FAQs
Can you order a book for me, if you don’t have it in the shop?
Yes! We certainly can!
We frequently order (and pre-order) books in for customers. With very few exceptions, we can order any in-print book available in the UK for you and have it delivered to the shop for collection usually within a few days, sometimes a bit longer (depending on its availability from the publisher).
We can also often order in out-of-print books for you (usually second hand, but not always).
Just ask - by email, or in person at the shop.
Can I order from you online?
We don’t have an online shop (although we may sometimes offer certain books for sale on the website), but you definitely CAN order from us via email, and you can buy online via our page at the wonderful Bookshop.org. Details of each option are below.
ORDERING BY EMAIL:
You can click here to email us (or email us direct) to enquire about a book and place an order. You’ll then get an email (or text message, if you prefer) when your books arrive at the shop.
COLLECT FROM THE SHOP: If you’re local, you can pop in to the shop to collect it (and pay for your books at that time).
HOME DELIVERY: If you’re ordering from further away, or just would prefer home delivery, then you can let us know and make payment at the time of your order, which will include the P&P cost.
ORDERING VIA BOOKSHOP.ORG:
This is a great option if you want your books to be posted to you (or someone else!) - and if you choose Nairn Books as your supplier at checkout, then we get usually 30% of the book price, which is really good for us! This is why we recommend bookshop.org very highly: it benefits us directly if you choose us at checkout, and it benefits all independent bookshop members, even if you don’t choose a particular shop when you check out.
Click here to see our shopfront at BOOKSHOP.ORG, and to explore more!
Bookshop.org is also an excellent option if you want to send someone a Gift Voucher but they don’t live in Nairn, so our Shop Gift Vouchers wouldn’t work for them. Local, independent bookshops benefit from sales through bookshop.org, instead of large, corporate booksellers. This makes it better for small shops than even using Book Tokens, and makes it completely unnecessary to use Amaz#n to buy books!
Do you have Gift Vouchers?
Yes, we do have our own Gift Vouchers for the shop. You can spend them on non-book items as well as books, too, which makes them extra special!
You can pop into the shop to buy your vouchers, or email or call us if you’d like Nairn Books Gift Vouchers posted to a friend as a gift. (We only charge postage at cost for this service!)
Do you accept National Book Tokens?
Yes, we do accept Book Tokens in the shop (but not electronically or otherwise).
Please note that if you want to use your Book Tokens online, you can redeem them by ordering at Bookshop.org and we’ll still benefit a bit if you choose us at checkout. This can be a helpful option, especially if you’re in a hurry or are wanting the book sent by post!
Do you ship overseas?
We can ship overseas, yes - and do fairly often now ship to the USA, for example.
Sadly, however, since the UK left the EU, shipping to the rest of the EU has remained more complicated. We can get a quote for you for books that are in print and that can be shipped direct from our wholesaler - but this is not always a smooth process, still, so do be aware of that.
Get in touch with any queries about international shipping and we’ll do our very best to help!
Do you host events, or a book club?
As from February 2024, we’re starting to host a few author events, and hope to set up a book club later this year… and, of course, we’re involved with the Nairn Book & Arts Festival. Here is our Events page.
We are planning to start hosting a monthly silent book club soon. Get in touch if you’d like to know more.
Watch this space for developments, and please do get in touch if you have a specific event idea, or if you’d be interested in joining a book club!
I’ve written a book and I’d like you to stock it - what do I need to do?
First of all, please be aware that we stock very few self-published books, and have strict requirements for considering such a title (see below). This includes books published by publishers who charge you for their services (see this helpful list of publishers, provided by the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi): please note that on principle we do not stock any titles published by organisations with a ‘caution’ or ‘watchdog advisory’ rating from ALLi, or from those with similar business practices. Similarly, we do not stock anything published by Amazon. This is in the interests of protecting authors’ interests, and of promoting fair emplyment and business practices in bookselling, publishing, and more widely.)
Please - before you contact us about your book - first read the Booksellers Association’s helpful guide to getting your book stocked in high street bookshops.
Click here to access the BA’s guide.
As a one-person-run, tiny independent bookshop, we do not have the capacity to explain to each individual author what’s needed for us to consider your book. This means that if you email or otherwise contact us with incomplete information, we’ll simply refer you back to the BA’s guide.
As with most bookshops, our limited shelf space means we’re extremely selective in choosing which books we stock. If your book fits with our particular stock profile (e.g. nature writing, local-based crime fiction, short stories) then feel free to email us the specifics of your book along with your proposed terms of supply and distribution (as set out in the BA guide linked above).
Do not send us Amazon links to your book. We actively boycott Amazon for its unethical business and employment practices.
Please do not simply turn up at the shop without having first (i) sent us the information required and (ii) having been invited in for an appointment to discuss your book. Do not leave any unsolicited copies of your book at the shop.
Once we have all the information we need from you, we try really hard to get back to you in a reasonable timeframe. However, given the demands on our time to stock and run the shop, and the surprising number of requests we receive from local and other self-published authors, this is not always possible.
I’m looking for work - are you hiring?
Please get in touch if you’re truly passionate about books and bookselling, and are interested in a role where you’ll learn about the ups & downs of stocking a small indie shop, and put your love of reading a wide range of books to use! You can email, post, or hand in your CV, and we’ll keep it and get in touch if any positions become available this year.
MARCH 2024: WE’RE HIRING! [Application deadline now passed.]
CLICK HERE FOR THE BOOKSELLER JOB DESCRIPTION.
Please do not bring applications or enquiries to the shop; applications should be by letter or email only, and should follow the guidance in the description given :)
Do you take on seasonal workers, or offer internships?
Because to work in bookselling you need not just to know a fair bit about books and the shop’s systems, but should also be familiar with our stock, we don’t take on seasonal workers.
We don’t offer internships, no (since we don’t have the capacity or funds to do so, unfortunately). However, if you’re particularly interested in bookselling and would like to ask about some short-term work experience, do get in touch and we’ll see if anything’s possible.
Accessibility
The shop is laid out to allow access to those using a wheelchair or with a pushchair.
Please tap on the window if you need the doors opened for you to get easy access into the shop. (I keep the doors open for as much of the year as possible, but when the weather gets too cold, it’s just not feasible!)
Please ask if you need to borrow a chair to sit down for a minute.
Safer Spaces Statement
Our statement on Safer Spaces draws on those from othe organisations including the Lighthouse Bookshop, Sheffield Mind and others. It’s an evolving statement, and we welcome feedback on it.
Nairn Books aims to provide a positively safe, empowering, welcoming space of exploration and engagement for all readers, especially those of us traditionally on the ‘margins’ of society. We believe open debate on many things is vital, but also that the right format for dialogue on challenging, deeply personal topics is crucial for such discussion.
We have zero tolerance for discrimination.
We are an inclusive space, and welcome readers and others of all races, physical abilities, income level, sex, gender, religion and age. We will not tolerate verbal abuse (personal insults, oppressive language, verbal harassment) or physical abuse, nor will we tolerate racism, ageism, ableism, misogyny, transphobia, homophobia, islamophobia, antisemitism and the like - recognising that these oppressions are not separate from each other, and can be complicated as well as painful to experience and understand.
We ask the following of all our visitors, customers, and staff:
Consent: Before you touch anyone or discuss sensitive topics, ask if they’re comfortable with it. Don’t assume other people’s physical and emotional boundaries are the same as yours.
Be aware of your privileges - including those involving less obvious or invisible hierarchies. This often involves thinking about how your words, opinions and feelings are influenced, and whom they might exclude or harm.
Responsibility & respect: If you act or speak harmfully, even if unintentionally, someone may bring this up with you. If this happens, listen and reflect on what’s being said - even if you think they may be wrong. Don’t try to absolve yourself of responsibility.
Learning. If you don’t understand something, please just ask. You may be directed to a book, website or other resource to learn more. Each of us is responsible for our own learning.
Security: Please don’t use the names/details of people from the shop (fellow customers, authors, anyone who speaks at or attends an event, etc.) without their permission. This helps to ensure that third parties (e.g. journalists, the police) don’t hold information that could put individuals at risk of harm.