Sarah Kenny IF THERE IS a positive story to come from the Covid-19 crisis, it is that people are reading more books and shopping locally. Books have proven to be a great way to help people through the crisis and have provided solace, escapism and a way to pass the extra hours at home.
Sales of books have increased in 2020 along with online sales in general, and this has placed great pressure on the supply chain and its members, who all come together to make it happen. An Post has continued to provide an excellent service throughout the pandemic and staff are working around the clock. Our wonderful staff here have been working really hard to get orders fulfilled and none of what we do would be possible without them, they make the place what it is.
Indeed, the creativity of bookshops has come to the fore during the last eight months – booksellers are tailoring book packages, personally delivering parcels and getting inventory online to facilitate people during the lockdown. They were very innovative and began to expand the business by selling arts and crafts and antiques, creating book catalogues, and travelling overseas to buy and sell. They had six children and five went into the business full-time.