English language bookshop crowdfunder has week to raise £7,000

A crowdfunding campaign to create a “feminist safe haven” bookshop in Paris has only a week left to raise the remaining £7,000 needed to secure premises, after securing two-thirds of its financial target.

Copywriter Louise Binns and her friend Lucie Camara, who works in hospitality, have already raised £14,000 since launching the Kickstarter campaign in early December. However the COVEN project, which will feature English language books, a café and a calendar of events, will only be funded if it reaches £21,000 by next Friday (10th January).

Pledges can secure prizes such as having one‚Äôs name placed on the “contributor‚Äôs wall” in the store itself from 10 Euros (£9), as well as a personalised reading list for ‚Ǩ50 (£43). For ‚Ǩ1,000 (£842) more adventurous contributors can enjoy COVEN for a night for “a birthday, a writing workshop or any celebration you want”.

Camara told The Bookseller last month that the aim was to create "a feminist safe haven that will offer predominantly English language books, an ethical café and a range of engaged literary events in Paris". She added: “With the critical state of politics, we want to radiate beyond borders and be an active part of the conversation and the change that is taking place around the world while providing a space that others can enjoy and benefit from.

The crowdfunder should help them secure a property in the north-east of the French capital, after they missed out on a property last year. The friends cited Gay’s the Word and Pages of Cheshire Street in London as inspirations for their store, as well as Lighthouse Books in Edinburgh and Glasgow’s Category ii Books.

Increasing numbers of booksellers have successfully turned to crowdfunding as a means of support over the past few years. Caxton Books in Frinton has 10 days left of its crowdfunding appeal following a 60% rent hike while a crowdfunder to create London‚Äôs first black feminist bookshop accrued more than £5,000 at the beginning of 2019. In November 2018, Mr B‚Äôs Emporium secured more than £63,000 to expand the Bath-based store.