The Last Word

As the end of 2025 draws closer it is a time for me to reflect on the highs and lows of being a bookseller.

2025 has certainly given indie bookshops across the UK its challenges which has certainly not been aided by our Government and I fear Rachel Reeves and her recent budget will bring extra challenges in 2026.

Whist the first six months were financially difficult, to the point I was considering my options for downsizing and even closure, the Summer brought us coach loads of tourists and visitors to our beautiful High Street and meant I could stop holding my breath and worrying about how to keep going.

The start of November, a time when our High Streets should have been bustling with the commencement of festive shopping, brought a new economic downturn - thank you Rachel Reeves, who I believe is attempting to turn the UK from a "nation of shopkeepers" to a "nation of online giants"!

The good news is our doors are still wide open, I am doing an excellent job of 'beleiving in a happy ending " and trying not to concern myself with what 2026 might bring us or indeed, not bring us, bouyed up by the support of every booklover who walks through our doors and every daily comment myself and the staff recieve about our bookshops being the prettiest they have ever been in. This particularly applies to Little Madhatter, the smiles on the faces of book lovers of every age warms my heart!

And heart is what bookselling is all about - it is personal. It is about cultural and political expresion, an expression of progressive change, a challenge not only to oppressive authority but a stand to all those iron handed individuals who seek to bring intense discomfort and draconian opinions to anybody they consider to be unlike themselves in any orientation be it gender, sexuality or ethnicity.

To paraphrase the great Schwartz - we are so much more than the "bottom line" the true profit in bookselling is social profit. It is the measure of the impact of the bookshop on the community.

The measure of a room full of joy at our Literary Festival event with Susie Dent; the measure of understanding with our guest speaker Richard Ovendon; the measure of laughter at our book club Christmas supper; 45 people crammed into the bookshop for Burford Comedy Club and so very much more.

I believe our bookshops are a beacon not only for booklovers but for those who seek comfort, joy or company and we will continue to provide for as long as we are able.

Thank you to every one of you who brings your love, your support and your valued opinions, may you all have a peaceful and joyous 2026.

Kim and the Madhatter team.