As a local resident and an Assistant Bookseller at Daisyroots Book Shop, I really enjoy getting to know the people who own and work in our local shops and businesses. From cafés and green grocers to butchers, bakers, pet shops, shoe shops, wellness studios and gift shops, these small businesses are what I feel help to make Grange-over-Sands such a lovely place to live and visit. Whenever I pop into Fletchers or Lancasters for example, I am always greeted by name and am asked ‘how’s it going at Daisy?’. And this is not just a passing question. Rather, people are genuinely interested in the news that I have and information about plans that we are progressing. It’s these personal touches and friendly exchanges that, for me, truly highlight how warm and supportive other businesses in Grange are to each other.
Working in the bookshop means that I also have wonderful opportunities to find out what our customers' favourite reads are, what they’re currently enjoying, and which books they’d recommend to others. Just last week a customer recommended that I read ‘The Lake District Mystery’ by E.C. Lorac, and this led to a lively discussion on favourite mystery authors from the “Golden Age of Detective Fiction”. And it got me thinking…would sharing book recommendations with the people who own and work in our local businesses help me get to know them better? Would sharing these ‘bookish’ conversations on social media and our new website, help to showcase how Grange's businesses complement one another and make it a wonderful place to live and work? So, at the beginning of January I took my idea to Jackie at Johnstons, Paulina at Pawlina’s Pet Shop and the Fletchers family. And I am happy to report that they all said, “what a great suggestion”, and “we’re game, so let’s do it!”
I’m really looking forward to sharing our ‘bookish’ conversations through our new BLOG, "The Daisy Newsletter" which will be posted online at the end of each month and, in so doing, shine a spotlight on the stories and personalities that make Grange so special.