Booklovers back Imagined Things Bookshop in Harrogate

Imagined Things Bookshop, on Montpellier Parade, worked out it would need to sell an extra 176 paperbacks to cover the increased cost.

In an appeal posted online in March, bookstore owner Georgia Eckert said: “Despite it being the Year of Reading, the government has increased business rates bills for bookshops across the country, including ours.

“We need to sell an additional 176 paperbacks to cover the increase alone (it’s over 1,000 to cover the original bill).

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“So if you’re in a position to buy one extra book we’d really appreciate it! Let us know it’s an extra one by telling us in person in the shop or commenting at checkout on our website, and we’ll colour a book in each time.”

A reminder of what needed to be done. (Image: Pic supplied)

Georgia added: “And just to add that though we’re concerned about our own rising costs, we do totally appreciate costs of all kinds of things are going up for everyone and many won’t be in a position to buy any extra books.”

By the end of June, the target had been reached.

Georgia posted on Facebook that “we got off lightly” in having to sell 176 more books.

She continued: “For some bookshops it’s tripled (that would’ve been 2,000 extra books for us, as the base bill is about 1,000). We’re so grateful we weren’t in that position.

“With rising costs everywhere we enormously appreciate every single book purchased, extra or regular. You help us to pay the rent, pay our wonderful booksellers, pay the bills and buy lots of brilliant new books! You help Imagined Things do wonderful things!!! Thanks so much folks.”

The bookstore in Montpellier Parade, Harrogate. (Image: Pic supplied)

Georgia told The Press this week, that the rates hike was around 16 per cent.

She continued: “We had to sell nearly £2,000 more of books to sell just to cover the rates increase, as not all that is profit.”

“People have been lovely and very supportive. They wanted to help and that was so lovely.”

In the meantime, Imagined Things, which began in 2017 in Westminster Arcade, before relocating to Montpellier Parade in 2022, says it is popular with authors, with 60 of them calling in over the past year for book signings.

This week, the business turns nine and to celebrate, it has a pile of books to giveaway.

Georgia added on Facebook: “You bought not just a book, but a bookshop’s future! Endless thanks from me. It’s been a rollercoaster going from a radiographer to opening a bookshop, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Getting to walk into my bookshop will never get old.”