ANNE Colley loves her job running a town centre bookshop.
“It’s great, no two days are the same,” she says. “And my customers are so nice.”
Anne took on the bookshop, in Commercial Street, Brighouse, after working there for more than 17 years, eight as manager, before the owner retired.
“It was called Just Books - I always enjoyed my job and decided to take it over myself,” she says.
She did so in September 2020, renaming the shop Brighouse Books.
Anne put her stamp on the shop - our T&A Trader of the Week - with a revamp inside and out.
The shop refit was over the August bank holiday weekend. “We closed the doors as Just Books on Saturday 29th and opened as Brighouse Books on September 1, after a weekend of decorating with fantastic help from my family.
“It looks lovely, with a combination of white and grey, and I put in new stands. It looked bigger afterwards.”
She did not change the focus too much, keeping up-to-date with popular lines such as adult fiction.
Crime novels are particularly popular, with best-read authors including Helen Cox with her Kitt Hartley series set mainly in Yorkshire, Rachel Lynch’s DI Kelly Porter crime mysteries and DI Ridpath crime thrillers by MJ Lee.
Anne is a crime novel fan herself. “I like JD Kirk - I’m on book five.”
Romantic fiction also goes down well. “People like a nice romance that’s an easy read. You get to know what customers look for, especially after working here for so long,” says Anne.
The shop attracts a stream of regular customers both from the local area and further afield. “People come back again and again. They often return to buy the next book in a series.”
As a discounted bookshop, many books in stock are on offer. “I have £3 each or two for £5 on some adult and children’s fiction - it’s a really good price.”
Local history and books about walking are also popular, says Anne. “We have books on the local area written by local authors.”
She may in the future host readings by local writers.
The children’s section attracts families, with parents helping youngsters choose books. “It’s great to see families browsing and children excitedly choosing books,” says Anne.
The Horrid Henry series by Francesca Simon are a hit with youngsters, while older children like James Patterson, author of the bestselling Middle School series.
“We also sell gifts such as Brighouse-themed items like mugs, keyrings, prints and tote bags.”
Commercial Street is the perfect location, says Anne. “It’s the main street, so usually quite busy.”
She is helped in the shop by Kirsten as well as Evie and Tamzin who work on Saturdays.
Opening in 2020, Covid had an impact. “We were shut quite a bit during my first year but managed to get by. I did click and collect and regular customers supported us.”
Anne takes part in local events such as Brighouse 1940s Weekend and the recent Dino (dinosaur) Experience. “We have window displays and we sometimes dress up. I love running the shop - no two days are the same.”
*Brighouse Books, 11 Commercial St, Brighouse HD6 1AF. The shop has a Facebook page.
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