Businesses rally round to smooth the path for new bookshop owners

When you start your first business, it comes with plenty of anxieties and pressures.

So much to sort out, so much to learn.

Mog and Pauline Giacomelli-Harris discovered that when they took over Warwick Books earlier this year. There's a lot to get your head around.

But they have done it. And they have done it with more than a little help their friends. New friends, that is - the people who know exactly what it's all about, those with businesses already established in the town.

The owners of the bookshop, in Market Square, are gearing up for Warwick Words Literary Festival. The festival's array of authors will bring a welcome pool of potential customers into the town from September 30 to October 4. Mog and Pauline will be ready.

After a hectic summer they are settling into the demanding world of retail - and immensely thankful to their fellow business-owners in Warwick.

"They have been brilliant," said Mog. "Taking over was pretty daunting for us, having not run a business before but everybody has been so supportive with advice and practical help. That was a pleasant surprise and really appreciated.

"We are very passionate about books and totally committed to carrying on the great work that the previous owners Keith and Frances Smith did to establish Warwick Books, but of course there is so much to learn. So it's been great that everyone has been supportive, from the Chamber of Trade and Warwick Rocks to individual businesses - even WH Smith, our competitors in a way, suggest us if they can't help a customer."

Running a bookshop was quite a leap for Warwick-born Mog and Pauline who were working in France for a fruit and vegetable wholesaler and a charity respectively when they heard that Warwick Books was up for sale.

It's a quantum leap. But they have thrown themselves fully into it - and are full of ideas.

"We were very lucky to take on a strong business," Mog said. "Now we want to carry on the brilliant service Keith and Frances offered but also expand into new areas.

"We are keen to get involved with the community, working with schools and the library service. Books are a great help to people with dementia and that's something we would like to get involved in.

 "We will also hold events different to the traditional 'author speaks/Q & A/signing format.' That's fine in some cases but we want to bring another dimension with theme-related events and are already working on a couple of ideas with local businesses."

A passion for literature is clearly a driving force for 34-year-old Mog and 28-year-old Pauline. That's great for bookshop owners, of course, but passion alone will not make a business thrive. That's why it's been priceless to be at the heart of a helpful community.

"It was a baptism of fire," said Mog. "All the admin involved is hard going so the support we have had gave us a real lift. We are new to this, but we are in it for the long haul, so all that help will have long-term benefit. 

"It is great that Warwick has an independent bookshop. We are proud to be running it and just want to take it from strength to strength."