The Sheffield bookshop supporting the works of feminist and LGBTQ+ authors

Since opening last October, Sarah and Rosie have been working to provide a safe and inclusive environment for book lovers to enjoy the works of authors that they say are often overlooked by the mainstream media.

Sarah says: “There’s something special about visiting a bookshop, feeling the book in your hands and exploring the works of different authors.

"There are some really interesting books being published by female and LGBT writers, and we wanted to challenge the perceptions of what’s available in the marketplace and build a business that reflected our own experiences.

“When we discovered that the building we work from has a connection to the suffragettes and had previously operated as a bookshop in the 1930s, we felt it offered an opportunity for us to play a small part in creating a fairer and more equal society.”

Sarah and Rosie built their friendship on a shared love of literature. The duo frequently talked about running a bookshop, but with no business experience, the idea of self-employment seemed out-of-reach.

As a first step, they decided to launch an Instagram account, which they used to celebrate the works of female and LGBT authors. The number of people following the account began to grow and the experience gave them the confidence to try their hand at selling a selection of books online.

As well as spending time talking to independent bookstores, they called on help from the Launchpad Business Support Programme, a resource designed to help new and aspiring entrepreneurs in South Yorkshire access support, training and advice to develop their business ideas.

With the help of an adviser, they built their business around the idea of supporting independent publishing houses, and creating a safe, friendly environment where “equality is celebrated and marginalised members of society are welcomed”.

“We knew that starting a business would be a life changing experience, and we needed to go into it with our eyes wide open,” Sarah says. “Neither of us had a background in business, and although we felt there was demand for our unique bookshop, before we could put our plans into practice, we knew we needed to understand what it takes to run a business.

“The support we received gave us the confidence to believe in our ideas... We’ve now got some exciting plans lined up for the business including recruiting our first member of staff, as well as hosting regular book groups and events from our shop.”