Independent book store with a story to tell
The owner of an independent Bath bookshop say they are “stronger than ever” despite a challenging two years.
Nic Bottomley, 46 set up Mr B’s Emporium some 16 years ago with his wife Juliette, 48 on John Street.
Ask anyone in Bath for a great independent shop and Mr B’s is not far off their lips. It’s award-winning and loved by all.
It is loved by locals and tourists alike because you go in knowing you’re going to find a great book with the help of staff who fall over you to help.
Nic said that their loyal customers are the reason they’re still here today when so many other Bath independents haven’t stood the test of time.
When you throw in a worldwide pandemic that has changed how we all function, the shops continued success and popularity is even more impressive.
Nic said: “The last two years have been challenging for everyone at times.
“It’s been tricky to adjust in how we serve our customers - we are a busy, bustling shop with energetic staff who want to help but masks and closures make that much harder.
“The website has really let us communicate with customers and our very popular reading subscriptions - where you get one book a month - have done very well and because we have had those, we are stronger than ever.”
The shop has shut three times in the last two years, even furloughing some staff at full pay at times but has mostly kept going regardless of the world going mad outside.
Staff get allocated a reader and become their ‘bibliotherapist’ they read the customers questionnaire and then get busy sending them a book a month they think they’ll love. It means the bookshop’s reach is far wider than just the cobbled streets of Bath.
Mr B’s is described as a place for book lovers and book nerds but also for complete beginners and children just starting out on their literary careers.
Nic said: “Our two cornerstones are putting our customers first and a desire to create a space for people to be as openly geeky about books as they like.”
Nic and Juliette spent almost a decade working as lawyers before they set up the bookshop - with Nic saying he knew law wasn’t his passion - but books - well, they were.
Following a trip to Seattle where they visited the Elliot Bay Book Company - another great independent - the pair thought they need to give it a go.
Fast forward 16 years and the shop is part of the local fabric of Bath. Despite its huge success they aren’t taking anything for granted and are highly aware of the difficulty facing local high streets at the moment with scores of empty shops.
Nic said: “We don’t take anything for granted, there are still lots of post-pandemic gaps in the ecosystem of the high street.
“It’s been good to see a few chains and independents coming back, I hope it’s a sign landlords are being flexible with rent - we need regeneration to the high street so that it matches everything we have culturally here in Bath.
“That’s why it’s so important that people shop local and independent, it encourages all businesses and will hopefully see those empty units being filled.”
To find out about the book subscriptions and other events at the bookshop - head to their website at: https://mrbsemporium.com.