Small is beautiful!

Retailers expecting worst Christmas for twenty years.
The Guardian reports that retailers are expecting their worst Christmas since at least 1983 after seeing the sharpest fall in sales volume on record last month, according to the CBI's distributive trades survey.
The Guardiang reports: "Store chains are still hoping for a pre-Christmas rush, but 38% of retailers expect to take less than last year and only 15% expect to sell more."
Mr Roger Bernard Crossland, owner of FirstBookshop.Com, says this is mainly due to the continued change in shopping habits in favour of the internet and online shopping, often with smaller specialist retailers. ''Online we are all the same size.....the size of your computer screen.....this makes us able to compete in a way I could have never dreamed possible when I started bookselling in 1974''.
His company turnover for the year so far is up in excess of 53%

Visit source: Guardian RELATED STORY: Independent

Bored with Borders?

Bored with Borders? It sure seems most of you are, as poor trading means they will be shutting all UK stores soon (you heard it here first!) Buy your books at our 'First Bookstore' where business is buoyant:
http://www.firstbookstore.co.uk

Good Web Site Guide 2006

JUST ANNOUNCED........
for the 4th year running FirstBookshop.Com and our pioneering Book Token online ordering service has been featured in the 'Book Specialist' section of the Good Web Site Guide.
This new 2006 edition is now available.

WIN £100 NATIONAL BOOK TOKENS

Win £100 of National Book Tokens for your reading list!
To celebrate the beginning of the new academic year, we have £300* of National Book Tokens up for grabs every month from now until Christmas 2005.
For a chance to win, all you need to do is: send one of our ecards to a friend or relative, then tell us why you need National Book Tokens – the funniest answer will win!
National Book Tokens can be exchanged at over 3,000 booksellers throughout the country including all the major chains, local independents, academic/campus bookshops and online at:
www.FirstBookshop.com/garforth_home.htm - so you can spend them wherever you are :)
Send an ecard today and enter the competition now for your chance to win!
* 1st Prize - £100 National Book Tokens, 10 runner-up prizes £20 of National Book Tokens.

COMPETITION NOW CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL YOU LUCKY WIINNERS!
First Bookshop : First & Formost For Book Tokens Online.

Our Book Place

The First Place For Books is:

THE FIRST BOOKSHOP!

click here to access our book area:

http://www.firstbookshop.com/BookSelection.htm

FirstBookshop: THE FIRST WORD IN BOOKS: THE FIRST PLACE FOR BOOKS!

BOOKSELLING AND LEADING THE WAY SINCE 1974

The Guild of Master Craftsmen

CERTIFICATE OF QUALITY AND SERVICE

Through their commitment to maintaining high standards of customer care, product quality and presentation, the management and staff of this establishment demonstrate their dedication to quality and service.
This is to certify that:
FIRSTBOOKSHOP.COM
has satisfactorily fulfilled the requirements for recognition by The Guild of Master Craftsmen.
This establishment has agreed to uphold at all times the aims and objectives of The Guild of Master Craftsmen, to abide by the terms and conditions of membership and to continue to serve the public and fellow members with skill and integrity.

THE SECRETARY: 7th September 2001

membership number: x085962

what The Times & The Independent had to say.

The FIRST BOOKSHOP to get world wide publicity for selling 'National Book Tokens' on the internet and this service is now a global hit :

The Independent (London), August 10, 2002, Saturday, FEATURES; WORLD WIDE WEB: 10 BEST SITES OF THE WEEK www.firstbookshop.com "This is currently the "only bookshop to offer book tokens online" (the national book gift voucher scheme). Originally a small-town bookshop, it claims to be "beating the big boys at their own game", and while it doesn't quite match Amazon.com for size or quality of presentation, book fiends are bound to unearth something here that appeals."

The Times (London), August 16, 2000, Wednesday, Web world "www.firstbookshop.com This enterprising bookshop has gone online to provide book tokens - seemingly an Internet first. The tokens can be exchanged at 3,000 bookshops in Britain and Ireland."

UK Theatre Tokens

Theatre Tokens are national UK theatre gift vouchers - the ultimate theatre gifts. They enable the recipient to choose the show or play they want to see, where and when. Theatre Tokens were created to actively promote theatre-going nationwide. They can be redeemed at over 250 theatres nationwide, including all in London and of course London's West End.

Theatre Tokens were launched in 1984. They form part of a non-profit making trade association, The Society of London Theatre (SOLT).

Using Theatre Tokens : UK national theatre gift tokens can be exchanged for tickets by the following methods: Personal Bookings - in person at the box office. You can also exchange Theatre Tokens for tickets for London theatres, at the tkts Ticket Booth in London's Leicester Square.

Telephone Bookings - certain theatres will accept reservations made by telephone. Please contact the box office for availability and specific instructions.

Reluctant to order online? Then 'phone us: 0800 6125 350. The Token Line ia open 7 days, from 10am until 8pm.

Theatre Tokens, a gift they will really appreciate! The gift cards are welcome at over 250 theatres nationwide, including all of London’s West End. They are available from this web-site with no expiry date, so they’ll be valid for years to come.Theatre Tokens are delivered in a special presentation pack. This comes complete with an envelope and can be sent by us direct to the recipient, with a personal handwritten message at no extra charge. This is all part of our service to you ! (UK addresses only, postage is charged to you at cost to send vouchers overseas).

We can send Theatre Tokens anywhere in the UK currently Post Free with next day dispatch. We are also able to send oders throughout the world, with postage charged at just five pounds. They are accepted only in the UK, and remember, there’s no expiry date! Theatre Tokens let you choose what to see and where and when to see it. They’re valid for a huge range of entertainment - from blockbuster musicals, side-splitting comedies and gripping dramas to glorious operas, hilarious pantomimes and classic ballets. The choice is yours, so simply click below.

The link here takes you to our SECURE PAGE, WITH ORDERING FORM and the Theatre Token ordering section can be found just under our Book Token ordering section. We charge NO booking fees for using our online service.

https://www.secure-server-hosting.com/secutran/secureforms/sh209067/secureform.htm

NATIONAL BOOK TOKENS UK first to blog online first to retail online!

National Book Token Online Service FREEPOST. The established gift token (launched in 1932) can now be sent direct to a third party recipient, mail order via the internet for the first time, along with a handwritten dedication, as a present for any occasion. Our Bookshop Website has been called 'the most cost effective way to send a gift to the UK from abroad' It has been featured in The Good Web Site Guide (book specialists pages) for three years running and has been featured in Vogue Magazine and GQ Magazine, plus reviewed positively in The Independent & The Times. We are proud to be able to claim that we were FIRST FOR BOOK TOKENS ONLINE back in the year 2000 and that our service is still unmatched today in it's exact form, by any other provider!

To access book tokens online (and theatre tokens online), simply click on the direct link below or call freephone UK: 0800 6125350.

http://www.firstbookshop.com/

Token House Domains

The Very Latest From The Token House Partnership :
BridJobs.co.uk

FIRST website dedicated to finding the right job and the right employee in Bridlington.
We offer recruitment and training opportunities and low cost advertising, all within the Bridlington and East Yorkshire district locations.
We aim to promote regeneration along with increased and accessible employment and training opportunities within the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Our ethos behind the creation of this website is to promote local jobs created through regeneration, tourism, business expansion and the natural growth of the town.
"Local Jobs for Local People"
online services for Jobseekers and Employers all at the click of a mouse.
Bridlingtonjobs.co.uk
If seeking employment, or looking to recruit additional staff, then please take a look at our dedicated website for further information.

Recently Established From The Token House Partnership :
Garforth.net

Helping businesses get online in Garforth, which is situated in East Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Going local? Better look here first!
THIS IS THE OFFICIAL GARFORTH TOWN SITE!