600 credit toward a new account.

The entry deadline is Friday, December 21. The winner will be presented with a trophy at the annual awards ceremony held at the London Book Fair on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.

Established more than 30 years ago, Gardners has grown to become a leading wholesaler of books, e-books, music, and film to retailers around the world.