Booksellers feeling the Super Thursday buzz

Booksellers have been feeling the impact of Super Thursday, following the release of hundreds of new titles today (1st October). According to booksellers spoken to the media frenzy surrounding the day has created a "buzz" around books with booksellers working "flat out" to get titles on shelves.

Waterstone's national press officer Jon Howells said: "In the space of a year Super Thursday has gone from a clever turn of phrase to an essential date in the bookselling calendar. It has alerted everyone - booksellers, publishers, the media, and ultimately customers, to the incredible array of new titles available, and marks the unofficial start of the Christmas season."

He added: "Our booksellers have been working flat out to get stores ready with the new titles and our new campaign, highlighting 6 of the best Super Thursday titles at better than half-price (Andrew Marr, Chris Evans, Peter Kay, Cecelia Ahern, Jeremy Clarkson, Stieg Larsson all at £8.99). The buzz has been incredible..."

A W H Smith spokesperson said that the day was "an excellent way for the industry to promote itself". The spokesperson added: "Our stores are well-prepared for this in terms of workload and planning and we have seen some good early sales results across our promotional offers."

Independents have also seen positive effects from the media hype. Tim Walker of Walker Books said: "It's so nice to see books in the news."

Matthew Clarke, owner of the Torbay Bookshop in Devon too said that the "publicity has been very beneficial", though added that "we had a busy day yesterday".

Inga Sweetman of City Books in Hove said: "It's been very very positive - it's been lovely weather and a great day. Anything that gets people talking about books is just great. We've just oodles of people." Sweetman added that Steig Larsson's The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest is the title that "everyone is wanting" today. "It's been the big one, people have been chomping at the bit for that to come out."