Archive for the ‘christmas’ Category
Posted by unicorntreebooksboss on 21 December, 2011
Despite what everyone seems to be saying ebooks & your local bookshop don’t have to be a mutually exclusive proposition – in fact there are a few ways you can happily use both, thus benefitting your local community and your digital drive!
Here are our very easy suggestions:
Go to our webshop http://www.lincolnbookshop.co.uk/ & use our ebook affilliate links – this is perfect for buying Kindles on and for buying kindle books through – as each sale using this link helps us just a little and costs you nothing more than to favourite the site and click through for your purchases of any amazon product 
Come into the shop (or email/phone/tweet/Facebook us) and buy a National Book Token from us & then you can buy ebooks with it at http://www.hive.co.uk/shop/lincoln/unicorn-tree-books-crafts/
Hive has multiple ebook formats available (though not kindle) and you can also buy Google Ebooks through them as well.
Every single sale from hive.co.uk helps an independent bookshop – not always us depending on where you are but it will always be supporting a local independent bookshop! (and sometimes it’s even been known for the books to be cheaper than Amazon’s price!).
So there you go – easy ways it can be an Ebook Christmas without being Scrooge like for your local Independent Bookshop here on the High Street or in The Market 
Remember we are here to serve you and we really appreciate your support – go on Shop Local – it’s better for all of us when we go local to go global
So we’ll look forward to seeing you, recieving an email from you, chatting on the phone (01522 525557) with you or even facebooking or twittering with you!
Oh and happy season, may the coffee be good and the chocolate be rich and may it be a cool yule and a Blessed Christmas & New Year to all you friends out there!
Posted in Audio books, book tokens, books, buy local, carbon footprint, charity, cheap, Christian Books, christmas, customers, Ebooks, ereader, gifts, giving, hive.co.uk, indies, New Product, News | Leave a Comment »
Posted by unicorntreebooksboss on 7 October, 2011
Christmas is Coming!
Now I know that at my house in the lead up to Christmas one of the things we do is smarten up a bit, a touch of redecoration ( and no not putting up tinsel and baubles!) but smartening up the things that over the year have taken knocks and got a little tired so that when the guests come at Christmas the house looks welcoming for them.
Based on this idea I thought maybe this might be something Churches might like to do it too – and one of the things I find gets a lot of wear and tear in many churches is the Pew Bible!
So here’s a rather good deal to anyone who thinks they just might like to do a bible refresh before the Christmas guests arrive!
(
Here’s the link to the flier telling of the offer just in case the clever picture doesn’t show up!
Don’t worry if your church doesn’t use the NRSV, just contact us as we can do some great offers on other versions of the bible too – just ask us!
Remember we are here to serve you and we really appreciate your support – go on Shop Local – it’s better for all of us when we go local to go global
So we’ll look forward to seeing you, recieving an email from you, chatting on the phone (01522 525557) with you or even facebooking or twittering with you!
Unicorn Tree Books, Central Market, Lincoln. LN5 7ET
www.lincolnchristianbookshop.co.uk
www.lincolnbookshop.co.uk
www.jigsawsandmore.co.uk
www.cardmakersupplies.co.uk
www.lincolnartistsupplies.co.uk
Posted in bibles, books, buy local, cheap, Christian Books, christmas, church, church supplies, promotions, special offer | Leave a Comment »
Posted by unicorntreebooksboss on 23 December, 2010
Well here we are the Thursday before Christmas, I wanted to be able to tell you all that we would be staying open late this Thursday along with all the other shops and the Cornhill Market but unfortunately not as Lincoln City Council bods wouldn’t allow it without us traders paying for the staffing, even though the staff are already here for the extra hour or so, ahh well, how very sad.
Still don’t despair! I’m here till 4pm as usual and will be here tomorrow for your last minute christmas purchases.
I want to take this time to wish all of my blog friends, customers, minion types, suppliers and visitors a really blessed and peaceful Christmas, filled with Joy, love and laughter, enough to last not only through Christmas but all through what’s left of this year and well into the next new one and on.
I really appreciate all of you and thank you for your support, smiles and custom – long may we continue to trade and entertain each other.
Merry Christmas to you all!
Posted in buy local, carbon footprint, christmas, church supplies, customers, fact, gifts, giving, Lincoln City Council, Lincoln Echo, Market, minions, News, Pinky and The Brain | 1 Comment »
Posted by unicorntreebooksboss on 2 December, 2010
Phil from the website Christianbookshopblog.org.uk says it so well for me, as of course did the Lincoln Echo:
“DO YOU LIVE in or near Lincoln? If so, please consider contacting the City of Lincoln Council about their failure to take responsibility for a burst pipe that led to flooding, inconvenience, loss of sales and stock damage for their tenants in Lincoln Central Market this week, including our very own Melanie Carroll at Unicorn Tree Books.
Read all about it as reported at thisislincolnshire.co.uk:
Lincolnshire Echo: Market traders angry as council refuses to cover cost of flooding caused by burst pipe
Lincolnshire Echo: Market traders angry as council refuses to cover cost of flooding caused by burst pipe
STALLHOLDERS have reacted with disbelief after the City of Lincoln Council refused to cover the costs of flooding in Lincoln Central Market.
Water cascaded from inside the roof of the Central Snacks café for more than half an hour on Monday morning, and ran “like a river” towards nearby Unicorn Tree Books.
But now traders Barry Reeves and Melanie Carroll say the council has told them to claim on their own insurance as the burst pipe which led to the damage was “not a maintenance issue”.
“The council is trying to wangle its way out of it,” said Mr Reeves, chairman of the Sincil Street Traders Association.
The report continues quoting Mr Reeves as he describes the appalling situation of a leak that simply went on and on pouring water into the marketplace because “the caretakers didn’t know where the stopcock was.” Yet here is the common sense advice that the City of Lincoln Council offers to householders who may be concerned about the possibility of burst pipes in their homes:
Preventing frozen and burst pipes
* Make sure you know where your stop tap is and that it is working.
How can a Council which offers that advice to householders not know where the stopcock is in its own premises — especially when it rents those premises out to other people? Prospective stallholders at Lincoln Central Market are offered the following assurance:
The City of Lincoln Council works in partnership with the regional Business Link service to provide access to all the information, advice and support needed to start, maintain and grow your business.
If you think giving Melanie and other tenants in Lincoln Central Market the brush off instead of helping them to brush up and recover from this flood is an act of negligence, please drop the City of Lincoln Council a line and say:
You made BBC Radio 4′s ‘World at One’ on December 1st when you cancelled the Lincoln Christmas Market because of the bad weather. It was a sensible decision under the circumstances. It would be an even more sensible decision to support the Lincoln Central Market which is there all year round! You have a duty of care towards your tenants to ensure that the space you’re charging them for is fit for purpose — and when accidents happen because of your neglect, the least you should do is cover their costs!
Please take remedial action now for your existing stallholders that will reassure prospective stallholders that you can and will live up to your promise to provide all the support they need to not only start but to maintain and grow their business.“
Addendum – I have today added quote marks because it would appear some people who work in certain places didn’t realise this was actually a copy of a news article from the 2nd of December from the UK’s leading Christian Bookshop Trade blog – www.christianbookshopsblog.org.uk
Posted in bob the builder, bodgitt and scarper, buy local, christmas, customers, diy, fact, flood, Lincoln City Council, Lincoln Echo, Market, News, refit | Leave a Comment »
Posted by unicorntreebooksboss on 16 November, 2009
Now as some of you may remember back in september I posted about our new big white table (here’s a reminder for you!):
‘Thursday, September 24, 2009
A Round Up, Some Questions and a new white table!
So whats new in your friendly bookshop?
Well the newest edition, as of today, is a white table in the middle of the shop!
Now as you may know we don’t have a seperate room where we can hold regular events like reading groups, book discussions or craft classes, though we really want to hold them!’
Well that Big White table has already seen one fantastic author event – that worked really well and had the shop buzzing and heaving at the seems at one point, I’m looking forward to doing more author events, so if you have any idea’s then shout out!
But now that Big White Table in the middle of the shop has seen 2 craft sessions take place, with more booked and arranged.
The first one was a Thursday Morning lesson on embellishment idea’s for cards and lasted for 2 hours, and yes it was great – the people attending the class loved the class (and have rebooked for this weeks thursday session too, so it must have been good!!) and the browsers seemed to have no problems looking at their books and occasionally glancing over at the table too with considering glances, so who knows maybe some new crafters are in the making!
The Second session was on Friday and that was a 1hour 15 minute beginners taster on quick christmas cards. Again it went well, we can tell by how much the participants purchased to take home and practice with :0)
So anyway if anyone else is interested you can come in or contact us to see what’s on or arrange a one to one session!
We think that a one to one session might make a good christmas gift idea for the crafter who has everything else, so yes you can come in and buy a gift voucher for a session to give to someone else!
So there we go, that big white table is not just a blank space, but is now an active community space and I am loving that!
(though I do believe that despite the cards advertising my favourite coffee house – Angel Coffee – it has not yet seen enough cups of take out caramel latte grace its top, I am sure though in time that will be rectified as loyal minions gift me with coffee, time and their presence in the shop ;0)
So we still need to get a monthly reading group going round the table, but perhaps we should leave that for after Christmas!
Oh and hey what about a Lent Study Group round the table?
Anyone interested in that come Lent, We can do it at a Lunchtime slot and either share food at the table or offer up a Lent Fast and donate our lunch moneys to a charity of the groups choice! Think about it and tell others and get back to me with your thoughts!
Ok that’s it from me for now, see you in the shop tomorrow (even though it is my day off!) and remember should you want coffee and a chat, well mines a caramel latte :0)
Posted in author signing, bibles, Book Reviews, books, buy local, charity, christmas, classes, crafts, customers, easter, events, fiction, gifts, giving, lent, Market, minions, New Product, News | 1 Comment »
Posted by unicorntreebooksboss on 24 September, 2009
So whats new in your friendly bookshop?
Well the newest edition, as of today, is a white table in the middle of the shop!
Now as you may know we don’t have a seperate room where we can hold regular events like reading groups, book discussions or craft classes, though we really want to hold them!
So I am trying to get feedback here, would you consider doing these types of things in the open venue of the bookshop whilst the shop was open if the events were either free or really really cheap or coffee was provided? (Because as I’m sure you all know by now I will do much if a really good caramel latte is added into the equation – it is a payment and reward in itself!)
So anyway I think it would add an interesting vibe as other people browsed while you breathed the books as it were in terms of a book group – or created and learned a new craft, what do you all think please?
Talk like a Pirate Day and visiting Author Sue Hampton was well recieved – thanks to all the young-uns that walked the plank to see Sue! I had a great time!
We still have copies of Sue’s book – ‘The Lincoln Imp’ in stock for those that couldn’t make the day and we also have some of her other books in and they are very good too!
We would love to do some more author or themed events in store (Hence another reason for the big white table where once there were bookcases!) – so if you have any idea’s then please let us know!
The Bishop of Lincoln, John Saxbee, has a new book out – ‘No Faith in Religion’ and it is now in stock and available, though it is selling pretty fast!
Please pass the info on and reserve or come in and buy your copies (and yes we do mail order too!), it is an excellent book and a wonderful symphony of blended idea’s on the dichotomy of faith and religion!
We have Calenders, Diaries, along with Advent Candles and Christmas books, cards and items making an appearance now! Lots of Christmas Decoupage and Craft things too! and not forgetting Parsons Pocket Books & Lectionaries! Yes it’s early but they are selling already.
Please think of us!
Oh and of course dont forget about our Church & Community Group Partnership Scheme! Tell others, join yourselves!
This is a real opportunity for working together to build community by supporting each other! More proof if needed that we are Working with you and for You!
The basic idea, as i’ve said somewhere her before, is that Churches and Community Groups (this also includes schools, clubs or any community, church or group based initiative) sign up with us as a Partner, once signed up you promote us to all your church/group members and then everytime they come into the shop and make a purchase, providing they let us know they are part of your partnership (we can provide cards for you to give them), you get a percentage of that sale held in credit for your church/community group!
We think this is worth it as we are helping you and we hope building community at the same time – and yes we do not deny we hope it helps us too by increasing the outreach of our shop too!
Ok and we would be really grateful if you could let your friends, collegues and networks know about us, both in person and through the Facebook groups/twitter/blogs! So next time you visit the fb group page, followfriday on Twitter, or even come into the shop then please ‘invite people to join’!
So that’s the news, info and questions from your friendly folk and slightly mad but highly amusing and mostly tame wonderful bookshopboss at Unicorn Tree!
Please do respond, tell others and feel free to pass on this message to any you think might be interested.
See you in the shop! and don’t forget mine’s a caramel latte and bring one for yourself as well :0)
Posted in author signing, books, buy local, cheap, Christian, Christian Books, christmas, church supplies, events, fiction, indies, promotions, refit, twitter | 1 Comment »
Posted by unicorntreebooksboss on 17 September, 2008
This is our dedicated Religious, Christian Books & Church Supplies Section!
Christmas is here! Gifts, jewellery, Cards, Bibles and Kids Bible Books!
Nativity Sets now in stock! Bibles, Theology, Spirituality, Ministry, General Christian Life Etc
Church Supplies! Candles, Wafers, Church Stationary, Incense, Christian Music, Cards, Gifts etc.
Here are a few pictures of us for those who follow along on the blog but can’t get in for whatever reason – as you will see we are a real bookshop for all we are open sided and open minded enough to be in a market hall.
Also you will note the picture of the Christian bit prove we have now moved into the pre-christmas season with lots of nativities and such now in stock – I challenge anyone out there who has recently been at meetings and have never been to see us to say we are not a real bookshop! Assuming makes… well we all know the adage! Come by and visit us and don’t make assumptions based on the word Market – Marks & Spencers Started in a market! Starbucks started in a market and so did lots more! The market is fully enclosed and filled with specialist stalls as well as the mundane! A Science-fiction and Movie Memorabilia collectible specialist is the market! The Stamp Man for rare & collectible Stamps, Coins, Postcards and other such rare, treasured & exclusive finds is in the market! Artist Supplies & bespoke framing is in the market – Wendy the artist on artist supplies is a professional artist who is regularly commissioned for cover art and private work! She paints in the market and does art tuition in the market! Then of course there is us – not just a bookstall but a niche market book specialist – we import US fiction on a weekly basis covering Crime, Thrillers, Romance, Science-Fiction, LGBT and other markets – we are one of the few in the greater county and further afield that does so! We deal in specialist markets such as transport and military history – DVD’s, Books & more! and of course there is my personal joy – our religious, christian & Church Supplies unit! Committed to serving Lincoln & Lincolnshire churches and faith communities, because no city should be without a Christian bookshop and resource centre.
Of course lets not forget Al’s Arts & Crafty Bits also in the market and part of us – one of lincolnshires best papercraft suppliers for the last 5 years now!
Market is just a word, no one scoffs at going to the Supermarket but yet going to a Market Hall denotes something less worthy, something to be scorned and lessened – well put aside your preconceived notions and come visit Lincoln Central Market – you will be surprised at just how many upmarket (see there’s that word again!) types pass through it and how many select customers it reaches out too – we have in the years I have now been here happily and repeatedly served on a weekly and monthly basis Judges, Bishops, MP’s, Councillors, Doctors, Actors and just everything else on down. There’s no shame in being in a market or visiting a market – the only shame is that some think there is and that’s no shame on us, its just ashame that some can’t work past a bias.
Ok rant over pictures following – enjoy and see you in the bookshop in the market tomorrow!
The Main Bookshop Pictures!
Science-Fiction, Horror, Military & Historical Fiction!
Large Print Books & Secondhand Crime & Thrillers Section
Our newest Niche Market -The LGBT Section – Small but growing!
The kids love to play in Pegasus Books! – Our Childrens section – almost impossible to keep tidy!
Autobiography, True Crime, and the beginning of Ladies & Saga Secondhand
Puzzles! Classic Literature, Secondhand Science-fiction & Horror
Always look up and not at your feet! Jigsaws, Paint-by-Numbers and lots more are up high!
Al’s Arts & Crafty Bits, opposite the religious bit! Decoupage, Stamps etc – a papercraft heaven!
Hello & Welcome in!
Outside for Ladies & General Fiction, Westerns & Romance, The Entrance for Paranormal & Historical Fiction, inside for Pegasus Kids Books, Crime, Thrillers, Science Fiction, LGBT, DVD’s, Audio Books, CD’s, Jigsaws, Games and Arts, Secondhand Books Sections and lots more – oh and inside and passing through and across the aisle for Al’s Arts & Crafty Bits and the Religious & Christian Books and Church Supplies!
Wow – not so little and yes very very real.
Posted in art, books, candles, childrens, Christian, christmas, church supplies, dvd, fiction, gifts, jigsaws, nativity, paint by numbers, puzzle books, requisites., sci-fi, spck, SSG, thrillers, wafers | 5 Comments »
Posted by unicorntreebooksboss on 17 September, 2008
This is our dedicated Religious, Christian Books & Church Supplies Section!
Christmas is here! Gifts, jewellery, Cards, Bibles and Kids Bible Books!
Nativity Sets now in stock! Bibles, Theology, Spirituality, Ministry, General Christian Life Etc
Church Supplies! Candles, Wafers, Church Stationary, Incense, Christian Music, Cards, Gifts etc.
Here are a few pictures of us for those who follow along on the blog but can’t get in for whatever reason – as you will see we are a real bookshop for all we are open sided and open minded enough to be in a market hall.
Also you will note the picture of the Christian bit prove we have now moved into the pre-christmas season with lots of nativities and such now in stock – I challenge anyone out there who has recently been at meetings and have never been to see us to say we are not a real bookshop! Assuming makes… well we all know the adage! Come by and visit us and don’t make assumptions based on the word Market – Marks & Spencers Started in a market! Starbucks started in a market and so did lots more! The market is fully enclosed and filled with specialist stalls as well as the mundane! A Science-fiction and Movie Memorabilia collectible specialist is the market! The Stamp Man for rare & collectible Stamps, Coins, Postcards and other such rare, treasured & exclusive finds is in the market! Artist Supplies & bespoke framing is in the market – Wendy the artist on artist supplies is a professional artist who is regularly commissioned for cover art and private work! She paints in the market and does art tuition in the market! Then of course there is us – not just a bookstall but a niche market book specialist – we import US fiction on a weekly basis covering Crime, Thrillers, Romance, Science-Fiction, LGBT and other markets – we are one of the few in the greater county and further afield that does so! We deal in specialist markets such as transport and military history – DVD’s, Books & more! and of course there is my personal joy – our religious, christian & Church Supplies unit! Committed to serving Lincoln & Lincolnshire churches and faith communities, because no city should be without a Christian bookshop and resource centre.
Of course lets not forget Al’s Arts & Crafty Bits also in the market and part of us – one of lincolnshires best papercraft suppliers for the last 5 years now!
Market is just a word, no one scoffs at going to the Supermarket but yet going to a Market Hall denotes something less worthy, something to be scorned and lessened – well put aside your preconceived notions and come visit Lincoln Central Market – you will be surprised at just how many upmarket (see there’s that word again!) types pass through it and how many select customers it reaches out too – we have in the years I have now been here happily and repeatedly served on a weekly and monthly basis Judges, Bishops, MP’s, Councillors, Doctors, Actors and just everything else on down. There’s no shame in being in a market or visiting a market – the only shame is that some think there is and that’s no shame on us, its just ashame that some can’t work past a bias.
Ok rant over pictures following – enjoy and see you in the bookshop in the market tomorrow!
The Main Bookshop Pictures!
Science-Fiction, Horror, Military & Historical Fiction!
Large Print Books & Secondhand Crime & Thrillers Section
Our newest Niche Market -The LGBT Section – Small but growing!
The kids love to play in Pegasus Books! – Our Childrens section – almost impossible to keep tidy!
Autobiography, True Crime, and the beginning of Ladies & Saga Secondhand
Puzzles! Classic Literature, Secondhand Science-fiction & Horror
Always look up and not at your feet! Jigsaws, Paint-by-Numbers and lots more are up high!
Al’s Arts & Crafty Bits, opposite the religious bit! Decoupage, Stamps etc – a papercraft heaven!
Hello & Welcome in!
Outside for Ladies & General Fiction, Westerns & Romance, The Entrance for Paranormal & Historical Fiction, inside for Pegasus Kids Books, Crime, Thrillers, Science Fiction, LGBT, DVD’s, Audio Books, CD’s, Jigsaws, Games and Arts, Secondhand Books Sections and lots more – oh and inside and passing through and across the aisle for Al’s Arts & Crafty Bits and the Religious & Christian Books and Church Supplies!
Wow – not so little and yes very very real.
Posted in art, books, candles, childrens, Christian, christmas, church supplies, dvd, fiction, gifts, jigsaws, nativity, paint by numbers, puzzle books, requisites., sci-fi, spck, SSG, thrillers, wafers | 5 Comments »
Posted by unicorntreebooksboss on 19 August, 2008
Today makes it exactly 2 years that I have in fact been the unicorntreebookshopboss!
Yes indeed on this day 2 years ago I did in fact sign over all the worldly goods I did not possess and indeed the hope of having them! in exchange for the messy little bookstall that was at the time browse awhile books! and now two years on it’s not so messy, not so little and indeed not so bad!
I am still impoverished and tortured by minions, but at least its my poverty and my minions and in exchange I have the ability to read whatever book I want ’cause I have thousands of them!
I have a range of speciality genres and markets that match my likes!
The newest of these of course being the Christian Books (completely with its own unit! see not so little!) and I am so glad to have these on board, to be able to spend some of each day discussing a subject I absolutely love is phenomenal and a real dream continuing on.
Today’s discussion was on the Shack and the imagery presented as to God and if it is indeed heretical and if so why?
This addition hasn’t come without pain and heartbreak, but what it has come with is a continuing commitment and fervour to serve and reach out, after all pretty much all my book career had been in this section of the book trade and leaving it was painful (though also thrilling and enjoyable on another level as I was moving into the sphere of all books and not just one section!) but I remained resolute and with God’s grace and a smidgen of faith in face of adversity it came to be that I got it back this year, lets hope that together we can all continue to grow it – oh and did I say that Advent Candles and Advent & Nativity Books and Christmas Play material came in this week?? No? well it did – so if you are a church then get in touch as we are now taking Advent & Christmas orders!
Then of course we have the Craft section – formerly an independent business in its own right this came into our safekeeping a year ago and now lends itself wonderfully to our creative talent discussions and displays – believe it or not I am in fact a whizz at tea-bag folding, usually after they have been dried out from the copious cups of tea needed to cope with minion antics! This is still called Al’s Arts & Crafty Bits, but of course its now housed in Unicorn Tree Books!
Next is the LGBT section which is continuing to build a following and reputation and expanding as time goes on. The yaoi manga has been going phenomenally well.
All in all I am pretty proud of the changes that the shop has undergone and hope that in the years to come these will continue to grow and develop as we go forward together in faith, hope and community commitment!
So as its a new year we have old news to report on and new resolutions to put forward!
So old news – our sponsored charity, Great Ormond Street Hospital Childrens Charity was given £373.00 in the end, given our target was originally for £200 I think we did pretty well together!
Thank you all who gave their change, those 1p’s soon add up, as of course does the tithe we make from our sales – actually truth to be told that’s apportioned from the bookshopsboss wage as we still aren’t quite there enough to say its from the profits – its a commitment I made and so its one I keep!. We really do believe it is right to give to others when we can, as in giving we receive, even when we don’t know it or see it. After all sharing is caring!
So anyway this year we are continuing with the Children’s Hospital theme but this time its Alder Hay hospital that will be the recipient of our donations and tithes:
(though of course come October there will of course be our Christmas Charity to give to as well – last years Christmas Charity was Habitat for Humanity and we gave £50.00, lets hope we can give more this year when we decide on the Charity!).
So anyway I want to say thank you all for using us, supporting us and following along with us – if you want to come in and celebrate with us, then please do and remember my favourite celebration tipple is a Caramelatte from Nero’s or a Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks!
Thanks guys for the last two years, and I look forward to serving and working with all of you in the next few ahead!
Posted in Book Reviews, books, candles, charity, childrens books, Christian Books, christmas, church supplies, customers, fact, fiction, gifts, giving, minions, nativity, New Product, News, spck, SSG | Leave a Comment »
Posted by unicorntreebooksboss on 19 August, 2008
Today makes it exactly 2 years that I have in fact been the unicorntreebookshopboss!
Yes indeed on this day 2 years ago I did in fact sign over all the worldly goods I did not possess and indeed the hope of having them! in exchange for the messy little bookstall that was at the time browse awhile books! and now two years on it’s not so messy, not so little and indeed not so bad!
I am still impoverished and tortured by minions, but at least its my poverty and my minions and in exchange I have the ability to read whatever book I want ’cause I have thousands of them!
I have a range of speciality genres and markets that match my likes!
The newest of these of course being the Christian Books (completely with its own unit! see not so little!) and I am so glad to have these on board, to be able to spend some of each day discussing a subject I absolutely love is phenomenal and a real dream continuing on.
Today’s discussion was on the Shack and the imagery presented as to God and if it is indeed heretical and if so why?
This addition hasn’t come without pain and heartbreak, but what it has come with is a continuing commitment and fervour to serve and reach out, after all pretty much all my book career had been in this section of the book trade and leaving it was painful (though also thrilling and enjoyable on another level as I was moving into the sphere of all books and not just one section!) but I remained resolute and with God’s grace and a smidgen of faith in face of adversity it came to be that I got it back this year, lets hope that together we can all continue to grow it – oh and did I say that Advent Candles and Advent & Nativity Books and Christmas Play material came in this week?? No? well it did – so if you are a church then get in touch as we are now taking Advent & Christmas orders!
Then of course we have the Craft section – formerly an independent business in its own right this came into our safekeeping a year ago and now lends itself wonderfully to our creative talent discussions and displays – believe it or not I am in fact a whizz at tea-bag folding, usually after they have been dried out from the copious cups of tea needed to cope with minion antics! This is still called Al’s Arts & Crafty Bits, but of course its now housed in Unicorn Tree Books!
Next is the LGBT section which is continuing to build a following and reputation and expanding as time goes on. The yaoi manga has been going phenomenally well.
All in all I am pretty proud of the changes that the shop has undergone and hope that in the years to come these will continue to grow and develop as we go forward together in faith, hope and community commitment!
So as its a new year we have old news to report on and new resolutions to put forward!
So old news – our sponsored charity, Great Ormond Street Hospital Childrens Charity was given £373.00 in the end, given our target was originally for £200 I think we did pretty well together!
Thank you all who gave their change, those 1p’s soon add up, as of course does the tithe we make from our sales – actually truth to be told that’s apportioned from the bookshopsboss wage as we still aren’t quite there enough to say its from the profits – its a commitment I made and so its one I keep!. We really do believe it is right to give to others when we can, as in giving we receive, even when we don’t know it or see it. After all sharing is caring!
So anyway this year we are continuing with the Children’s Hospital theme but this time its Alder Hay hospital that will be the recipient of our donations and tithes:
(though of course come October there will of course be our Christmas Charity to give to as well – last years Christmas Charity was Habitat for Humanity and we gave £50.00, lets hope we can give more this year when we decide on the Charity!).
So anyway I want to say thank you all for using us, supporting us and following along with us – if you want to come in and celebrate with us, then please do and remember my favourite celebration tipple is a Caramelatte from Nero’s or a Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks!
Thanks guys for the last two years, and I look forward to serving and working with all of you in the next few ahead!
Posted in Book Reviews, books, candles, charity, childrens books, Christian Books, christmas, church supplies, customers, fact, fiction, gifts, giving, minions, nativity, New Product, News, spck, SSG | Leave a Comment »
