This past month, from 3 October to 3 November, EIBF ran an awareness raising and communications campaign on Reviving the High Street through its flagship project, RISE Bookselling.
Booksellers and retailers working across European town centres and high streets are facing increasing challenges, from the growth of online retail and the closure of retail spaces to soaring overhead costs and insufficient investment in local infrastructure. Now more than ever, they need political leadership, investment and support.
Through the ‘Reviving the High Street’ campaign run on the RISE Bookselling social media channels, 9 calls to action were presented, with practical and concrete measures to guide local political stakeholders in their efforts to support, protect and reinvest in their town’s high streets and ensure that local businesses remain viable, thriving and resilient spaces for all to enjoy, both now and in the near future.
Each social media post raised awareness about an individual call to action, explained by a bookseller in an engaging video or through a video infographic, adding context, additional real-life examples and resources.
The campaign was supported by booksellers from all over Europe and endorsed by EIBF members at the recent Frankfurt Book Fair, as well as some Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).
For more information, take a look at the RISE Bookselling website, where you will find all the campaign material, including:
- RISE Report on Buying Local and Reviving the High Street
- 2-pager with Calls to Action
- 4 videos from booksellers and bookseller professionals
- 5 video infographics
Last but certainly not least, don’t forget to #BookShopLocally!