IBW sponsor, Hachette UK, reveals plans for Independent Bookshop Week

12^th June 2024 – Hachette UK has partnered with its authors for a cross-divisional social media campaign which celebrates and champions independent booksellers across the UK and Ireland. The campaign supports and promotes the Bookseller Associations’ annual Independent Bookshop Week, for which Hachette UK is the headline and only publisher sponsor.

The campaign, now in its fifth year, will run for a week on Hachette UK’s social channels from Saturday 15 June, and centres around a series of videos from authors including Peter May, Rachel Clarke, Harriet Townson, L.D Lapinski, Reverend Richard Coles, Rachel Blackmore and Chetna Makan, as they share their favourite places to discover new books, and why independent bookshops are so important to them.

To further mark the occasion, Hachette is offering two exclusives during Independent Bookshop Week, the first is from Hodder & Stoughton author, George the Poet, who has written a poem exclusively for the campaign, and which will be shared on social media on 19 June. Secondly, to celebrate the release of a re-branded collection of Sarah Waters’ novels, Virago has created an Independent Bookshop Week exclusive reader’s companion. Offered to customers as a gift with the purchase of any Sarah Waters novel, the guide includes: a letter from Sarah Waters; a ‘Where to Start with Sarah Waters’ piece by Sarah’s long-time publisher, Lennie Goodings; a love letter to Sarah’s novels from Charlotte Mendelson, author of The Exhibitionist; and a guide to adaptations of Sarah’s novels.

David Shelley, Group CEO of Hachette UK and Hachette Book Group, said: “Our valuable partnership with Independent Bookshop Week seeks to recognise and support the vital role independent booksellers play in our industry. I’m excited by the scope of activity that our teams and authors have planned to ensure that we reach all readers during this fantastic week of celebrating bookshops.”

Hachette Children’s Group has planned in-store initiatives including window displays and installations, exclusive competitions, and merch giveaways around some of its key titles such as The Cheat Book, Which Way Round the Galaxy, Giraffes Can’t Dance, Heartstopper and Sharky McShark and the Shiny Shell Squabble, as well as an exclusive Oi Frog and Friends! Independent Bookshop Week tote bag.

Hachette UK also has a range of other activities planned throughout the week with authors across its divisions. This includes Independent Bookshop Week ambassadors Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Reverend Richard Coles and Clive Myrie as well as other Hachette UK authors Sarah Brooks, Paula Sutton, Harriet Townson, Lia Leendertz, Mick Herron, Elly Griffiths, Alex Hay and Nanako Hanada, who are taking part in events in independent bookshops across the UK.

Emma Bradshaw, Head of Campaigns at Bookseller’s Association added: “We’re very grateful to the Hachette UK team and their authors, illustrators and poets for their continued support of Independent Bookshop Week. The 2024 campaign is set to be a fantastic week of celebration which really underlines the importance of publisher and bookshop collaboration. There are over 100 events and activities taking place in independent bookshops, or with partner venues, during the week, as well as number of exciting online highlights, including George the Poet’s wonderful campaign poem. Whether readers are able to visit their local bookshop in person, or join in online, they are in for a treat.”

Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of In The Shadow of the Wolf Queen (Hachette Children’s Group), and official Independent Bookshop Week ambassador says: “Independent bookshops are like treasure troves staffed by the most erudite and lovely dragons. Each knows their hoard inside out and I feel so lucky whenever I get to visit and ask for their recommendations, coming away with hidden gems and glittering storytelling riches. I love the high ceilings of Forum Books in Corbridge, the gorgeously-painted windows of Booka Bookshop, the pitch perfect curation at Porty Books and of course the dazzling array at my local, Mostly Books. But every shop I visit is distinct and precious, and offers an experience as unique as the people who run them – and that is what makes indie bookselling such a vibrant and vital part of the book world.”