Book Retailer of the Year
WINNER W H SMITH TRAVEL
Book Retailer of the Year in 2016, shortlisted in both 2017 and 2018, and now champion bookseller again, W H Smith Travel is a retailer that consistently delivers. It grew book sales once more in 2018 and opened new stores—nearly
20 in the UK and 60 internationally—while refreshing many others. Three of those launches were standalone bookshops in major British travel hubs—a heartening sign that in a broadly flat market the business remains firmly committed to books. And it showed that its support of publishers and authors runs deeper
than some think. As ever, W H Smith Travel had its fair share of sales of the year’s blockbuster books, but it proved itself a genuine supporter of lesser-known voices, of fiction in translation, and of independent publishers, not least through Fresh Talent and other promotions. It delved deeper into backlist too, including a Bookshelf Bucket List
initiative, and relaunched its children’s books offer with new promos and fittings. More revamps came at its concessions within Harrods and Selfridges, unique environments in which it showed its ability to flex its approach to bookselling. Publishers are full of praise for W H Smith Travel’s knowledgeable
team and their collaborative approach to sales and marketing. “They have a group of enormously talented buyers… They identify opportunities and exploit them to the full,” said one publisher. The judges of the British Book Awards were equally impressed. “Their
buying across the board is extremely good, and when they get behind a book they can shift some serious numbers,” they said. “It’s so refreshing to see such range in airports and stations… they’re getting books in the hands of people who otherwise wouldn’t find them at all.”
Market-beating sales growth, spread widely across genres and locations
Extensive programme of new openings in travel hubs
Smart, imaginative buying and a host of effective marketing initiatives
Support of new authors, smaller publishers and diversity of voices
SHORTLIST WITH THANKS TO:
BLACKWELL’S 2018’s Book Retailer of the Year grew sales once again right across its high street, academic, online and corporate operations, with events and the customer service of its outstanding booksellers among its biggest strengths
DAUNT BOOKS The James Daunt- founded group of high-end bookshops returns to the shortlist after many years away after pushing up sales through handselling, events and a deep knowledge of its London communities
GOLDEN HARE BOOKS Passionate, creative and hard-working Edinburgh-
THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS WINNERS 2019
based bookseller that qualifies for this award shortlist after winning the 2019 Independent Bookshop of the Year
WATERSTONES Shrugged off the upheaval of a sale to Elliott Advisors by improving sales and profitability again in 2018, opening new stores, refurbishing many others and excelling in children's books
W H SMITH HIGH STREET Earned itself a big slice of the year’s mega- sellers from David Walliams and others, but—like its sister operation and award winner W H Smith Travel—delved deep into backlist and new authors, too
SIMON & SCHUSTER
Simon & Schuster UK is one of the leading general book publish- ing companies in the UK. The group is based in London with sister companies in the United States, Canada, Australia and
India. Within the UK division, there are three imprints—Simon & Schuster, Scribner and Simon & Schuster Children’s Books—
which publish a wide and eclectic mix of authors ranging across commercial fiction, literary fiction, general non-fiction and children’s publications.
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