Blackwell’s – A Brief Introduction Blackwell’s Bookshops have been trading since 1879 and is a Family owned business. We have 5 Flagship Shops and multiple Academic Shops across England, Scotland, Wales. We’re the leading Academic Bookseller in the UK. We’re a Localised Business with a shared company strategy.

eCommerce We’re working on improving the number of titles we have available online; we now have 12 Million titles available. For example, our Liverpool shop currently has 10,760 titles in stock. We’re using our website as an online ‘shop window’ to show customers that we don’t just offer what’s on the shelves at our shops. Customers can order from the millions of titles available on our website to then collect from their local shop, or have delivered directly to them within hours. Making our Customer’s experience a seamless one, whether they buy in store or online. This strategy is great in terms of improving our range but logistically is no mean feat due to the immense number of products available.

Blackwell Learning - eBooks At Liverpool we’re working closely with the University and have recently launched an eBook Pilot with the Law Department. Offering students and staff another way to work. Blackwell’s are the only Booksellers to offer both Print and Digital. By working with the University on this trial, we’re able to continue offering a seamless service, and by working with Blackwell’s the University continue to support their Campus shop as we get the sales for the eBooks. Selling eBooks in store in the form of a Textbook and eBook multibuy, meaning students get the best of both formats. The eBooks are heavily discounted giving great value for money. The eBook multibuy offer is equivalent to the WH Smith bar of chocolate for £1, but with a product you actually want. Challenges are there between the prices of Print and eBooks; they’re very similar and some customers don’t see the value of eBooks as they’re not tangible to hold. eBooks are great but not necessarily for all disciplines.

University Bookselling We’re aiming to be at the forefront of all main aspects of Campus Bookselling. We don’t just want physical Bookshops on University Campuses, it’s absolutely critical that we’re there. We’re a localised business, meaning each Campus shop is different and Managers are a lot more responsible for their shops, leading to excellent working relationships with University staff and therefore knowledgeable booksellers from the time invested with University Liaison. Blackwell’s selling Digital products is great; but the thing that will kill us is if Universities go direct to publishers. If we lose the support of even just one major department, that can be very detrimental. Our Blackwell’s Strategy is one that is united throughout the business, and shares a common goal with our Universities; Customer Satisfaction. Whether that customer is a University Department or a Student, or someone just browsing for pleasure, our aim is to make that service exceptional and consistent for all.

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