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The Book Rest

Put your feet up on the sofa and have a good readThe Book Rest

A spell in hospital and a daughter pressing her to retire were the factors which led to Carole-Ann Warburton realising a lifelong dream and opening her second-hand bookshop in Somerset.

Her wish was not for a place displaying orderly shelves of books from wall to wall, however. Carole-Ann's vision had always been for a welcoming spot which feels like home. Somewhere where people could drift in, relax in comfort, read books, enjoy a coffee and cake, and chat about literature and life in general.

Out with the old life

A lover of reading for as long as she can remember, Carole-Ann gave up an established career in central government, relocated to a different county, and took the plunge into starting her own business, The Book Rest, in 2011. Recuperating after being in hospital, Carole-Ann was staying with her daughter in Ilminster who persuaded her mother that she should give up work and move closer to enjoy a quiet retirement.

When she started to look at property for sale in the town, Carole-Ann visited a barber's shop which was situated near the High Street. "I fell in love with the place," she explained. "It's a beautiful old building, some parts of which date back to around 1640. I knew it was just perfect for me to open a bookshop. Within a week I'd made an offer, given in my notice at work and put my home in Bristol on the market."

Make yourself at home

 Just ten weeks later she moved in, ready to get started in her new business venture.

Originally two houses which had been knocked into one, there was plenty of room for a large shop below and for Carole-Ann to live in the spacious apartment above.

"My plan was that it should feel like a home which is filled with books," said Carole-Ann. "I didn't just want lots of shelves, but also plenty of space where I could put sofas and chairs. It's amazing how many people come in, flop down on one of the settees and say 'Ooh, I could do with a quiet five minutes.'"
The CellarComfy seating

 The Book Rest certainly makes you feel welcome as soon as you walk through the door. The shop is made up of a number of rooms and a corridor, all filled with different bookcases. You can sense the history of the building with the beautiful old stone flooring covering part of the entrance area, the big sash windows, and the cellar which is atmospherically lit with uplighters. Scattered around are various ornaments and furniture, including Welsh dressers, a dining table, and lots of comfortable seating.

It seemed a natural progression to start offering tea, coffee and cakes to customers, which has proved very popular. All drinks are Fairtrade too, with Carole-Ann a strong supporter of Ilminster's current bid to become South Somerset's first Fairtrade town. Ummmm, cake
Enjoy a real book

 Keen to keep up with the latest technology, Carole-Ann was an early adopter of Business View tours back in the first half of 2013. She is also on Twitter and YouTube, and has a new website where you can order books online.

"I'm always reading something," says Carole-Ann. "Paperbacks, hardbacks, and I do use a tablet and computer as well. The age of the real book is far from over, though. You will never be able to beat the enjoyment of holding a physical book in your hand."

Postscript

 Carole-Ann doesn't just sell the books which are on her shelves. She also provides a popular sourcing service, regularly being asked to track down specialist publications.

Take a visit to The Book Rest below. Find them in person at 4 West Street, Ilminster, Somerset TA19 9AA. Tel: 01460 52516. Email: [email protected] or look up their website at www.thebookrest.biz. Carole-Ann is on Twitter at @TheBookRest and you can see the shop on Youtube here.

Date: 11 July 2014
Author: The 360 Company