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BUY THE WAY News from the shop front
■ WE USUALLY concentrate on independent shops here at List Towers, but we’re genuinely saddened to hear that Borders UK are going into administration. The Glasgow store in particular has been a real gem, with a dedicated and knowledgeable staff always taking the time to promote local authors and publications of particular interest to the city’s actual residents.
It also means that Waterstone’s is now the only major retail outlet for books in the country, and, as widely reported in the media, this year they changed their process for ordering books. The vast majority of Waterstone’s’ stock is now run from one central hub in Burton-on-Trent, and centralisation makes it more difficult for stores to specialise in books of interest to local readers. This is pretty bad news for many Scottish authors: in fact, for any writers not famous enough to grab major broadsheet patronage and get themselves onto this narrow radar.
The only solution, we suppose, is to support the ever-dwindling number of independent book shops as best you can. We’ll be putting together a guide to those very rare beasts in the new year: for now, if you’re intending to give books this Christmas, have a think before you step on the High Street, as there are still a few hardy independents out there and they deserve your support. Particular List favourites include Elvis Shakespeare, on Elm Row just off Edinburgh’s Leith Walk (great for the sort of 20th century fiction to make you think, as well as music and contemporary writing) and the excellent Hyndland Bookshop on Hyndland Road in Glasgow’s West End, which has a wonderfully intelligent focus, and a genuine passion for new literature. Meanwhile, there’s an awful lot of Borders staff looking for jobs just before Christmas. Some kind soul has set up a Paypal account to help put together a kitty for the Glasgow staff to have a decent commiseratory night out when the shops close, tiny link here: http://bit.ly/57glwe
Last-minute local love We round up ways to support local businesses while you do your Christmas shop
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A lright, the search is over. You’re for somewhere you can go to get away from the city centre crowds and still, miraculously, get all your Christmas shopping done, while somehow also supporting local artisans and Scottish independent designers? Glasgow’s Merchant Market, my friends. No, you don’t have to thank us.
On Sunday 20 December, Merchant Square and the whole of Bell Street will fill up with over fifty local crafters, designers, jewellery shops, deli stalls, food specialists and artists. It’s really a one-stop shop for your Christmas needs, and you can get an extra glow knowing you’re not lining the
pockets of any nasty big corporations. Stallholders include Rhonda MacLeod jewellery, Kim Flower children’s accessories, Berits and Brown Delis, Lymekilns Cheese Co. and the Isle of Skye Candle Company, and there will be cookery demonstrations and street entertainers on the go.
Over in the East: a star! Ahem. And also, the annual Edinburgh Ethical Christmas Fair is still on the go until Sunday 20 December. It’s an equally cuddly way to get your shopping done, with the added guarantee that all of the products for sale are Fair Trade, too. Finally, if you’re looking for gifts for that special hipster in your life,
take a wander to the upper level of De Courcy’s Arcade in Glasgow’s Cresswell Lane. The lower floor is, as ever, clogged up with yummy mummy trinkets, but the upper floor, which has been closed off to the public for far too long, had been given a second lease of life with three brilliant new indies popping up just in time for Christmas. As well as the widely- publicised perma-craft retro hideout Made In The Shade Maisonette, the permanent home of the occasional retro craft market, with a lovely range of original homewares, there’s also an excellent choice of vintage clothing in Not Now Cato! (best shop name ever?) and some seriously slinky pre-owned designer fashion at Just....For You. There’s a great atmosphere up there, too. Go browse. Merchant’s Market, Merchant Square, Glasgow, Sun 20 Dec. Edinburgh Ethical Christmas Fair, Castle Street, Edinburgh, until Sun 20 Dec. For more De Courcy’s info, check out www. wearemadeintheshade.com
PRODUCT OF THE FORTNIGHT 12 THE LIST 17 Dec 2009–7 Jan 2010
The Christmas Jumper ■ The List’s trend team are firmly divided on the subject of the ironic Christmas sweater. Half of us get the reindeer out as soon as there’s a chill in the air, the other half just kind of shrug. However, if you must join in the knowing wintry winking, we recommend Lazy Oaf’s Reindeer Sweatshirts. Proper Chrimbo, these. Sweatshirts, £39, Lazy Oaf, www.lazyoaf.co.uk