ABERDEEN NEWS — Next Saturday, May 13, will be the last day of trading for Aberdeen Books and Crafts, and to mark the occasion, owners Peter and Sue Shaw will be offering huge discounts that day on all stock.
Except for a few brand new and premium titles (identified with gold stickers), all books on the shelves will be sold at a flat rate of R10 per book. This will lead to some tremendous bargains, as many of the newer novels and non-fiction books in better condition are currently priced from R50 to R90. Prices for the premium stock, as well as all the scrapbooking and other craft materials, will be slashed to just half the marked price. All scrapbooking 30cm square paper and cardstock, normally selling between R9 and R12, will be sold at one price of R4 per sheet. There are some wonderful unusual imported double-sided papers included in this deal.
It will also be the final Coffee Morning, and regulars will not be disappointed with the items on the menu. There will be a selection of the popular favourites, including savoury pinwheels and mini quiches, with red velvet cake, chocolate snowballs and lemon dream cheesecake amongst the choices on the sweet menu. Sue’s special Amarula fudge, which has proved to be a great seller in several other outlets, will also be available.
The Shaws moved to Aberdeen in 2008, ostensibly to “retire” from big city life, but their love of books led them to bring the stock from their Johannesburg store and set up what is thought to be the first ever bookshop in the town.
Moving the stock of a bookshop is not easy, as the Shaws (and their friends and helpers!) can testify, and the current premises, an unusual building in a prime location, is the third site the shop has occupied in Aberdeen. The building is now in the process of being sold by the owner, and as there are no other suitable premises available to rent, the decision was made it was time to retire properly!
Over the years, many local residents have come to rely on some of the additional services provided by the shop. The Shaws are happy to reassure their customers that these services, such as ID photos, laminating, and scanning and emailing documents, will still be available from their home in Stockenstroom Street. Sue will also continue to provide private extra tuition in Maths at home.
The monthly Coffee Mornings in the garden of the bookshop have proved to be an eagerly-anticipated monthly social event for many, with several Graaff-Reinetters among the regular customers. Part-time assistant Leonie Bedaar, who acted as a waitress for these, has endeared herself to all with her cheerful attitude and careful attention to detail, remembering in detail the preferences of the regular customers. Those who have come to enjoy these tasty home-baked delights will not be forgotten after the shop closes, and Sue’s speciality treats will still be available on order.
Peter and Sue Shaw would like to thank those who have supported the shop since its first opening in 2008 –the many who enjoyed the creativity of scrapbooking and card making, the prolific readers, and the regulars at the Coffee Mornings. A mention too must be made of the much-appreciated voluntary help from Val Denham, who as a retired librarian and keen crafter has the ideal background to help the customers!
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