Wake Up to Money

Books, shelves & elves

14 snips
Dec 5, 2025
James Daunt, the dynamic CEO of Waterstones, shares insights on the critical role of Christmas sales and the trends shaping the book market, such as the rise of romance and children's genres. Meanwhile, Rachel Carell, CEO of Koru Kids, discusses the pressing gaps in childcare policy and the increasing demand for specialized nannies. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI in publishing and reflections on community bookshops versus larger chains. Their perspectives provide a fascinating glimpse into the evolving landscapes of retail and childcare.
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ADVICE

Plan With Pre‑Mortems And Cash Buffers

  • Run pre-mortems to surface likely failure modes before projects start.
  • Keep cash buffers and insure what you can to control predictable risks.
INSIGHT

Christmas Drives Bookshop Profitability

  • Christmas remains the decisive month for book retailers, concentrating most annual profits.
  • Fixed shop costs make December's sales critical to cover the rest of the year.
INSIGHT

Business Rates Reform Helps High Streets

  • Business rates reform can revive struggling high streets by reducing taxes on smaller shops.
  • James Daunt sees the change as long‑overdue and supportive for local shop neighbours.
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