Housmans at 5 Caledonian Road near Kings Cross station is one of the last remaining radical bookshops in London, not to mention Britain. Established in 1945, Housmans mission is to promote ideas of peace, human rights and a more equitable economy. The bookshop has been a hub of political activism for the past 65 years. But they could really do with your help if they are to continue this role.
At the moment, they really need support in helping promote their new webshop: http://www.shop.housmans.com/
The power of the internet allows Housmans to interact with those outside the London area. If supporters from around the country were to regularly buy a book from us it would really make a significant difference. Read on for Press Release.
Update: video on Guardian website on April 12th 2010: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/video/2010/apr/12/housmans-radical-bookshop
Housmans - radical booksellers since 1945
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PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
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Radical booksellers take on Amazon
Fifty years ago, in the aftermath of World War Two, a group of pacifists
opened Housmans radical bookshop at its current address at 5 Caledonian
Road, in London's Kings' Cross. Ever since, Housmans has worked hard to
continue its mission of promoting ideas of peace, human rights and a more
equitable economy by which future wars, and all their inherent suffering,
might be avoided.
At a time when independent bookshops are closing down left, right and
centre, Housmans is having to fight to hold its corner. The biggest
threat to independent bookshops has been the rise, and subsequent
domination, of the online bookseller Amazon.com. Amazon has achieved an
unrivalled supremacy over the marketplace, but this near-monopoly wasn't
achieved without the usual unethical practices that are so common to the
world's biggest corporations.
What is wrong with using Amazon?
In 2001 the Guardian first reported on the poor working conditions in
Amazon's warehouses, and nothing much has changed since. In December 2008,
a Sunday Times reporter went undercover to their Marston Gate warehouse
near Milton Keynes and discovered that staff were required to work seven
days a week and were punished for taking sick leave, even if they had a
note from their doctor. According to Unite the Union, Amazon continues to
see trade union representation as illegitimate.
But it's not just Amazon workers who suffer at the hands of the
multi-national corporation. Publishers are also squeezed for every penny,
as Amazon forces them to supply them at rates so low that it leaves
authors and publishers out of pocket - particularly damaging smaller
publishing houses. Amazon's dominance of the market means that publishers
have little choice but to comply with their demands. Aside from the
ethical considerations, this affects readers in reduced output from small
presses, and diminished availability of radical titles.
Providing an ethical alternative
And so into this arena steps Housmans Bookshop. Housmans, in conjunction
with Gardners Books, has just launched its own online bookshop to rival
Amazon. Although still prioritising their stock of radical interest and
progressive politics, the site is also able to provide around half a
million general titles.
"Many of our most politically conscious colleagues use Amazon, and when
asked why, it's because they know of no alternative. But now, wherever
they live, people will be able to support independent and progressive
bookselling from the comfort of their own home. I think it's essential
that we are able to provide an alternative to help dent Amazon's
monopoly," explains co-manager Nik Gorecki. "It's up to sympathetic book
buyers to do the right thing, and buy their books elsewhere."
"This year Housmans celebrates fifty years of trading from our Caledonian
Road address, but in order for us to be here another fifty years we have
to stand up for ourselves, and trust in ethically-minded book-buyers to
support independents. The staff at Housmans has fought many battles over
the years for causes we believe in, and this is one battle we can't afford
to lose. Please support the shop that supports your campaigns!"
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For more information regarding this please contact
Nik Gorecki on 07950 269 286 or alternatively by email: nik [at] housmans.com
Housmans Bookshop
5 Caledonian Road
King's Cross
London N1 9DX
Tel: 020 7837 4473
http://www.housmans.com
