Tag: book clubs

Rare Birds Books opens on Raeburn Place

Home of female fiction, Rare Birds Books has launched Scotland’s first female-centric bookshop, right in the heart of Edinburgh.

In a bold move that sees the globally beloved book club show resilience and innovation in a time of retail uncertainty, founder Rachel Wood invites bibliophiles down the rabbit hole and into Stockbridge’s newest page-turning hotspot. 

Readers are invited to visit Rare Birds Shop in Raeburn Place to immerse themselves in a world of beloved book club favourites, must-have modern classics and the cream of the crop of newly published masterpieces.

From Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Malibu Rising to Torrey Peters’ Detransition, Baby, there will be a story, author and genre for every kind of reader, searching for every kind of world. 

Not only packed with the best stories, the shop’s shelves also display a collection of other must-have gifts and novel memorabilia. From Rare Birds’ new candles, which are scented to pair perfectly with your current read, and graphic print totes emblazoned with the store’s logo, to small batch chocolate and stationery from women-led businesses, you are certain to come for the stories and stay for the merch.

Rare Birds founder, Rachel Wood, said: “We’re so thrilled open our first book shop in Edinburgh. We’ve always been deeply interested in women’s writing and we can’t wait to bring what we do online to life in our very own space.

We dreamed of a really welcoming space where we could showcase a huge variety of women’s writing across all genres and create a space where booklovers could meet and socialise and that’s what I hope the space will be.”   

Shoppers can choose from a range of female authored fiction and non-fiction books, as well as create Rare Birds’ signature personalised bundles, which are made up of 3 personal picks from the store’s world of stories.

In the months to come, Rare Birds Book Shop will also be home to a number of in-store events, including author readings, book clubs and intimate shopping evenings. 

The book club you can’t read without, just got better!

For more information visit https://rarebirdsbookclub.com/

Read the room: Rare Birds Books creates a booklover’s wonderland

  • Capital’s first female-centric bookstore
  • Best-selling book club set to launch in the heart of Stockbridge

From Friday 6th August, readers will be invited to visit Rare Birds Shop, located at 13 Raeburn Place in Stockbridge, to immerse themselves in a world of beloved book club favourites, must-have modern classics and the cream of the crop of newly published masterpieces.

From Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Malibu Rising to Torrey Peters’ Detransition, Baby, there will be a story, author and genre for every kind of reader, searching for every kind of world. 

Not only packed with the best stories the shop’s shelves will also see a collection of other must-have gifts and novel memorabilia.

From Rare Birds’ new candles, which are scented to pair perfectly with your current read, and graphic print totes emblazoned with the store’s logo, to small batch chocolate and stationery from women-led businesses, you are certain to come for the stories and stay for the merch.

Rare Birds founder, Rachel Wood, comments: “We’re so thrilled to be opening our first book shop in Edinburgh. We’ve always been deeply interested in women’s writing and we can’t wait to bring what we do online to life in our very own space.

“We dreamed of a really welcoming space where we could showcase a huge variety of women’s writing across all genres and create a space where booklovers could meet and socialise and that’s what I hope the space will be.”   

Shoppers will be able to choose from a range of female authored fiction and non-fiction books, as well as create Rare Birds’ signature personalised bundles, which are made up of 3 personal picks from the store’s world of stories. In the months to come, Rare Birds Book Shop will also be home to a number of in-store events, including author readings, book clubs and intimate shopping evenings. 

The book club you can’t read without, just got better. 

For more information visit https://rarebirdsbookclub.com/

A novel year: Rare Birds Book Club predicts a page turning 2021

Scottish-based book club sees sales up 204% YoY

Membership figures projected to double in 2021

Even split between self-purchase and gifting

Rare Birds Book Club has offered a welcome distraction and a meaningful network for women across the world since its inception in 2017. As COVID-19 brought about the closure of businesses from independent to global, the monthly membership and digital book club saw its figures explode, with an increase in sales of over 52% during the first lockdown alone.

Twelve-months on and with three lockdowns under the country’s belt, the brand, which offers letterbox sized gifts to keep us entertained, has found itself to be one of the few winners of the pandemic.

The home of women’s fiction, Rare Birds Book Club has been a balm to combat the loneliness, anxiety and unease that Coronavirus has brought, not to mention the boredom. Showing just how much a year of being homebound has affected the nation’s shopping habits, Rare Birds announced a 255% increase when comparing January 2020 to January 2021 and an overall increase of 204% YoY. This equates to over 1,200 new monthly members across the last twelve months.

As a monthly service which delivers a surprise work of female fiction to your door, Rare Birds Book Club’s best-seller for 2020 was the pay-as-you-go option, “people love the flexibility and convenience, especially in these uncertain times” according to founder Rachel Wood.

However, that being said, last year saw over 44% of all Rare Birds purchase a 12-month membership or longer, meaning that for them the club is more than just something to keep them going during lockdown. On top of that, figures saw an almost even split, with 51% of members purchased for themselves, whilst 49% ordered as a gift for someone else.

Rachel Wood expands on why now, more than ever, people have been reawakening their love of reading: “Our mission at Rare Birds is simple: to make reading fun again. This year, nothing has seemed particularly fun and with fear at an all-time high and an inability to see our loved ones, a little escapism has been sorely needed.

“From the excitement of receiving a surprise book to the ability to gift those we miss, and have it fit neatly through their letterbox, we have been doing what we can to offer a touch of light relief in this difficult year.”

With a plan that is sure to set the literary world on fire, Rare Birds predicts it will double its members in 2021, finishing out the year with even more likeminded bibliophiles.

The brand will also see a number of big releases including a new line of gifting and a new way of selling in the second half of the year.  

For more information visit https://rarebirdsbookclub.com/