REAL LIFE
“It’s a real pleasure to be able to share my love of books with other people”
Andrew and T-Anne Christie run their English-language bookshop in the Vienne department; it has a tea room and sells cards and giſt s too
us to reassess everything and we began to wonder whether we might take this moment to open a bookshop together.” A collaboration between
the pair led to the opening of Emma’s a bookshop and café in 2021. The now thriving bookshop sells books in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Dutch. The pair also run regular book groups where people meet to share their thoughts over a cup of coff ee and a weekly storytime (in English) for children on Saturday mornings. “We stock a wide range of
English language books, as well as a selection of books in other languages,” says Marie. “We love making recommendations and sharing our love of books with our customers. “It’s always interesting to
see who attends the English reading events,” she adds. “We get people who are trying to improve their English, or who want their children to hear English read by a native speaker, as well as people who live locally or those on holiday.” The pair have recently
launched a monthly book subscription service, where a recommended book will be sent to customers every
says T-Anne. “Trends have changed, and we try to listen to customers if they suggest something. We serve our homemade English cakes and take pride in our off ering – sourcing gifts from the UK so we know we have something diff erent for our customers.” Despite their wide off ering, books remain at the heart of the business. “I love being able to read books and recommend them to customers,” says T-Anne. “It’s a real pleasure to be able to
o share my love of books with h other people and
to fi nd the right book for the right person.”
And although books can now
be purchased at the click of a mouse, it’s this personal touch that many customers value. “We get people travelling up to two hours to visit the shop,” says Andrew. “Sometimes they will call
month. “It’s a great way to reach readers further afi eld and to share our love of brilliant books,” says Marie. “We’re really excited about it.”
CHRISTIE’S BOOKSHOP, GENÇAY, VIENNE Andrewand T-Anne Christie have run their English language bookshop in Gençay, Vienne, for 19 years, having moved to France from the UK three years after they married in 2001. “We’re both avid booklovers
and tea drinkers, so shortly after we married we decided to quit our jobs in social services and move to France. Andrew had lived in Normandy previously and had noticed a demand for English language books, so we knew we’d have a market,” says T-Anne. “Rather than specialising solely in
54 FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: September/October 2023
books, we also opened a tea room and fi lled the shop with handmade gifts and cards.” Over the years that followed,
with the acceleration of internet-based bookshops, the couple have worked hard to provide a personal, unique service and to adapt their business to meet changing demands. “We’ve diversifi ed quite a bit over the years,”
in on their way down south, or en route up to the hospital, but most will make the trip specially to visit our shop. It’s a lovely feeling knowing that people are prepared to go the extra mile for the personal service we off er.”■
Gillian Harvey’s latest book, One French Summer, is available from Amazon and other bookshops
RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL BOOKSHOP
Create an experience – people can buy books online, so your shop needs to provide that something special
Diversify – listen to customers’ ideas and be prepared to try new things, from running book clubs to serving coff ee!
Read and recommend – many customers will ask for your advice or recommendations
Bookshops are more than a place to buy books – work to create great customer relations and a sense of community
© ANDREW AND T-ANNE CHRISTIE
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