Blackwell’s new Crown Place shop is now open, as the leading academic bookseller looks to pilot the future of campus bookselling on University of Liverpool’s campus.
The entire look and feel of a traditional academic bookshop has been renewed and modernised in the new location, with the focus on creating a retail environment students are comfortable shopping in. It feature digital displays, interactive touchscreens and a contemporary retail design.
The new Liverpool shop brings together both physical and eBooks, giving students the choice on how they study. eBooks can be browsed on Blackwell’s Learning Platform through interactive instore screens and purchased at the till, enabling students to experience the benefits of owning and using digital textbooks.
Blackwell’s Learning is a bespoke academic eReading platform specifically designed for study and is supported with free to download Apple and Android apps. It enables students and lecturers to access content across laptops, tablets and smartphones, as well as providing full educational functionality including bookmarking, annotation and note sharing, along with additional accessibility features such as text to speech.
The shop aims to deliver a fully-fledged multi-channel offer which will provide students with access to 12 million titles available through blackwells.co.uk, with click and collect options provided.
Blackwell’s has also partnered with Caffe Nero to integrate books and coffee seamlessly, creating a space students will want to relax, socialise and shop in.
Blackwell’s is reopening with considerable support and goodwill from University of Liverpool and this support has been a crucial factor in piloting the firm’s new concept.
Blackwells is innovating with its offers as well as its shop design, and this autumn launches its ‘Student Price Match Guarantee’ to all students, providing all customers with the guarantee they will find textbooks at the cheapest UK price. An eBook multibuy offer, where, if students buy a physical textbook, they can get the eBook for just £5 is available as well as the option to buy and sell second-hand textbooks at every UK shop.
Blackwell’s CEO David Prescott said: “When students come in for textbooks we want to show them an environment that will inspire them to come back and see us throughout the year.
“These new format shops will provide a new experience with more space for students to sit down and take advice from our expert booksellers, to browse multiple channels on interactive touchscreens that not only gives them access to the stock in shop but also to the 12 million titles we have online that can be delivered for collection on campus.”
Blackwell’s Liverpool shop manager Sarah Yates sais: “Our new shop is easily accessible for students and the new technology and layout that marks it out from the traditional academic bookshop will, we hope, provide a fantastic resource and venue for both students and staff.”
Jenny Tucker, University of Liverpool’s Director of Facilities, Residential and Commercial Services, said: “The University of Liverpool is delighted to continue working with Blackwell’s to further develop its presence on campus in a new and modern facility within the heart of our new student accommodation, Crown Place.
“The new location and additional amenities, combined with Caffe Nero, also create an ideal place for our staff and students to meet informally.”
The new Blackwell’s can be found on the ground floor of Crown Place, on Peach Street.
