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Camden New Journal - by SUNITA RAPPAI
Published: 19 July 2007

Harry Potter and the price war

CAMDEN’S independent bookshops are urging Harry Potter fans to ditch the supermarkets and chain stores and buy the final instalment of the saga from them when it hits stores at midnight on Friday.
Nik Gorecki from Housmans Bookshop in King’s Cross, which has been selling books since 1945, said the price war over the eagerly-awaited new book had only one casualty – the independent bookstore.
While the JK Rowling tome has a recommended retail price of a hefty £17.99, many chain stores and supermarkets are expected to sell it at up to half that price – essentially at a loss – to lure customers in-store.
Housmans will be forced to sell the book at its cost price of £11.99 to compete.
Mr Gorecki said: “The chain stores will sell thousands of copies though they will be actually losing money because they will be selling the books for less than cost price.
“We’re urging customers to buy from us and help keep their independent bookshops alive.”
Gary Mclaren, who manages The Owl bookshop in Kentish Town, said they would be selling the book for £9.99.
He said: “Everyone should be able to sell the book but the problem is independent bookshops can’t negotiate preferential terms.
“Ideally booksellers like us who support the trade all year-round would be able to get some sort of preferential treatment”.
Adam Clark, from the independent book chain Daunt Books, which has stores in Hampstead and Belsize Park, said the company’s loyal customer base would see off the threat from larger rivals.
He added: “We’ve decided to price the book at £12.99 simply because we think that’s a fair price for it.”
A spokesman for book chain Waterstones, which has more than 300 stores around the country including branches in Camden Town and Hampstead, said the book would be on sale in all its stores for £8.99 – just over half the recommened retail price.
The Town Hall has jumped on the Harry Potter bandwagon with the purchase of 80 copies to be spread across the borough’s 13 libraries from Saturday.
The books will be available on a first come, first serve basis.
• For more information, visit www.camden.gov.uk/libraries

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