Author opens super-cool books and games shop
WRITER AND GAMER TRANSFORMS OLD SHOP INTO A HAVEN OF CHILDREN’S READING
AN AUTHOR has decided to turn her passion in to a business by transforming a derelict building into an ultra-cool children’s games and book shop.
Books and Banter, in Main Street, Stapenhill, opened its doors last month and the shop is packed full of children’s books for those up to the age of 18 and also includes cult games such as Pokémon, Digimon, Yu Gi Oh and special edition Monopoly sets.
Currently the shop opens in the late afternoons, but owner Melissa Bowen says once the restrictions have been lifted she will look into opening during the day.
Melissa says she spotted the opportunity after recently moving to Stapenhill from Sutton Coldfield and realised there was a gap in the market for a shop of this kind.
The mother-of-two said: “Due to the pandemic my school [book] events and tours were cancelled so I thought why not do something to keep me occupied and focus on something I enjoy?
“I moved to Stapenhill in July 2020 and saw the opportunity when I was walking past the shop one day.
“It was a complete shell and needed a major revamp, but I was keen to get stuck in and overall it took us around three months to get the shop ready.
“I would like to thank East Staffordshire
Borough Council for their support, they guided me through the process and helped me to identify what grants were available to me.
“Due to being an author and a keen gamer, I know a lot of authors who I contacted and they were more than happy for me to stock their books.
“Apart from this, I got in touch with the gaming community and even though I wanted to start off as just a book shop, I was very interested in
stocking various games, and now I can safely say we are a gaming and book shop.
“So far the support has been amazing, we have really been made welcome in Stapenhill and can’t complain.
Melissa says she will be organising book club events to help encourage more children to read, and as a member of the official Pokémon League, she will be teaching Pokémon to learners who will eventually take part in the Pokémon National Championships.
She added: “Unfortunately due to the pandemic the Pokémon National Championships were cancelled, but I am hoping to start the lessons once it is safe to do so and have members of Books and Banter participating.
“Currently I am working at the shop with the help of my daughter, Taylor, it is a family-run business and so far it is going really well.
“We are still relatively new and not a lot of people are aware that shop like this has opened. I am very confident once more people are aware we will get a lot more trade and become a successful business in the area.”
Melissa, who writes under the name B B Taylor, has penned a number of books for children, including The Vigilante Tooth Fairy, Doodles, and Tales of Nibiru. She visits schools, hosts Skype visits, and has her own Youtube channel.
You can find out more at www. bbtaylor-books.com
So far the support has been amazing, we have really been made welcome in Stapenhill. Melissa Bowen