Writer Martina Cole
Waterstone’s Honoured at Bookseller Retail Awards
Waterstone’s, the UK’s largest bookseller chain, received triple honours at the annual Bookseller Retail Awards last night at the National History Museum.
Waterstone’s picked up three of the top awards at the event, considered as the Academy Awards of the Book Trade. Presented by comedian Alexander Armstrong, the Bookseller Retail Awards honour the individuals, shops and companies that have excelled in the industry over the last 12 months, and have achieved the most in their own fields.
Waterstone’s was named High Street Retailer of the Year, beating Foyles, Blackwell and Borders. The company was also named the Headline Bookselling Company of the Year, beating the winners of the other two retail categories (Martina Cole General Retailer of the Year and DHL Direct to Consumer Bookselling Company of the Year), WH Smith and Play.com for the most prestigious award in bookselling.
Managing Director Gerry Johnson, who accepted the award, said the accolade “was a tribute to the company’s passion for books and bookselling and to the 4,500 people who work at Waterstone’s, in shops and Head Office, who inspire me every day.”
Waterstone’s also won the Nielsen Book Marketing Campaign of the Year for their year-long campaign, The Writer’s Year. Created to put authors centre stage throughout the whole of 2008 to recognise their special and vital role in bookselling, The Writer’s Year comprised many different promotions and activities that achieved this is different ways. Included in The Writer’s Year was The Writer’s Table, which gave top authors Sebastian Faulks and Philip Pullman the chance to choose 40 of their favourite books to be featured in Waterstone’s stores and online, with more authors selections planned for 2009. Also featured in The Writer’s Year was the company’s What’s Your Story? campaign, to which authors such as J.K. Rowling, Tom Stoppard, Nick Hornby and Neil Gaiman contributed original, handwritten stories to help raise
over £80,000 for Dyslexia Action and English PEN. Other factors in The Writer’s Year were the Bookseller’s Bursay, a company-wide search for new writing talent, the Waterstone’s Children's Book Prize, and the company’s New Voices promotion, which highlighted new fiction from emerging authors. Judged by a panel of retail analysts, insiders and experts, Waterstone’s was praised for its obvious zeal for books and bookselling, with one judge
commenting “Waterstone’s has gone back to what it is instinctively good at, with knowledge being key to bookselling.”
For further information about Waterstone’s contact Jon Howells at Waterstone’s Press
Office. Telephone 0208 996 4385 Email jon.howells@waterstones.com Waterstone’s is the UK’s largest bookseller with over 300 branches nationwide, in Amsterdam, Brussels, Eire, Jersey and the Isle of Man, as well as the popular ecommerce website, Waterstones.com. Founded in 1982, Waterstone’s sponsors many literary festivals around the country, works with Dyslexia Action to raise awareness and funds for their work, and is a supporter of the National Year of Reading 2008.
About the Author
Waterstones.com - the UK's leading bookseller, with millions of books covering every subject - including children's books, eBooks, cookbooks and travel books.
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